THE MOTIVATOR VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

SPRING 2011

WWW.MOVEMENTOFYOUTH.ORG

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, March 19 Professional School Visitation Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm NCCU- BRITE Program, Durham Saturday, March 26 Charlotte Bobcats Game Time: 10:00am – 10:00pm Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte Friday, April 8 – Saturday, April 9 College Tour Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Saturday, April 30 Golf Clinic & Frankie’s Fun Park Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm Hillandale Golf Course, Durham Tuesday, May 3 Closing Ceremony Time: 6:30pm West Campus Union Building, Duke University, Durham

IN THIS ISSUE

College Tour: Harvard U., 1 Hip Hop Symposium “Rap”-Up, 2 Mentor Mentee Spotlight, 3

MOY Visits Harvard University

Movement of Youth mentors and mentees will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts from Friday, April 8 to Saturday, April 9, to tour the internationally renowned Harvard University. MOY members will participate in a panel discussion with Harvard’s Black Student Association, a Harvard Museum of Natural History Tour, and a performance by ImprovBoston Comedy Show. Harvard University’s undergraduate program is ranked first among “National Universities” by the U.S. News & World Report. In the QS World University rankings, Harvard University is ranked second behind the University of Cambridge in the U.K. Established in 1646, Harvard University’s distinguished alumni include: comedian Conan O’Brien, civil rights leader W. E. B. Dubois, chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates, and President Barack Obama. The deadline for students interested in attending was Monday, March 7. Transportation and lodging for the trip is covered for all mentors and mentees.

source facebook.com/harvard

THE MOTIVATOR – PAGE 2

5th Annual Hip Hop Symposium “Rap” Up

@Atrayus: @thebriandawson is dropping knowledge at the @movementofyouth hip hop symposium. @charniew: I had no idea. RT @Clutch_Chapman: Raleigh got a great artist; King Mez @movementofyouth @poundDEADED: "Hip Pop is supposed to make us less than Hip Hop is supposed to make us greater" -- Dr G @movementofyouth @nancioradioshow: I love what @movementofyouth is doing for minority students in the Durham/Chapel Hill communities. Y’all should definitely check them out.

@movementofyouth

Movement of Youth Board Member Asa Fleming, rapper King Mez, motivator Dr. Derek Greenfield and radio personality Nanci-O on the discussion panel conversing about the state of hip hop .

High school students, college students and local music lovers attended Movement of Youth’s 5th Annual Hip Hop Symposium on Saturday, February 26 at the Frank Porter Graham Student Union Auditorium at UNC-Chapel Hill. Guests listened to a mini-lecture from WQOK K97.5’s own Brian Dawson. “I wanted to focus on the positive aspects of hip hop,” said Dawson in an interview. “I think today hip hop gets a lot of negative attention and anything that gives me the opportunity to reach out to the youth, I am happy to participate.” Next guests transitioned to a poetry session with Kane “Novakane” Smego, the founder of Sacrificial Poets- a performance team that conducts outreach workshops to teach poetry. “Artistic expression provides a space for kids to gain confidence for themselves and their own stories,” said Novakane. “My main idea was to show students that spoken word is a sub genre of Hip Hop.” Movement of Youth Board Member Asa Fleming, rapper King Mez, motivator Dr. Derek Greenfield and radio personality Nanci-O answered burning questions about the state of hip hop. Discussion was proctored by Pierce Freelon, the artistic director of the Hip Hop Symposium. “I am used to actually performing at functions like this,” said Freelon. “However, working with mentees, Atrayus, and other people from Movement of Youth’s executive has been cool. It gives me the opportunity to step in a more administrative role.”

Lastly, the symposium featured performances by King Mez, from the hip –hop duo the Lazaretto Crew, and the UpRite Lions, a rap trio hailing from Greensboro, NC. Planning for the 6th Annual Hip Hop Symposium is already underway. Brain Dawson is projected to be the host of the 6th Annual and serve as a creative mind alongside Pierce Freelon. “I want to expose [the symposium] to more youth and get the radio station on board,” said Dawson. “I definitely have some great things in store.”

THE MOTIVATOR – PAGE 3

Mentor Mentee Spotlight

Anna Jeffries

MOY: What made you become a mentee in MOY? Anna Jeffries: I was interested in becoming a mentee when I met Atrayus at Kestrel Heights School. As soon as I met him I wanted to join; the program seemed like something that I would enjoy and it was a positive thing. MOY: What have you gotten out of the program? AJ: I have become a lot more outgoing than I was before, and I have met people that have helped me get to that point. MOY: How has your relationship with your mentor/ mentee had an effect on your life? AJ: I'm not so sure if my mentor, Camile Jones, knows that I look up to her, but I do. When I first met Camile our relationship was kind of weird, but with time it has became a lot better and I really do appreciate her being my mentor. She is always eager to help me out whether it involves school or personal issues, and she's made me view things differently from before. Basically, her optimism and helpful spirit has rubbed off on me. MOY: What has been your favorite event/ moment with MOY? AJ: My favorite event was the 2010 Campus Visitation Weekend. I had a chance to bond with people who I did not really know and tour UNC's campus.

MOY: What made you want to become a mentor for MOY? Mykia: I heard that the program was targeting Durham high school students, I wanted to give back to Hillside High School because they gave so much to me. I also have a passion for youth and minority achievement. MOY: What have you gotten out of the program? Mykia: A lot! I have gotten more out of my leadership roles; Movement of Youth has taught me professionalism, meeting deadlines and improving my professional skills. I learned that dedication and proficiency is important. Overall, it has been a good learning experience. MOY: How has your relationship with your mentee had an effect on your life? Mykia: My relationship with my mentee, Dominique Cross, has given me something I can look forward to. I am really impacting someone’s life. That inkling of hope in myself to know that I have been helping her has been rewarding to me. MOY: What has been your favorite event or moment during Movement of Youth? Mykia: The Hip Hop Symposium in 2009, my sophomore year in college, was a really fun and really down to earth experience. We learned a lot about music and it was intimate and interactive. The Beast was the feature. They played and talked about different music. Anytime the students feel engaged it’s rewarding to me.

Mykia Johnson has been a part of Movement of

Youth for three years. Serving as Director of Programs, Mykia has had a hand in planning everything from the Saturday Academies to the 5th Annual Hip Hop Symposium. Her dedication and uplifting spirit will be missed next year. We sat down and talked with Mykia about her experiences with MOY.

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MOVEMENT OF YOUTH CONTACT INFORMATION

2530 MERIDIAN PARKWAY|SUITE 300|DURHAM, NC 27713|P 919.806.4552|F 919.806.4301 WWW.MOVEMENTOFYOUTH.ORG|INFO@MOVEMENTOFYOUTH.ORG

EXECUTIVE TEAM ATRAYUS GOODE – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CRYSTAL GRAY – EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MYKIA JOHNSON – DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS ERIC CAMPBELL – DIRECTOR OF MENTORING

MIRANDA PATTERSON – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MENTORING (UNC) ALEX ALSTON– ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MENTORING (DUKE)

WILLIAM PAGE – DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC ADVISING

CHARNELLE WILSON – DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMILE JONES – DIRECTOR OF EXPANSION

LAUREN HICKMAN – DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

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