Portland's 6th Annual Youth Summit 2012

Oregonian News Article

2012-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

If you missed the coverage in the Oregonian check it out online

KBOO Interview with Jasir X, Mic Crenshaw, & Imani Muhammad

2012-01-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

Listen now to the talk radio show of Lisa Loving with KBOO Radio. As we promote the Youth Summit but also discuss the issues with our youth and the solutions to our problems.

http://kboo.fm/node/32978

For Immediate Release

2012-01-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
January 9, 2012

Contact: Imani Muhammad 503-781-5313
info@portlandyouthsummit.org

News Release

“The Mis-Education of Our Youth” Portland’s 6th Annual Youth Summit
is challenging all parents and youth to create the solutions to our current condition

Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.th) will hold, Portland’s 6th Annual Youth Summit to address concerns and issues of our youth and families by taking on the theme “Mis-Education of Our Youth.” The Summit will be held on February 10 & 11, 2012 at Portland State University (PSU), in partnership with PSU-University Studies Department, Oregon Universal, The Skanner newspaper, Multnomah County Health Department, Freedom Paper Company and community members. Youth who attended over the years have expressed life-changing experiences from the workshops and networking experiences.

The Summit weekend will kick off on Friday, February 10, 2012, with the annual talent showcase titled “Free Ya Mind and Your Swag will Follow,”at PSU’s Smith Hall on the first floor. The showcase will feature young up and coming talent from across Oregon, performing in various categories, such as dance, spoken word, lyrics and vocals. The event will be hosted by Rip City Kingz, Portland’s very own Krump dance crew. The showcase will include youth, local and national artists serving as judges. University Park DJ Academy will be coordinating the music for the evening. The grand prize is a professional photo shoot with local photographer Adrian Adel (www.adrianadel.com).

On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 in Smith Hall on the second floor, the Summit will convene with all-day workshops, networking, and an overall positive atmosphere for the entire family. Our keynote speaker is National Activist and Recording Artist Jasiri X from Pittsburgh, PA, who has written and produced conscious and elevating music videos exposing current events and news stories that otherwise go unheard. (www.jasirix.com) The parent workshops topics include: How to talk about sex with your child, bullying, the economic crisis and solutions and parenting your teenager. Youth workshops topics include, African origin of Martial Arts, creative media, How to succeed in Hip Hop without selling your soul, healthy relationships, graffiti drawing, discovering self through writing.

Vendors will be available for both days providing resources, merchandise, information and connections to all participants. Organizations will include Freedom Paper Company-an financial economic freedom company using a standard household item, Groundwork Portland, Recruiter Watch PDX, Positive Upgrade, Mutlnomah County A6 and Boys and Girls Aid. For those interested in participating in the workshops pre-register online at www.portlandyouthsummit.org. For a complete listing of workshops and presenters go to www.youthsummit09.blogspot.com.

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Imani Muhammad
Visionary/Founder
Y.O.U.th

Full List of Workshops for 2012 Summit

2011-12-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

'Mis-Education of Our Youth'
February 11, 2012 Portland State University 2nd Floor Smith Hall 11am Registration begins

Youth Workshops:

Desmond Spann- Emcee Mind Freestyling
If you have ever wanted to learn the art of freestyling, pubic speaking, or confidence this workshop will expose participants to the opportunity to learn these skills. The instructor will deal with fear through the fun experience of freestyling (improvised rap). This fear blocks youth from discovering who they are, educating themselves, and stops them from believing in themselves. This workshop is designed to show ways to deal with fears through the art of freestyling.

Elijah Hasan- Creative Media
This workshop will get young people thinking about media influences and how they are being delivered as a starting place for the Media Literacy conversation. Participants will be inspired and exposed to fresh and creative approaches to creating and sharing media. The current system of education (mis-education) here in the United States produces and prepares it’s subjects for life as a consumer. The less aware of the messages being communicated and the means by which they are carried the more subjected an individual will be to the designer’s intent.

*Jasiri X- How To Succeed in Hip-Hop Without Selling Your Soul PT2
Participants will learn how to navigate the music business without having to compromise their integrity. The presenter has learned how to maneuver and to be successful in the music industry and will provide tools and examples of how he has been successful. Come learn how to gain National and International success, without a major label or industry cosign. Participants will also learn the importance of artists being active in their local communities and how it will help them establish their base.

Joshua Dudley- Graffiti, Art and Freedom-
What is Art? Come explore your definition of art and how using art as a tool can assist in freeing the mind and allowing unlimited imagination. Participants will engage in free draw and participate in a group discussion and learn how to draw graffiti. Art is something that is not taught on a consistent basis in school. This workshop will allow the participants to recognize art in their surroundings bus, cars, desk, food, clothes etc. The workshop will open the youth’s mind to an experience that will leave a lasting impact after they leave the Summit opposed to accelerating its demise. Youth will look at the facts and examine the future.

Kaon-Jabbar East- History Of African Martial Arts
This workshop will break down the origin of Martial Arts and the connection of this art to the 5 elements of Hip Hop. Martial Arts is a movement art and similar to break dancing the individual learns the anatomy of how the body moves through self-defense techniques as well as various styles of exercise which serves a dual purpose. Exercise and self-defense are healthy forms of movement and each participant will learn techniques and movements while learning the origin of Martial Arts and its connection to the African Diaspora.

Madgesdiq- Who Are You? (Discovering Yourself Thru the Power of Writing)
Are you a writer? Do you have thoughts that no one else knows? This workshop will focus on the use of writing as a tool/means of discovering self. The presenter desires to create a space/place of meditation; where the world slows down, and time stands still, where barriers are lifted, where dreams are manifested, autobiographies are written, things/life placed in perspective, beginning to see life for what it is. The intent of the workshop is to inspire the youth to take a closer look at themselves as well as the world and circumstances in which we live to create.

Solamon Ibe- Health Relationships with the opposite sex
With the intense media influence on youth this workshop will expose the effects of media and provide skills and new ways to look at relationships especially with the opposite sex. What does it mean to have a healthy relationship? How do gender roles and societal norms affect our relationships? Participants will learn how to identify a healthy or unhealthy relationship and become more proactive in their environment and social circle.

William X- The Causes of Youth Violence
This workshop will acknowledge the epidemic of youth violence in American and especially in Portland, Oregon. The presenters realize there is a mis-education of who an enemy is for youth and how to handle an enemy. Rather than looking at a person as an enemy this workshop will allow the youth to identify the thought process of an enemy and get them to think outside of skin color, gender, or class which blocks youth from loving themselves. True self-love and identity will be presented and demonstrated throughout this workshop. At the end of the workshop the participants will understand how to see their peers as a brother or sister and learn the skills to eliminate violence in their community.

* Keynote Address

Parent Workshops

Betty Harris- MST, BS, CDPT Bullying in our community and schools
Join us in our workshop that will define the act of bullying, and provide ways in which you can play a part to eradicate this negative behavior. The workshop intends to give a hands on personal experience in resolving issues facing your community. Come join us in this exciting event at the Youth Summit, with workshop host Betty Harris, B.S.MST who has educated youth for over 20 years in Oregon and Washington.

Jay Klusky Ph. D-New Skills for a New Time
The focus of this workshop is to deliver to parents the skills our youth need to develop if they are to be successful; skills they will rarely be exposed to in our traditional system of education. Participants will be shown how to use a tool to help their families strengthen their self-esteem and self-discipline.

Mic Crenshaw- The Future Is Up To Us
A dynamic workshop that will force participants to delve deeper into the current climate and societal effects that involve them everyday. We, as a race and civilization are in the midst of a global economic crisis. The root of this economic crisis is the system of capitalism and exploitation that has shaped history and the reality we live in on earth. The consequences of this system on the resources and life that support it and its effect on every level of existence ecologically, politically, spiritually. To understand our role in the system is to begin to shape our potential in a response that sustains life as

Mariotta Gary-Smith & Linda Hornbuckle- Let’s talk about sex-
Do you have a difficult time discussing sex with your children? Don’t worry most parents do, however this workshop intends to provide you with the tools to make this conversation easier for you and your child. We will discuss common mistakes or missteps, where to go to learn that facts, and where to go and how to ask for help.

Postcard Flyers

2011-12-10T13:09:00.001-08:00

Official Poster 2012

2011-11-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Portland's 6th Annual Youth Summit 2012

2011-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Miseducation of our Youth is the theme for the 2012 Portland's 6th Annual Youth Summit at Portland State University.
Friday Night Youth Talent Showcase and Saturday Summit. We are welcoming back Jasiri X.

Stay tuned for upcoming updates, workshop presenters and much more.

If you are interested in being involved this year email us at pdxsummit@gmail.com

Peace

2011 Peace and Unity Fest Aug 27th

2011-07-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Peace & Unity Fest 2011
August 27th Vanport Square and Curious Comedy
Stay Tuned for more
Vendors are welcomed

Support our YouTube channel-Real Music & Truth

2011-02-15T07:04:00.000-08:00

Who Do You Believe? Weekend of good spirits and Knowledge

2011-02-14T07:10:00.000-08:00

Jasiri X blessed us this weekend, Emceeing the Youth Talent Showcase & presenting 2 workshops and delivery the keynote address.
This weekend was by far the best Summit ever. Thanks to all of you who made this happen!

Stay tuned!

2011 Workshop Topics and presenters

2011-02-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

Workshops featured next Saturday at the Youth Summit: Influential Freedom Fighters-Mic Crenshaw, The Game-Karanja Crews, Life Decisions-BRO, The Emcee Mind-Dluxthelight, How to Succeed in Hip Hop w/out selling your soul-Jasiri X, Relationships-Blacque Butterfly including parent/adult workshops

Click Here to take the Survey

2010-10-08T08:08:00.001-07:00

5th Annual Youth Summit survey

We are gearing up for the 5th Annual Youth Summit

2010-10-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

Be on the lookout for up coming video clips for our special guest and keynote speaker this year for 2011

We will be posting a survey to get your feedback for this year's event. We want to make this the best ever. We are looking for partnerships, donations, volunteers etc

Stay Tune and Be Connected!

Peace and Unity Fest 2010 PR

2010-06-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

On August 7, 2010 Y.O.U.th (Youth Organized and United to Help) presents The 3rd Annual Peace and Unity Fest beginning at 1:00pm at the Mallory Avenue Community Enrichment Center (M.A.C.E) parking lot located at 126 N.E. Alberta Street.
Y.O.U.th is a non-profit organization promoting opportunities for youth to explore their talents and gifts through an art medium. The Peace and Unity Festival serves as a fundraiser for the upcoming 5th Annual Youth Summit (February 2011). The Peace and Unity Festival will feature celebrated local and national musicians and spoken word artists, community activists and faith leaders, and community vendors.
Invited speakers include: Host Pastor Fred D Woods (Calvary Christian Church), Rev. Renee Ward (Chrysalis Ministries), Universal Zulu Nation Member, Representative of the Nation of Islam, Representative of Hebrew Israelites Church, and more to come.
Featured artists include Ro Deezy, Rose Bent, Black Market, F.I.Y.A. and many more and DJ’s from all over the Northwest. There will be cultural dance expression presented through traditional native dances and the annual ritual of libation.
Vendors will include small businesses and individuals who provide a service to our community. The Peace and Unity Fest is a venue for these vendors to gain more exposure and support from the community.

The organizers of the event hope the Peace and Unity Fest serves as a magnet to assist us in “Building Our Community”. School Supplies, along with your donation of $5, will assists families in need with essential school supplies (backpacks, pens, pencils, paper, rulers, etc.) before the first day of school. Proceeds benefit the 5th Annual Youth Summit. For more information on how to volunteer or financially support the 5th Annual Youth Summit contact Imani Muhammad Y.O.U.th at 503-781-5313 or via email at info@travelingpillar.com. Visit their website at www.youthsummit09.blogspot.com

KBOO RADIO INTERVIEW OF YOUTH SUMMIT 2010

2010-04-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT THIS INTERVIEW FROM KBOO RADIO ON THE YOUTH SUMMIT

LISTEN NOW!

Slideshow

2010-02-17T00:07:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Bro. Jesse Muhammad

2010-02-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Get your Official T-Shirt for only $15

2010-02-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

Purchase The Official Youth Summit T-Shirt

ONLY $15

ALL Proceeds go toward the 5th Annual Youth Summit 2011

BLACK T-SHIRTS

We do not have all sizes left...Email us imani@travelingpillar.com or 503-781-5313

Reflection on this weekend

2010-02-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful weekend. I must say I am exhausted from just grinding with all the help this year...from the City Of Portland, On Point Bank, Oregon Zulu Nation, individual donors and much more. This could not have been a success without you. The Creator uses us to help others and if I can be the vessel in the world to shed light on a tragic event then thank God that I am willing to have the energy to do it each and every year.

One of my highlights was seeing one of my former students who was Davonte's classmate participate in the Emcee contest. When I saw him it warmed my heart to know that he was still doing his thing in school and performing music like he always wanted to do. As I watched him I visualized Davonte and how much he would have enjoyed this event. So my heart goes to all those who participated and I pray that we continue to give opportunities to our Youth each year!

Peace and Blessings!

Friday Night February 5, 2010

2010-02-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Portland Youth Summit 2010

2009-12-17T22:24:00.000-08:00

The 4th Annual Youth Summit is all day on Feb. 6, starting at 11 a.m. at Portland State University
Smith Memorial Union, with pizza social at 6 p.m. and talent showcase kicking off at 6:30 p.m.
The event, including an afternoon of workshops and keynote lecture by Professor Griff of Public Enemy, is free, and youth participants receive a free T-shirt.

“What we’re adding this year is a Friday night event which is a discussion and question and answer lecture period with Professor Griff from Public Enemy,” says organizer Imani Muhammad, 2009 winner of The Skanner News Drum Major for Justice Award.
She started the event four years ago after the gang-involved fatal shooting of 14-year-old Davonte Lightfoot on North Killingsworth Street.
Lightfoot had been Muhammad’s student at a local charter school, and shevowed to bring the community together to help prevent future deaths.
“The overall intention of the summit is to bring more attention of the city and the adults to our youth, and that’s always been the underlying goal being sparked by the death of a young man who was 14 years old,” Muhammad says.
The Youth Summit boasts twice as many workshops as last year, and more offerings in the talent contest, which is organized by the 45th Parallel Zulu Nation of Oregon and includes a Michael Jackson dance competition.
Muhammad says the format is very similar to last year where the students are placed in a group and then they rotate to each 45-minute workshop.
Workshop presenters and their topics include: Madgesdiq — Who Are You? Discovering Yourself Through Writing; Mic Crenshaw — Make Believe or Real: the War on You; Renee Mitchell, Darlene Solomon (Blacque Butterfly), Erica Tucker — Real Talk, Real Love; DeAngelo Raines — Art Not Crime; Jesse Muhammad — Mediocrity is Not in Your D.N.A; Karanja Crews — 21st Century Movement Conscious Hip Hop; Carl Thomas — Life Beyond High School; Desmond Spann (Dluxthelight) — Hip Hop Motivates.
“If I do my math from last year there was about 80 youth that participated in the workshop, this year I’ve certainly had more outreach and more help, so I’m anticipating maybe 150, maybe 200 total,” Muhammad says.
“As it grows and as more people are involved I would love for this youth summit to grow into a national event where we’re pulling youth and adults and workshop facilitators all across the United States, and that it does grow into more than just one day,” Muhammad says.
“After this summit I really think it’s going to grow this year into more of a spring break program or a summer program that the same individuals that are working on the workshops are able to participate in the spring or summer programs, basically offering the same thing we offer at the summit in one day.” she said. “They get the workshops, they get the empowerment, they get the leadership, but we’re able to expand that throughout the year.”
Muhammad said this year’s growth is due in part to help from city youth advocates and more organizations that are helping out.
“So I think that this year the strength in numbers of the adults that are involved will be able to grow something out of the summit,” she said.
For more information go to http://youth summit09.blogspot.com/.
‘Kicking off Black History Month...Youth First!’
Professor Griff, the “Minister of Information” with the legendary rap group Public Enemy, kicks off the 4th Annual Youth Summit with a free talk starting at 7 p.m., Feb. 5, at New Columbia, 4625 N. Trenton.

The Skanner Post the Peace and Unity Fest

2009-08-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

The local Newspaper The Skanner has supported and helped in the last year bring public attention to the Youth Summit and The Peace and Unity Fest. We want to thank Bernie Foster and all of his staff for their continual success as a LOCAL media outlet for our Community.

Check us Out HERE

Pictures from the Peace and Unity Fest

2009-08-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

PHOTO BUCKET PICTURES OF YOUTH SUMMIT 09

2009-02-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR PHOTOBUCKET PICTURES

Youth Summit

Final Call Article...Saviours Day Edition

2009-02-12T02:05:00.001-08:00

Youth Task Force of Portland organized 3rd Annual Youth Summit
By: Alitash Muhammad and Imani Muhammad

On February 7, 2009, the Youth Task Force of Portland, Oregon organized the 3rd Annual Youth Summit “The Future is All About Y.O.U.th”, in the spirit of the Millions More Movement. The Youth Summit formed after the murder of a young 14 year old Black male January 7, 2007, Davonte Lightfoot. The Youth Summit became Imani Muhammad’s response to her former student’s death. “This is my way of grieving and waking up our community”, she responded.
Over 60 youth filled the college campus of Portland State University engaging in various workshops taught by positive Black men in the community of Portland. The youth were divided into 4 groups and were given a specific schedule based on the group they were assigned. The group names were Hip Hop, Change, Unity and Freedom, which were inspired by the recent election of President Barack Obama’s agenda as well as the influences of the youth generation. The workshops included the history of Hip Hop before Lil Wayne and T.I., Paranoia vs. Clairvoyance – the psychological warfare on our mind, How to use Hip Hop to Motivate and Real or Deal-reality versus illusion. For 35 minute increments, the youth interacted in each workshop; learning knew ideas and concepts to help empower them to become better people in their homes and community. After the workshops, the entire group congregated to bring to a close the afternoon activities. The youth developed an action plan and agenda that will be presented to youth organizations and leaders in the community to assist in preventing the increase in gang activity and recent shootings in Portland as of December 2008.
The 3rd Annual Youth Summit concluded with a Youth Talent Showcase which featured various artists from the Pacific Northwest as well as young stars who are just getting involved as artists. The winner of the vocal contest was crowned the Youth Summit Champion, free studio time with Northwest’s Premier Record Label Jus Family and Executive Branch Management as well as an opportunity to be the opening act for the upcoming show on February 26th featuring National recording artist The Game.
The overall goal for the Youth Summit is to revitalize the importance of our future by nurturing our youth through providing a positive atmosphere for learning, education, empowerment and fun. It took a death for our community to spark our one member in the community to give back to Davonte’s generation. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan says it the best, “If you have lost a child to senseless violence or a family member, remember they did not die in vain, because nothing advances in civilization without the sacrifice of life”.

The Skanner Cover Story

2009-01-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

Gathering Comes at a Critical Time
Event focuses on workshops, music and political organizing
By Lisa Loving of The Skanner

Imani Muhammad’s annual event supporting young people affected by street violence is right around the corner – and couldn’t come at a more critical time for local kids and their families.
The 3rd Annual Youth Summit is Feb. 7 at Portland State University Smith Memorial Union, 1825 SW Broadway, on the second floor. All activities are free of charge.
This year’s theme, “The Future is All About Y.O.U.th — Youth Organized & United to Help,” underscores a strengthened agenda of bringing together teens and young adults who will be drawing up their own community development plan to present to elected officials and local leaders.
“What I want to see at the end of this youth summit is that I want to present an agenda to community leaders to adults that are from the youth,” Muhammad says. “For example, if the youth desire a resource center where they learn how to interview for jobs and send out job applications, then we as adults should do all in our power to produce one that’s maybe not in our community or at least enhance one that is already developed.”
The daylong summit also features workshops, which so far include Mic Crenshaw on “Paranoia or Clairvoyance? A Practical and Metaphysical Assessment of the War on Your Life”; Desmond Spann on “Hip Hop Motivates: Staying Focused and Motivated for Success”; Karanja Crews on “Real or Deal — Conscious Rap”; and Xavier Burton, “History of Hip Hop.”
The day ends with a Youth Talent Showcase at 6:30 p.m. with a vocal competition, dance style competition, and a “rap battle.” Each participant receives a gift, with the first place winners in the voice and dance categories also earning gift cards, cds and more. The winner of the rap event receives studio time with Jus Family recordings and a live interview on KBOO Radio.
National recording artist Mic Crenshaw will be performing live.
Registration starts at 11 a.m. Workshops begin at 1 p.m., and will be held on the 2nd floor of the Smith Memorial Union. The talent showcase is in Hoffman Hall at 6:30 p.m.
The first Youth Summit was held in 2007, after the street killing almost exactly two years ago of 14-year-old Davonte Lightfoot, a Benson High School student and one of Muhammad’s former pupils at Victory Middle School in North Portland.
As Youth Summit 09 prepares to open its doors, Portland is reeling from the third fatal youth shooting in four weeks, and a record number of call-outs by the Portland Police gang enforcement squad.
“The initial inspiration was really my answer to the senseless, violent death of Davonte, and it was kind of my way of grieving,” Muhammad said. “So I said, let’s at least give the youth an opportunity to voice their opinions on the issues and what’s going on and what they’re really dealing with, and kind of help bridge the gap between the adults and the youth.”
This year’s Youth Summit is a collaboration between Muhammad’s organization The Traveling Pillar, as well as the NAACP of Portland State University, Zulu Nation-Oregon Chapter, Youth Task Force of the Millions More Movement, and the Jus Family Records, Executive Branch Management.
“The event started with my desire to pull students in the community together to basically voice their opinions in a form where the adults parents and community leaders could sit down and listen,” she said. “From that it developed into more of a workshop-style event, with entertainment — we added a concert last year where we had different local artists and youth artists perform.”
Muhammad says she wants this event to formalize into an institution that can continue throughout the year – and so her priority is to find solid financial backing for ongoing activities. “It’s needed to develop any program to help the youth,” she said.
City officials say they’re renewing their focus on youth violence prevention efforts, but that the ground-level impact of the nationwide economic crisis means no additional funding for youth efforts is likely.
Muhammad believes that today’s youth require a deep, communitywide focus, and they deserve it.
“I have the philosophy that there’s nothing new under the sun, but I would have to say that one thing that they have on them is the pressure of media and Internet and advertisements,” she says. “So they’re not dealing with anything we all haven’t gone through – I mean drugs are still around, suicide, homicide, unemployment – all of those are real and they’ve always affected almost every generation, but I would have to say media is so powerful on the youth generation now more than ever, that I think is what’s keeping our youth from really grasping realistic goals and realistic ideas.”
For more info visit www.youthsummit09.blogspot.com, email info@travelingpillar.com, or call 503-781-5313.

Live Interview 12/19/08

2008-12-19T12:58:00.001-08:00

Click the link above to hear Youth Summit Organizers discuss the importance of the Youth Summit and issues that they want you to hear...The Future is All About Y.O.U.th