B-Fly, URGENT Inc E-zine

B-FLY

@URGENTINC Â #RITESOFPASSAGE #FACETHEEXPERIENCE

SPRING 2019

THIS WOMAN'S WORK WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

OUR VOICE MATTERS YOUTH ART COLLECTION & NEW COMIC "BATTLE OF LOVE" ON TOUR 2019

DIGITAL FACE BROADCAST

"BATTLE OF LOVE" NEW EP ALBUM ON SOUNDCLOUD

INTO THE WILD WITH SIERRA CLUB

#OURVOICE MATTERS

SPRING 2019

FACE & RITES OF PASSAGE

SALIHA NELSON

FACE/RITES OF PASSAGE TEAM

Vice President

SHEDIA NELSON Programs Manager/Artistic Director

LOREN DANIEL Career & Technical Education Coordinator

JOEY ASHLEY CTE Media Specialist

MONICA BISSAINTHE Career & Technical Education Instructor

GAIL WILLINGHAM Academic Coach

JAEL LABRIE Career & Technical Education Media Instructor

JAMES EAGLE Media Instructor

CASSANDRE CHERY Peer Trainer

SPRING 2019

FACE (FILM, ART & CULTURE, CODING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP)& RITES OF PASSAGE YOUTH MEDIA PROJECT

"COMING TO FACE/RITES OF PASSAGE MAKES ME HAPPY," MAURISHA LAVENTURE PHOTO CREDITS Program funded by

Cover photo courtesy by Deion Mendez Digital FACE, Mia Hyppolite, Ashley Requena, Shedia Nelson

CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT & EDUCATION 1000 NW 1ST AVE., STE 100, MIAMI, FL 33136 I (786) 581-7821 F: 866-811-7778 I FACEBOOK I WWW.URGENTINC.ORG I TWITTER/IG: @URGENTINC

Editor Shedia Nelson

B-Fly

@urgentinc #OurVoiceMatters #RitesofPassage #FACETheExperience

table of contents 5

"Battle of Love" new youth led comic book at Soul Basel

6 Special Events 7-8 Our Voice Matters Tour & Schedule 12 Get Lit! with Dade Credit Union Tea & Titles

19-20

12

22-24

13 This Woman's Work Women's History Month 17-18 Youth poetry 19-20 Sierra Club ICO Miami Camping 21 Beauty within, Our Girls Global Makeup Artist Rory Lee Soul Basel 22-24 Spring Break

11

14-16

9-10

21

URGENT, Inc. CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT & EDUCATION 1000 NW 1ST AVE., STE 100, MIAMI, FL 33136 (786) 581-7821 I F: 866-811-7778 FACEBOOK.COM/URGENTINC I WWW.URGENTINC.ORG I TWITTER: @URGENTINC I IG: @URGENTINC

"Batttle of Love" comic debut at Soul Basel

SAN FRANCISCO Historic Overtown -Â Young published authors of new comic "Battle of Love" debuts at Soul Basel hosted at Historic Lyric Theater makes a big splash as part of URGENT, Inc's Our Voice Matters youth art collection. Tracey Mourning, Founder of Honey Shine and Beauty For Real stopped in view the empowering youth art collection and was most impressed by the Rites of Passage Ambassadors/Docents who guided her through the collections.

Talented sixth graders learned about story development, concept, illustration and graphic design under the leadership of Ramon "Absoloot" Robinson and art direction

by Chivas Davis. Youth art work from their new comic is part of Our Voice Matters youth art collection. This event culminated with a book talk moderated by Ashlee Thomas, MUCE with youth panelists: Jamiya Boone, Juberney Etienne and Shauntravia West and comic instructor Ramon "Absoloot" Robinson and art instructor Chivas Davis. The young ladies squealed at their book signing when guests purchased their books. See our tour schedule on page 7 to get a copy of this must read comic! On Sunday, December 8th our Soul Basel event concluded with a community arts day that was fun for the whole family where everyone could feel like a super hero to help make a change in their community.

Special Events OCT 20

Florida Film House 1st Take OCT Film Program 27

NOV 10

iGen Film Festival Free College for a Day at Miami Dade College N Campus Know Your Rights Camp

Bike riding in Shark Valley, Everglades National Park with Sierra Club ICO Miami

NOV 17 Miami International Book Fair DEC 6-8

Ambassadors: Monica Bissainthe & Marcus Williams at Our Voice Matters, youth art exhibition at Soul Basel hosted at Historic Lyric Theater

Youth Art Soul Basel "Our Voice Matters" Youth Exhibition "Battle of Love" new comic book

DEC 10 Tea & Titles JAN 12-14

Florida Film House 1st Take Film Program

MAR 14 This Woman's Work Women's History Month MAR 26-30 APRIL 19 On film set of "Battle of Love" with Florida Film House 1st Take Film Program Actors (Left to Right): Christelle Elliama, Makayla Reynolds

Spring Break Film Boot Camp Bra Fitting Sponsored by Macy's Aventura

Program Recognition MAY 18 & Community Art Expo EVENTS/6

GET THE WHOLE OUR VOICE MATTERS COLLECTION: PHOTO BOOK, POETRY FILM & ALBUM Photobook on Sale!

c i o V Our

#

Ten talented young poets and photographers contributed to this photo book collection of portraits taken by youth. Their poetry reflects how they see themselves and community social issues.

Purchase your copy today! www.urgentinc.org Https://FS3.FORMSITE.COM/URGENTINC/FORM26/IN DEX.HTML

s r e t t eMa

YOUTH

A

ART

MIXED

COMIC

DATE:

6-8,

2019

DEC.

EVENT: WHERE:

DATE:

FEB.

WHERE:

DATE:

JAN

EVENT:

DATE:

WHERE:

LITTLE

DATE:

31,

IN

BOOK

TALKS

THEATER

GALLERY

13,

RETRO

OF

BEACH,

PAIN FL

2019

ART

26,

YOUTH

MUSEUM

2019

NARRATIVES

INSTITUTE

4,

ABSENCE

MIAMI

PROM

PEREZ

MUCE

2019

THE

CENTER,

OF

&

RECEPTION

CONTEMPORARY

ART

2019 MAKERS

11,

CAMPUS

2019

AARLCC

CON

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

LAUDERDALE,

MAY

OPENING TIME:

INCLUDES

LOVE"

2019

16-MAR

ART

MAY

WHERE:

DATE:

OF

HAITI

EVENT:

FT.

LYRIC

CONTEMPORARY

DANCING

MAY

WHERE:

COLLECTION

"BATTLE

PINES

APRIL

WHERE:

DATE:

28,

APRIL

EVENT:

SCHEDULE

MIAMI

FRANK

PEMBROKE

TOUR

BASEL

HISTORIC

OVERTOWN,

EVENT:

NEW EP on SoundCloud

SOUL

ON

INTERACTIVE

NEW

DATE:

Listen to "Our Voice Matters" album with new recorded tracks on SoundCloud.com/urgentinc!

MEDIA

FEATURING

WHERE:

Album on SoundCloud

EXHIBITION

24,

RESEARCH

LIBRARY

FL

2019

RECEPTION

6-9PM

EXHIBTION WHERE:

RUN:

FRANK

PEMBROKE

MAY

24-JUNE

29,

CONTEMPORARY

2019

GALLERY

PINES

About the Collection

Songs written and performed by youth in Rites of Passage produced by Preserving Archiving Teaching (PATH) to Hip Hop with compassionate lyrical life coach Sekajipo ForThePeople.

Our Voice Matters is a mixed media interactive youth art collection that will have your toes tapping to original hip hop songs and fingers snapping while stimulating your mind through rhyme and spoken word. See storytelling through photography and feel like a super hero. This collection highlights youth voice, honors elders and showcases youth talent through poetry, film, photography, music and visual arts.

Special Features: Award winning poetry film, Our Voice Matters, original album, “Our Voice Matters,” music video, “Loveless Generation,” and comic book story board for, “Battle of Love”.

OUR VOICE MATTERS A MULTI-MEDIA INTERACTIVE YOUTH ART EXHIBITION ON TOUR

Oolite Arts Center - Our Voice Matters, a youth multi-media art exhibition tours at Oolite Arts Center through our partnership with Institute of Contemporary Art's artist in residence Terrence Price who is also an artist in resident at Oolite Arts Center. Our youth photos under the guidance of Terrence Price were featured as part of his exhibition Dance in the Absence of Rain at Oolite Arts Center from January 16 - March 31, 2019. Our talented young photographers were happy to their photography featured where each of their photos tell a story and invite these questions when you look at their photographs: What do you see? What's missing? What stories are not being heard? Check out our tour schedule on page 7 to see these beautiful visual narratives.

Follow us on social media: IG/Twitter: @urgentinc or find us on Facebook!

"BATTLE OF LOVE" COMIC ON TOUR, MINDFULLNESS & Life is a work of Art with Octavia Yearwood in partnership with Institute of Contemporary Art Pembroke Pines - "Battle of Love" on tour pop up art exhibit and comic book signing at Frank Contemporaries was a great success for Black History month on February 28, 2019. Eight talented published fifth and sixth graders engaged in a book talk followed by their book signing. Comic instructor and panelist, Ramon "Absoloot" Robinson shared how impressed he is with the talent and skills of our young ladies. Frank Contemporaries invited our young authors back for a month run of our exhibition May 24-June 29th!

Edison Park K-8 Center - Muti Emily Gunter, Founder of Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Foundation visits our young ladies imparting her wisdom of mindfullness on four levels of knowledge. Our young ladies were engaged in learning about being mindful of their intentions and how they process and understand their levels of knowledge. Check out an excerpt of her in action on site here. Thank you Muti Emily.

Edison Park K-8 Center - Institute of Contemporary Art provides inspiring youth led art installation with their artist in residence Octavia Yearwood.

Yearwood invites our young ladies to tap into their inner selves to begin healing any trauma or upset in their life and celebrate their authentic selves through art. Their installation is LIBATIONS is an interactive, multi-sensory, storytelling and performance art experience. Watch "Stay Winning" documentary trailer based on life lesson sessions with Miami's Best Author 2018, Octavia Yearwood.

You're invited to ICA's Youth Narratives art exhibition at Institute of Contemporary Art on Friday, April 26th from 4-6pm located at 61 NE 41st St., Miami, FL 33137.

URGENT, INC | SPRING 2019

9

"Battle of Love" Part Two Comic Spread some Love, Hip Hop & Sunshine in your community!

Edison Park K-8 Center - "Battle of Love" Part Two is a follow up to our first comic installment that is in development with our young authors who are diligently working on it under the guidance of Ramon "Absoloot" Robinson who is a dynamic recording artist who is dropping bars and jewels of knowledge to help empower young minds to transform their communities. Chivas Davis is a talented and published artist who inspires visual narrative story telling through our young ladies' inspiration. See what happens to our super Black Girl heroines Love, Hip Hop and Sunshine in part two at our book talk and pop up art exhibition reception on May 24th at Frank C. Otis Gallery located at 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines, FL. Thank you to our instructors, Ramon "Absoloot" Robinson, Brandon Freeny, Chivas Davis, Ms. Carla Patrick, Edison Park K-8 Center Principal and Mr. Alex Fatal, Edison Park K-8 Center counselor for supporting our amazing young people!

URGENT, INC./Â 14

URGENT, INC. TEAMS UP WITH FLORIDA FILM HOUSE 1ST TAKE FILM PROGRAM

PHOTOGRAPHY

REHEARSAL

SCREENWRITING

ON

SET

AWARDS

EDI TI NG

SOUND

RED CAMERA TRAI NI NG

PRODUCTI ON

Florida Film House - Twenty talented and dedicated young people in URGENT, Inc's Rites of Passage/FACE participated in Florida Film House's 1st Take film program during Martin Luther King weekend and spring break to produce three short films to be screened this summer and at Florida Film House's Urban Film Festival in the fall. Students learn the art of film making from directing, producing, storyboarding, screenwriting, acting, location scouting, problem solving, props, costume, cinematography and editing by Florida Film House's industry professionals over a weekend and within 4 days during spring break. They produce professional high quality short films and screen it on the final day of the film boot camp.

One of their films was an adaptation of our new comic "Battle of Love" where the super heroines are Love, Hip Hop and Sunshine whose super power is love to help heal their community. Get your copy at one of our upcoming book signings and pop up art exhibitions. Please see our tour schedule on page 7. Their other short films produced focus on the impact of social media and bullying from a young person's perspective.

Getting Financially Lit! with Dade Credit Union

Edison Park K-8 Center - Dade Credit Union visits URGENT, Inc. to help share the importance of getting financially lit at an early stage. They made learning fun through games and a savings challenge with healthy competition. The learning didn't stop for our young ladies in grades 5-7, they visited our FACE youth development program at Edison Senior High School and our Youth Empowerment Afterschool program. One student mentioned, "I didn't realize I could actually save money and not spend it right away. I started with a quarter. I saved a $1.25 so far!", said a 6th grader. Thank you Dade Credit Union!

Literacy with a cup of tea with Miss Gail at 2nd Annual Tea & Titles

Edison Park K-8 Center Media Center - Thank you Miss Gail Willingham for inspiring our young ladies through reading books by women writers and about women and girls while instilling etiquette. Next book on their reading list is "Well Read Black Girl" by Glory Edim and "Girls Write Now: True Stories from Young Female Voices" by Girls Write Now. Our 2nd Annual Tea & Titles was hosted at Edison Park K-8 Center's media center where our young readers read passages from their selected books, enjoyed sipping tea and tea sandwiches filled with refreshing discussion.

URGENT, INC | SPRING 2019

11

THIS WOMAN'S WORK WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

IMPACT FUNDER OF THE YEAR

COMMISSIONER BARBARA JORDAN

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

FRAN KATZ FORMERLY WITH WOMEN'S FUND

AMBASSADORS

MEDIA PARTNER OF THE YEAR

YOUTH SPOKEN WORD

Overtown Performing Arts Center - And this year's 3rd annual bronze bra awards go to... drum roll, please...

Commissioner Barbara Jordan, D1 for sponsor of the year, Commissioner Keon Hardemon for Impact Funder of the Year, Linda Blankstein with Macy's for Business Partner of the Year, Fran Katz, formerly with Women's Fund for Mentor of the Year, Carolynn Guniss for Media Partner of the Year, Honey Shine for Community Partner of the Year, Caridad Hernandez for Board Member of the Year, Martine Bonheur for Parent of the Year and Monica Bissainthe for Youth Member of the Year. Congratulations to all bronze bra awardees! The bronze bra awards those who provide direction, support and lift in leadership and contributions to the community while commemorating women's history and youth arts month.

The afternoon included talent by Mia Hyppolite who performed a liturgical dance celebrating freedom and extraordinary spoken word talent performed by Idaah Joseph and Leonce Luma who had you thinking about kings treating women and young women as queens. Photography by Deion Mendez and video by Chuks Ibeji.

DIGITAL FACE

BROADCAST

UNDER LEADERSHIP

BY CTE FILM INSTRUCTOR

JOEY ASHLEY

Left to Right: Martin Eugene, Arrie McClendon, Leonce Luma, Leland Overton, and Mandy Saint Simon.

Thank You Florida Film House COMMUNITY PARTNER

1st Take Film Program

Thank you Giovanny Delgado, The Children's Trust contract manager for supporting our young people in attending 1st Take film screening at overtown performing arts center on March 29, 2019. It means alot to have your support! Our students wrote, directed, produced, performed and edited two short films in 4 days and screened their film on the 5th day during their spring break. In addition, Florida Film House invited key industry professionals and executive producer for Love & Hip Hop and professional actors.

Left to Right: Martin Eugene, Arrie McClendon, Leonce Luma, Leland Overton, and Mandy Saint Simon.

On Site at

Left to Right: Leland Overton, Leonce Luma and Absoloot

3rd Annual This Woman's Work

Left to Right: Leonce Luma, The Children's Trust, and Kamal Ani-Bello

DIGITAL FACE BROADCAST To Request Services: Contact Joey Ashley at joey@urgentinc.org

Youth Poetry MORE THAN A COLOR

TO BE A BLACK WOMAN ITo be a woman in a world where you have to go

Black, a color that defines me

through trials and tribulations just to prove to the

Don’t remind me the color

average man you can work in the same environment

that you claim is

Constantly being undermined

inside me. Unlike you

Expected to cook, clean, and care for children all

I am criticized for the

day everyday

color that caresses my skin.

Not being taken seriously To be black in a world where you have to prove

You’re clearly

that you deserve the same privileges as the

blind to not realize the

average white man

beauty that’s with

Being looked at differently cause my hair is nappy

in me. Bear in mind

in different hairstyles and my skin is a beautiful

deep inside we’re all the

bronze coat that you can’t afford to wear To be a black woman I have to go through hell and

same so why do you

back just to show that I am capable of doing a

undermine me as if I’m

mans job while gaining the same equal respect

not worth your time. So please

Rarely rewarded for a job well done, envied when we get acknowledged

look back and remember

The most disrespected and unprotected person in

the things my people have

America is the black woman

accomplished in the frame you’ve

Constantly going to war with not only men but women alike to gain the same rights

unkindly bestowed upon them.

Every time I get on an elevator with a white woman

Black a color

and her son she brings her son closer to her body

that defines me,

and holds him tighter

you lack the mindset to

To have your own people

realize the strength that bares in me.

turn against you over a man

So let me remind you Constantly competing against others just like me.

that this color is more

I get stereotyped.

“Black Women are bound to fail...black women will

than a color it’s stronger than any other.

only sit on a porch and have babies back to back with different men...black on crack”

My ancestors endured the pain and

As a Young black woman...

suffering you’ve

I get the opportunity to prove

bestowed upon them this

those who doubt me wrong I get the chance to do the opposite of

makes me even more proud

all those stereotypes

to say that I’m powerful and there’s no other race like mine.

As A Young Black Woman I create a path that takes me higher than those above me

- Leonce Luma I have the pen to write my own story

- Idaah Joseph

PAGE 17

Youth Black Out Poetry

PAGEÂ 6

INTO THE WILD WITH Sierra Club ICO Miami in Everglades National Park

Photo courtesy by Mark Walters

Canoeing

Sara Valentin Photo Courtesy: Shedia Nelson

Camping

Thank You Sierra Club ICO Miami

Photo courtesy by Shedia Nelson

Wet Walk in Alligator Hole

Sara Valentin Photo Courtesy: Shedia Nelson

Alligator saying, "bye" on last day

Our Girls celebrates Girls Beauty Within with global makeup artist and founder of MakeupByRory, Thank You Rory Lee

Left to Right: Shauntravia West, Ashlee Thomas, MUCE, Juberney Etienne and Jamiya Boone at Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown, Miami. Photo courtesy by Deion Mendez

Soul Basel Book Talk Moderated by Ashlee Thomas, MUCE President Thank You Ashlee Thomas

Nasir, Preserving, Archiving, Teaching (PATH) to Hip Hop DJ at Historic Lyric Theater Photo Courtesy: Deion Mendez

Preserving Archiving Teaching Hip Hop (PATH) to Hip Hop on the 1's & 2's at Soul Basel

Spring Break Miami Our Story Design Camp in partnership with Preserving, Archiving, Teaching (PATH) to Hip Hop

This exciting spring break was full of adventure, hands on fun learning in 3-D print design, seeing the architecture of Miami, a guided tour with Miami Dade County Art in Public Spaces and helped youth realize their story in Miami by helping them affirm the change they want to see in their communities. Thank you to our 3D design instructors include Nia Young and Louis Phillippe Rodriguez and PATH to Hip Hop team: Seth Brimstone and Natalie Schere.

This five day camp concluded with youth expo streamed live on Island TV at Poetic Lakay hosted at Little Haiti Cultural Center where these talented young people presented on what they learned about Miami and the change they wish to see in their communities. Some students performed some dynamic Hip Hop free style solos.

Spring Break Miami Our Story Design Camp tours downtown lead by Miami Dade County Art in Public Places

Youth led 3D print Design

Youth are the drivers for change.

Spring Break Miami Our Story Design Camp visits Miami City Ballet

Thank You Miami City Ballet & Preserving, Archiving, Teaching (PATH) to Hip Hop

Students enjoyed their visit at Miami City Ballet where they received VIP backstage access to a closed rehearsal for Midsummer's Night Dream, stepped into the history of their costume vault and met the magical seamstress team and concluded with learning some ballet movement and youth shared some Hip Hop movement. Students and staff were challenged to choreograph a fusion of movement of ballet and Hip Hop in five minutes, perform it and everyone boogied down a Soul Train line.

Digital FACE