Black Girls Rock! Application

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is now accepting new applicants for the 2009-2010 school year! BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc.’s mission is to promote the arts for young women of color between the ages of 12 and 17 and to encourage positive life changing activity, critical thinking, and dialogue about the images of women in our present day culture. By providing alternative options and role models, and offering support through discussion, education, counseling, internships, mentoring and advocacy, our mission is to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color, thereby changing their out-look on life, broadening their horizons and helping them to empower themselves through the arts and entertainment. The requirements for enrollment in the program are as follows:     

Females between the ages of 12 and 17 Have a strong interest in music (DJing/Poetry/Art and Hip-Hop culture) Be of African descent (African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, Afro-Arab, Afro-European, etc.) Girls and their parents/guardians have fill out the attached application A parent/guardian must accompany their child on the first day of the program

Below are descriptions of the scheduled programs offered (girls are encouraged to participate in all activities): BLACK GIRLS ROCK! SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY PROGRAM BLACK GIRLS ROCK! in conjunction with the Scratch DJ Academy conducts a year-round out-of-school comprehensive musical program that incorporates technical DJ training and musical education for girls enrolled in the BGR mentoring program. Combining copy written curriculum, hands-on training, and celebrity DJ instructors, the BGR!/Scratch DJ Academy program offers an incredible opportunity for amateur and aspiring music enthusiasts to learn how to DJ, from mixing and blending, to scratching and beat juggling. The classes are half lecture and half lab and provide students with the highest level in DJ and music production education. The girls also have weekly music research assignments. Complete courses with classes comprised of 20 young women will run weekly on Saturday mornings for six weeks. The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Scratch DJ Academy program is an ideal opportunity for young women to develop their creativity through acquired musical skills and highly structured production workshops guided by master DJs and celebrity guest producers. Designed to build self-esteem and cooperative skills, participants explore various musical art forms, techniques, and processes through a succession of music classes. Dates: TBA Course Length: 6 classes (70 minutes per class) Location: Scratch DJ Academy: 434 Sixth Ave. (2nd Floor) between 9th St. and 10th St. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! – POETRY WORKSHOP ‘I RHYME LIKE A GIRL’ Taught by ‘Rhyme Like a Girl’ founder, international champion of hip-hop culture Toni Blackman, The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ‘Rhyme Like A Girl’ spoken word program is a three-hour workshop that takes place once a week for 6-week sessions. Through a structured training program the workshop provides artistic development and performance opportunities where participants acquire discipline, performance, presentation, and critical thinking skills; leadership training techniques that will empower young women to function as leaders within the hip-hop community and the world; skills to become effective social activists; and educational activities that will prepare them to be at the head of a movement of female artists who define their own images.

Techniques and supplies include specially selected texts, resource books (dictionaries, thesauruses) theater exercises, media as well as the incorporation of other art forms to encourage the process. Goals:  To build self-esteem, nurture artistic gifts and foster personal growth of program participants  To provide avenues that lead participants to a stronger sense of self and ability  To groom participants to be "stage ready" and confident public speakers  To create a collaborative CD of the participants' best and completed works from the program as a keepsake as well as proof of this tangible accomplishment participants have made collectively and individually *A light snack or lunch will be provided.* Date/Time: TBA Duration: Approximately 3 hours Location: BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Loft in Brooklyn: 48 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ‘TASTE THE WORLD’ PROGRAM “Making the foreign familiar through an in depth understanding of the vibrant techniques and culture of the foods of the world.” The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ‘Taste the World’ program predisposes young women to different cultures through their sense of taste. Taking advantage of the diverse multicultural experiences of New York City, The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ‘Taste the World’ program will allow BGR! program participants to experience the unique delicious cuisines of various ethnic groups and get information detailing the origins and cultural relevance of these fine foods while observing the traditional etiquette of the culture. Once a month, girls will receive a gourmet tour moderated by various cultural culinary experts. As they savor an array of delicious flavors from the around the world they will also be educated on cultural customs, norms, etiquette, and become well-rounded individuals accepting of other cultures as they interact with America's melting pot and prepare to visit abroad. Date/Time: TBA DURATION: Approximately 3 hours LOCATION: Various ethnic restaurants and specialty food shops in New York City FOOD: Delicious food specialties and traditional authentic style cuisine served family style BLACK GIRLS ROCK! & REHAB PROJECTS “HITMAKERS” SUMMER CAMP 2010 The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Hitmakers Summer Camp was designed to create a unique experience through music for youth aged 12-17. Participants will create a collaborative music project with other young musicians, learn more about the professional music business and the process of creating music. Students will spend TWO weeks working on creating their own original music. They will learn how music producers of today create songs using a combination of computers, software, and traditional instruments. In creating their own music, students will work with Propellerhead’s Reason software and Ableton Live. They will do all of their own instrumentation using the same tools that most professional studios and producers use today. They will learn how to use MIDI and incorporate a 25key, keyboard as well as use a drum machine. By the end of the 2 week, 10 day program, students will have created a minimum of one completed song that will be mixed and mastered with a professional engineer at Red Bull’s state of the art music studio in Santa Monica. This track will then be pressed down to 500 CDs and distributed, along with all of the student’s songs at the end of the camp. Students will also learn the basics of distribution and promotion in order to share their music with the world.

Other Activities Students will be engaged in countless other activities involving music and their project both indoors and outdoors to keep the day fun and exciting. These include but are not limited to:      

Educational documentaries pertaining to the subject manner of their project, enhancing their cultural awareness Song writing with local artists in an outdoor, creative, and inspirational setting Trivia games surrounding the material that the students will be learning throughout the camp to help reinforce the subject matter and build camaraderie Field trips to vinyl stores to experience the culture first hand and search for material for their projects Guest speakers and specialists to enhance and enrich the experience Studio time in Red Bull’s state of the art studio in Santa Monica

Individual scholarships are offered to qualified applicants on a first come, first served basis based on available sponsorship dollars and an essay application process. 80% of the slots are offered to low income households. DATE: Summer 2010 Location: Los Angeles, California BLACK GIRLS ROCK! NORTH EAST COLLEGE CAMPUS TOURS THE BLACK GIRLS ROCK! College Tour is an engaging and informative college prep program that offers students a first-hand look at colleges and universities throughout the North East region detailing programs, facilities and institutional advantages. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! will arrange and conduct escorted tours of college campuses for groups of high school students enrolled in the BGR! program. BGR! will perform a wide variety of services in connection with these tours, including organizing and presenting orientation workshops; preparing college selection workbooks; designing tour itineraries; arranging transportation; arranging hotel accommodations if needed; arranging oncampus activities, visits with admissions officials and faculty; and providing professional educators and/or students to accompany the students and enrich their campus visits. DATE: Fall 2009 LOCATION: Harvard University, Boston University, Northeastern University, MIT, Boston College, Tufts University, Berklee School of Music, Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence College, Yale University, Wesleyan University, Columbia University, Fordham University, New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, Parsons School of Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University Villanova University, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art. Georgetown University or George Washington University, Howard University, American University, University of Maryland. About BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is 501c3 non-profit youth empowerment, mentoring organization established to promote the arts for teenage women of color and to encourage dialogue as well as promote analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. The organization was founded as a reaction to the commonplace images of Black women in videos magazines and other visual media. All too frequently mass media portrayals of Black women particularly in hip-hop culture promulgate hyper-sexualized, misogynistic impressions of women-as-objects with little worth beyond their physical attributes. These images have actively affected the way many of our youth view themselves today. The goal of this organization is to draw much needed attention to the state of emergency that exists in the inner cities in the US concerning young women of color and bring about awareness and change in the way in which young women are being portrayed in hip hop culture, entertainment, and media. By speaking to the next generation their formative years about issues of self-worth, goals, and aspirations the organization reinforces the message that young women need not objectify themselves or relinquish their autonomy. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! has boldly taken on the crisis of our female youth of color here in America head on and understands the need for positive self-images and a strong sense of awareness. WE SEE SOLUTIONS.

Registration Form Part I First Name

Child’s Information School Information Parent’s/Guardian’s Information

School (Elementary, Middle, H.S.?)

First Name(s)

Phone Numbers

Last Name

Relationship

Zip Code

Work Phone (only if you will accept calls)

In case of Emergency, please contact:

1st Number

Grade

City, State

Home Phone

Phone

Age/Date of Birth

Does your school have a music program/instructor?

Street

Mailing Address

Emergency Contact

Last Name

Relationship

2nd Number

E-Mail

(Indicate type)

List any medical issues/concerns

Registration Form Part II  REGISTRANT: Please write on an accompanying sheet of paper a 300-word essay (approximately three full paragraphs) telling BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. 1) Who you are? Where you come from? What are your interests? What makes you special from your point of view? 2) How do you want to make a difference in your community? What are your goals? 3) Why this opportunity would make a positive difference in your life? Be as interesting and creative as possible. Please adhere to the word amount allotted. Registration material will not be returned.

Applicant Signature__________________________

Date____________________

Parent Signature____________________________

Date____________________

If you have more than one child to register, please use separate forms for each.

Select Session(s) Fall Session: TBD

Full scholarship of $300 is granted for Fall Session 1 for BGR! Inc. Registrants E-mail application *plus essay* to: [email protected] Mail applications to: BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. Attn: Shayla Ball 48 Lexington Ave 1st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11238 Fax applications to: 718.789.7620 If you have questions please don’t hesitate to call: 718.789.ROCK (7625) Photography Rights and Permission: I understand that during the course of this program and all involvement therein, my child’s photo and or video likeness may be taken, and I hereby give my consent to use any such photo or video in conjunction with promotional use or media coverage. Disclaimer: I understand that BLACK GIRLS ROCK! INC. reserves the right to change, cancel, or modify the program’s schedule, musical workshops, themes, or faculty at anytime. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! INC. also reserves the right to withdraw any student whose conduct is deemed disruptive and/or harmful to peers, faculty, or staff. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! INC. cannot be held liable for personal injury or damage to or loss of personal property. Authorized Pick-up Release: Besides myself, only the following people are permitted to pick up my child:

*************************************************************************************** MY CHILD IS AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL ALONE: Parent Signature_____________________________________________________

I have read, consented to, and understand all the policies stated. Parent Signature ___________________________________________Date_____________________________