The Global Block Foundation harnesses the spirit of innovation, creativity and activism at the core of the Hip Hop movement to empower youth and transform communities across the globe. Through leadership, expertise and financial support the foundation aims to inspire individuals to become agents of change in their communities.
Sustainable Community Building=Growing Personal Sustainability
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"What Others Are Saying About the Global Block"
Tiana Reid for Trend Hunter Social Enterprise (reprinted from original http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-block-foundation)
The Global Block Foundation Promotes Personal SustainabilityPublished: Oct 20, 11 References:globalblock.organdnewblackman.blogspot
Hip hop started as a distinctly urban New York voice; it was a creative means of communication for marginalized black youth to disrupt status quo narratives on anything and everything. Despite what the contemporary naysayer (or hip hop purist) has to say about “the state of hip hop” today, it hasn’t strayed far from its roots. But the message is now amplified: take a look at the Global Block Foundation. It’s through hip hop—its ethos, culture and music—that the Global Block aims to spur positive social change and inspire people all over the world to foster innovation, activism and creativity in their communities.
Founded by George Martinez, one of the Global Block Foundation’s core “developmental action areas,” as they call it, is social enterprise and economic development. (The other two include cultural diplomacy and youth development—all intertwined.) It’s through a crucial and innovative mix of talent, social capital investments, technology and the global marketplace that the Global Block Foundation helps to spur personal sustainability.
"Some of Global Blocks social enterprise ventures include clothing, promoting ethno/eco/agro tourism in the Garifuna Village of Masca, Honduras, and of course, music distribution. On the community development side of things, the Global Block Foundation supports partners like the Sylvia Institute for Afro-Indigenous Culture and Education, a school-based mentoring program called Education Growth Opportunity Success (EGOS) and Grass Roots Organizing America, a political literacy project focusing on advocacy and empowerment toward sustainability.
Indeed, a key tenet to the Global Block Foundation's being as an organization is sustainability, that is, sustainable community building. Just as social businesses and social enterprises must themselves find a way to create long-term change and growth, groups like the Global Block also beget the need for sustainability -- economically, holistically, spiritually and creatively." (TrendHunter.com)
The block; this block, your block, my block, our block, the block— well, it’s global. And there’s no turning back.
Origins:
The Global Block Foundation Promotes Personal SustainabilityPublished: Oct 20, 11 References:globalblock.organdnewblackman.blogspot
Hip hop started as a distinctly urban New York voice; it was a creative means of communication for marginalized black youth to disrupt status quo narratives on anything and everything. Despite what the contemporary naysayer (or hip hop purist) has to say about “the state of hip hop” today, it hasn’t strayed far from its roots. But the message is now amplified: take a look at the Global Block Foundation. It’s through hip hop—its ethos, culture and music—that the Global Block aims to spur positive social change and inspire people all over the world to foster innovation, activism and creativity in their communities.
Founded by George Martinez, one of the Global Block Foundation’s core “developmental action areas,” as they call it, is social enterprise and economic development. (The other two include cultural diplomacy and youth development—all intertwined.) It’s through a crucial and innovative mix of talent, social capital investments, technology and the global marketplace that the Global Block Foundation helps to spur personal sustainability.
"Some of Global Blocks social enterprise ventures include clothing, promoting ethno/eco/agro tourism in the Garifuna Village of Masca, Honduras, and of course, music distribution. On the community development side of things, the Global Block Foundation supports partners like the Sylvia Institute for Afro-Indigenous Culture and Education, a school-based mentoring program called Education Growth Opportunity Success (EGOS) and Grass Roots Organizing America, a political literacy project focusing on advocacy and empowerment toward sustainability.
Indeed, a key tenet to the Global Block Foundation's being as an organization is sustainability, that is, sustainable community building. Just as social businesses and social enterprises must themselves find a way to create long-term change and growth, groups like the Global Block also beget the need for sustainability -- economically, holistically, spiritually and creatively." (TrendHunter.com)
The block; this block, your block, my block, our block, the block— well, it’s global. And there’s no turning back.
Origins:
- In 2002, Hon. George Martinez conceptualized, Defuse News, a news and media service dedicated to connecting the "global hip hop block" through grassroots citizen journalism from a Hip Hop perspective. In 2003, together with Martha Diaz and Rolando Brown, Defuse News was launched as the official news service of the Hip Hop Association.
- In 2004, George traveled to Central America and began growing the "Global Block" concept in an effort to connect the "global Hip Hop block" through reliable information, economic opportunity, and cultural expression. In 2005, with the support of Martha Diaz and the Hip Hop Association, George and his wife Clara began a Hip Hop clothing distribution program throughout for youth Latin America by collecting and distributing Hip Hop gear from Hip Hop celebrities throughout New York City. During this period they began, Project Hip Hop Honduras, and the development of a community/ culture center in the Garifuna village of Masca in Honduras.
- In 2006, George was appointed as a US Cultural Envoy/ Hip Hop Ambassador by the Department of State and began to expand the scope of the youth development work that he and his wife had begun doing in New York and Masca.
- In 2008, the Foundation was formally formed to serve as the hub of the international aid work of the Global Block Network. The Foundation consists of an all volunteer board of directors and global membership. Co-founders of the Foundation include Clara Guerrero-Martinez and Jelani Mashariki.
- In 2009, the Foundation became a civil society partner of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and a sponsoring organization of the Plural + Youth Film Festival/ Media Literacy Initiative.
- In 2012, the Foundation was selected as one of America's top 10 Hip Hop social enterprises with successful programs or collaborative efforts expanding to over 30 cities across 15 countries.
- In 2012, chairman Martinez was selected as one of the the 40 under 40 rising latino stars of New York.
- In 2014 the Foundation relocated its US based headquarters to the city of Anchorage, Alaska.
- 2015, the "Global Block" opens its global center in Anchorage