Plural + 2011 Global Block Awards
The PLURAL+ Video Festival is an empowering tool for young people to speak out about what they think of migration and diversity, using their own views and voices. The PLURAL+ Video Festival gives youth a platform to say what they think and to make themselves heard by people from all over the world.
In addition to being an official sponsor of the Plural + Video Festival, we will be presenting the first ever, Plural + Global Block Awards. A total of 3 awards will go to selections that are most closely aligned to the mission of the Global Block.
In addition to the Plural + Global Block Awards, several other partner organizations will also be awarding videos including the International Jury Award.
The PLURAL+ International Jury will select three videos (one for each age group) and award them with the PLURAL + International Jury Award.
In addition to being an official sponsor of the Plural + Video Festival, we will be presenting the first ever, Plural + Global Block Awards. A total of 3 awards will go to selections that are most closely aligned to the mission of the Global Block.
In addition to the Plural + Global Block Awards, several other partner organizations will also be awarding videos including the International Jury Award.
The PLURAL+ International Jury will select three videos (one for each age group) and award them with the PLURAL + International Jury Award.
- These awardees will receive $ 1,000USD each as well as, when possible, an invitation (travel and accommodations expenses paid) to attend the November 10th, 2011 PLURAL + Awards Ceremony in New York City
Global Block Collective
PUSHH TOUR MEXICO 2010
 | US Embassy in Nepal Thanks Global Block Collective US Embassy, Nepal |
Chairman and Family at Hip-Hop Federation Meeting in NYC KRS ONE with Chairman Martinez and Family |  |
 | Channel 5 BelizeGeorge “Rithm” Martinez gives motivational talk to youths on Belize
 George 'Rithm' Martinez
Youths from around the country will be converging on Saturday morning in the capital for a conference and concert designed to motivate and inspire them. The event is connected with the work of several stakeholders including the BNE Trust, and the violence research by Doctor Herbert Gale. The organizers have brought in a special guest and motivational speaker for Saturday morning’s event. George ‘Rithm’ Martinez works with the U.S. Department of State as a cultural envoy. His works has taken him throughout Central and South America. Martinez stopped by our studios to tell us more about what he will do at the George Price Center in Belmopan.
George ‘Rithm’ Martinez, Cultural Envoy, U.S. Department of State “My specialty in hip hop is Mcee-ing, which means microphone control to move the crowd. It’s the ability to say with just your voice in the ancient African tradition of call and response for example, to use my voice to motivate action and motivate the crowd to A: celebrate and cheer, the positive action or positive energy of a show or to mobilize toward addressing very serious community issues that plague us all. So I use my talent making music and of rhyming as a griot, the ancient tradition of the storyteller.” Sylvia Laasner, Project Coordinator, BNE Trust Sylvia Laasner
“We are sponsoring, in collaboration with the George Price Center, the conference whereby they invited one hundred young people across the country to join us as part of the crime research Mrs. Vasquez is conducting as well. We decided to bring in someone who can be a motivation beside the idea to reach out and to give young people a message that someone is there to care for them, someone is there that wants to know what are the problems.
So that’s why they decided to identify someone who could come to entertain and motivate and we found out about George Martinez.” George ‘Rithm’ Martinez, “The idea is to say that community building means that all vested interests in the community have to come together. So I’m here to give a message to young people; your voice counts, organizing matters and we you to participate in creating a better Belize for tomorrow. But I’m also here for a message to policy makers, teachers and police that holistically growing our community is the only way to save our community is the only way to save our children and our children are the future. So if we’re not focused on making sure young people have all the tools to be able to A: resolve conflicts in their homes and community, B: be able to see a positive future of economic development and personal sustainability and C: a place where their own talents and creativity matter.” Martinez says he is connected to Central America because his father-in-law is from Honduras, and his wife is from Belize. |
