CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Led by Hip Hop Ambassador George Martinez, Global Block Foundation has supported cultural diplomacy missions to over 15 countries around the world. 

Plural + 2013 Global Block Awards

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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 2 Plural + Global Block Awards 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.

 

2012 Plural + Global Block Award Winners

One Day As A Migrant

"One Day As a Migrant" By Isaac Zuñiga, Cesar Gonzalez, Erick Moller, Erik Aguilar, Emilio Cabra, Jorge Alcala & Gustavo Perez of Colegio Carol Baur. Ages 13-17, Mexico. 

Dreams

"Dreams" By Romel Jean Pierre, Roberto Gomez (adviser). Age 18-25, Haiti. 

 

Global Block Collective In Action Around The World

Tu Voz Cuenta 2011-12

PUSHH TOUR MEXICO 2010
Global Block Collective members including founder George "Rithm" Martinez and DJ Kima "Nutman" Hamilton embarked on a 10 day, 6 city tour of Mexico as a part of the PUSHH TOUR 2010. 
During the tour they reached over 12,000 people directly and over 200,000 via the news media. They performed at schools, public plazas, and juvenile detention centers. They met with mayors, security officials, diplomats and educators. Most of all, they delivered their message to thousands of wonderful Mexican children!.  Paz, Unidad, Desarrollo Social Con Hip-Hop or PUSHH!


Cities Visited on the Tour:
(Nogales, Hermosillo, La Paz, Loreto, Cabo San Lucas, Cabo San Jose)
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Global Block Reaches Summit in Nepal
HIP-HOP DIPLOMACY: SEEING THE WORLD.
Our generation realizes that success in today’s global marketplace requires new ways of thinking. We need to be innovative and flexible, constantly upgrading our skills through lifelong learning and education. Part of that education means connecting to the world beyond our borders.

In the 21st Century, America is networked to the planet in unprecedented ways. The next great technology is as likely to be born in Calcutta as California. Traveling, experiencing and working in foreign cultures is critical to obtaining an awareness of what’s next. Sadly very few of us enjoy that opportunity.

US Embassy in Nepal Thanks Global Block Collective


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US Embassy, Nepal

 

Chairman and Family at Hip-Hop Federation Meeting in NYC

 
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KRS ONE with Chairman Martinez and Family
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Channel 5 Belize

George “Rithm” Martinez gives motivational talk to youths on Belize

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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

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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 is connected to Central America because his wife is Garifuna from Honduras and Belize and his son was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Together they have a community center in the Garifuna Village of Masca, Honduras.