Global Block Foundation
 
http://nepal.usembassy.gov/ep-03-2-2010.html
 
 
Alaska Young Professionals Tapped for a Cultural Diplomacy Mission to Nepal
An outgrowth of the OurTime 2008 Youth Civic Engagement Initiative Using Hip Hop To Teach Political Literacy

Three Alaska Young Professionals will take part in a Cultural Diplomacy Mission with the US State Department to Nepal representing The Global Block Foundation's Global Block Collective. 

Who:
Members of the Global Block Collective have performed in over 7 countries throughout Latin America in the last 2 years and this is the first mission to Asia and the first to include a team from Alaska. This particular Cultural Diplomacy Mission in Nepal through The Global Block Collective will feature three Alaska artists: Kima Hamilton aka "DJ Nutman", and B-Boys Victor Mangrobang aka "Victamone", and Chris Sagayo aka "Ika" (Illaskan Assassins). 

What:
The Global Block Collective is a Project of  The Global Block Foundation which was founded by US Cultural Envoy and Hip-Hop Political Pioneer George "Rithm" Martinez. The mission of The Global Block Foundation is to 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.
When/Where:
Team Alaska departs to Nepal on February 26th and will return Monday, March 8th. The mission is 10 days long and will include sites in both Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The agenda includes public performances, school visits, master workshops, lectures and will include a reception at the US Ambassador's house in Kathmandu, Nepal. To follow the mission visit: www.globalblock.org. 

Why:
The mission will build relationships, empower and engage youth in using hip-hop and creative expression as a framework for problem solving, community building, and community organizing.

Background:
This opportunity is an outgrowth of a collaboration between the Anchorage Urban League Young Professionals (akyps.org), the Hip-Hop Association (hiphopassociation.org), The Global Block Foundation (globalblock.org) and Illaska.com. It gave birth to OurTime 2008, a successful youth civic engagement initiative of the Anchorage Urban League Young Professionals, a program of the Anchorage Urban League. OurTime 2008 was an innovative year-long civic engagement initiative using hip hop as a tool to teach political literacy. The curriculum was designed by Hon. George Martinez. The initiative reached 10,000 Alaskan youth statewide including junior high, high school and college students in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Dillingham. Over 1200 youth were registered to vote through this project in Anchorage's diverse underrepresented communities. The Hon. George Martinez has continued his commitment to building a bridge between New York and Alaska creating spaces for youth and young professionals to take their talents around the world as a force for peace and sustainable development. 

"Since the successful collaboration of OurTime I've been committed to leveraging opportunities to connect the pool of talent in Alaska to my work as a cultural diplomat through the Global Block Foundation, I am very proud to be able to invite these artists on this important mission," said Hon. George Martinez, Founder & Chairman of the Global Block Foundation.

For more information: www.globalblock.org

Call 907-276-0390 or Email elizabethposey@gmail.com



Interviews available by request with: Hon. George Martinez, Kima Hamilton, 

Victor Mangrobang, and Chris Sagayo. 




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BNE Trust, The George Price Center & Global Parish Presents:

Hip Hop Artist George Martinez

Promoting: Peace, Unity, and Social Empowerment through Hip Hop.

Saturday, February 6th at Independence Park from 4PM-6PM

(if it rains, there will be a change of venue to Belmopan Civic Center)

The Honorable George "Rithm" Martinez is a motivational hip hop performance artist. Founder of the Global Block Foundation, he is an award-winning artist, activist, educator and a political pioneer.  He is the first Hip Hop artist/activist elected to a political office in the United States and is a former Doctoral Fellow of Political Science at the City University of New York.  George is also a founding board member of the Blackout Arts Collective and since 2007, he has served as a US Cultural Envoy/Hip Hop Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, working with youth throughout Latin America.



 
 
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Nick Rapp arrived in Masca, Honduras as he continues to make his way through the Americas on the first leg of his drive around the world. Rapp is wearing the GBF PUSHH 09 Tour T-Shirt...to follow Nick Journey visit www.transworldexpedition.com
 
 
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www.tedxtamaya.com
 
 
Our friend and contributor Nicholas Rapp recently quit his job as Art Director for the Associated Press and decided to load up his car and drive around the world. Some say he is crazy, but bravery has often been confused by those less brave as other things, including crazy. Follow Rapp's Global Drive, and support Global Block's  Effort to Provide Aid to the Communities that he visits along the way. 
http://transworldexpedition.com/