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Hey everyone!!!!
Thanks to all the PeaceJammers and Volunteers for joining us, sharing your time with us and truly making the Neighborhood Centers’ Greater Texas PeaceJam 2011 SLAM a wonderful success!
The SLAM’s theme was centered around Unity in our Diversity and the Global Call to Action being addressed was Ending Racism and Hate! Everyone who attended had the opportunity of spending the day’s events through music, dance, poetry, team building games, and a whole lot of fun while we all celebrated what makes us Special and Unique.
We kicked off the Event with the good ol’ PeaceJam way of Singing in the Rain. There is nothing like hearing that the youth enjoyed that from the get-go they knew we were going to have fun, learn some important things today, but also have the freedom to get a little silly. To keep the energy up and going the Youth then raced to get into their Family Groups to compete in the hula-hoop contest.
The first Family groups had everyone getting to know each other with a couple ice breakers and a bit more energy based games. Youth decided on their Family Group Norms and from the feedback we have received, the Youth thought it was a great and easy way for them to get to know one another!
We followed our first Family Group with our first round of workshops. We had Workshop presenters come from all over the community and they truly helped to further spread the message of the SLAM’s theme of Unity in our Diversity. Our workshops included spoken word poetry from Deborah Wiggins and Out Spoken Bean, information and activities from Houston Area Women’s Center, Anti-Gang Unit, A Simple Thread, Holocaust Museum Houston, and an interactive experience with Marlan Lizama.
We were fortunate enough to all have lunch together provided by an International Café on the campus grounds. Not only were we able to enjoy everyone’s company but some of the Youth attending the SLAM put on a wonderful show of self expression through Break Dancing.
After lunch the Youth and Volunteers were off to their second workshops. For the Event we were lucky to have the workshops that were so generous with their time do two workshops for the Youth, that way there was more of an opportunity for the youth to experience the diverse means of Being the Change!
A special thanks goes out to Marlon Lazama for acting as one of the Key-note speakers and also provided inspiration through his story and the craft, culture and expression of Hip-Hop. After our second workshop he and his crew served as not only a wonderful source of motivation but we were also able to see them in action. Everything Marlon had said to the outh came alive with the dancing!
My Personal favorite part of the SLAM Event was after the energy of the Break dancing the Youth wanted to participate in an open mic. Youth then got up on stage and performed some of the poetry and writings they had written in the workshops! There is nothing more powerful than experiencing the talent Youth have to offer!
Warmed thanks to Out Spoken Bean, serving as our second presenter and who truly inspired everyone with his words and poetry. From the feedback we have seen from the youth and everyone participating in the SLAM, it is apparent that the artistic expression of Out Spoken Bean really touched everyone in the audience as something powerful.
We finished out the 2011 SLAM with our last Family Groups. This was a time of reflection over the presenters, the workshops, and also a time where the Youth would participate in our last activity. “I Crossed the Line” was an activity that truly explores and defines us as individuals but also shows the similarities we have with one another. After hearing the Youth express how they felt during this activity and how much it means to them, we were thrilled! It seemed to be several Youth and Mentors’ favorite moment of the entire SLAM!
Again, thank you to all the YOUTH that made the SLAM worth while! And ALL the workshop presenters able to join us from the community, the Volunteers, and of course the hard working and talented Mentors.
Also, Here at Neighborhood Centers’ PeaceJam we know we had a wonderful time and are thrilled that everyone involved, especially the YOUTH, enjoyed it as much as us and would love to hear about it from you! Post on the website your favorite moments and what you enjoyed most in the SLAM!
Look out for the photos we are posting ?
Remember, “Be the Change!”
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