The Cipher-Austin's Hip Hop Project From Soldiers to Warriors

why it's important:

We decided that it was critical that we act quickly to address the needs of young people who live on the east side of Austin. So, organizers, community leaders and young people in East Austin came together to
address these ills; to build a program that would 1) intervene in the lives of youth in
crisis, 2) build community awareness and long-term community leadership skills, and 3) promote education and practical skill building to support economic self-sufficiency for youth on the east side of Austin. I am one of the youth that is in The Cipher and my life has changed. I feel like The Cipher is a youth driven program and I feel empowered to help. We have had an amazing first year as an organization and now would like to take it to the next level and allow these young leaders to gain even more tools for self-expression and leadership by both finishing our album that addresses youth issues and attending the international Brave New Voices Poetry Festival in Chicago, IL. Youth Speaks, the nation’s leading spoken word performance, education and youth development organization, will present the 13th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival. Convening over 450 of the top teenage poets and spoken word artists from across the country, Brave New Voices 2009 is a one-of-a-kind festival. Held in a different city each year, Brave New Voices (BNV) gives participants the
opportunity to explore a new cultural landscape and region while helping to build sustainable programming locally. We also need to finish recording our album and have an album release party. We would like to invite youth and those who work with us to this event and use our album as a tool to talk about issues that affect us. This is exactly the foundation we need to be able to express ourselves to each other, to adults and to help build stronger communities.

the plan of action:

In 1999, formerly homeless teen Chris ‘Kazi’ Rolle created the Hip Hop Project through New York City’s Art Start program. Despite common struggles faced by inner city youth, the participants produced their own collective hip hop album, and in the process, gained confidence in their abilities, higher knowledge, and life skills towards a positive future. A documentary of The Hip Hop Project (produced by Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah) released in Spring 2007 has inspired other cities to design similar programs. Complementary to the original, the mission of The Cipher – Austin’s Hip Hop Project is to build a community of young leaders and socially-responsible hip hop artists and to strengthen the East Austin community in multiple ways. I am one of the youth impacted by this program. One opportunity that I would like to create is allowing my peers to attend the festival described above. I know that what we have learned in the last year combined with the training and experience gained in this festival will allow all of us to pay it forward and teach others. It will really change the youth in our city. It will give us the tools to create many more opportunities for Austin youth. We have already gotten approval to attend this festival alongside the Austin Under 21 Poetry slam team (if funds can be raised). This festival will provide the writing exercises, experiences and connections to help us become leaders. We also have written 14 original songs and are getting ready to record our first album. The songs address poverty, dreams, hope, the effects of abuse, how writing helps us and much more. We want to get this album out to as many people as possible.

how you can get involved:

We need financial donations, studio time, writing supplies, grocery gift cards and music mentors.

videos: