And I am using both to share a non-profit organization with you. It is called
Words Beats & Life and it is located in Northwest Washington, DC. Words Beats & Life transforms individual lives and whole communities through hip-hop.
I wanted to do something different for my birthday, so I researched nonprofit organizations in this area that really resonated with me because of their mission and their approach. I really wanted to find something that worked with kids, particularly an after-school program, and one which did something with the arts. WBL is very transparent and can be researched through guidestar.org (if you're into that sort of thing).
Words Beats and Life develops and supports a community of young artists by providing consistent artistic instruction for DC youth. It provides information, opportunity and resources to under served youth and artists.
WBL was conceptualized in 2002 upon completion of the second annual WBL hip-hop conference at the University of Maryland. Conference planners saw the potential utilization of hip-hop culture as a vehicle to engage youth in meaningful dialogue and direct action, offering an alternative to violence and crime. I liked this aspect of their history because it shows that young people, particularly college students and recent grads, don't have to give up their passions in order to be successful.
Their founder and Executive Director is a brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. A WONDERFUL write-up about WBL can be found in
this edition of the Crescent, the national organ of the Sigmas. It's wonderful that his fraternity supports this endeavor.
WBL is rooted in the idea that artists when organized can transform individual lives and whole communities. Hip-hop culture has an inherent transformative power which allows WBL staff to create a learning environment in which every student is also a teacher. This is done by intentionally creating experiences that encourage youth to build consensus, create a collective vision, and play a role in collective action. WBL promotes lasting social change by: 1) helping youth develop creative approaches to familiar challenges 2) encouraging strategic thinking about the future and 3) encouraging youth to foster partnership with adults to create community-based change with new skill sets.
The WBL Journal and Arts Academy both promote the idea that
success requires traditional education and street smarts by placing value on academic excellence and the lived experiences of its students/contributors.
If you would like to celebrate my birthday with me today -- or my 10,000th post on GreekChat, please make a donation to Words Beats & Life!
The Facebook Cause
The Catalogue for Philanthropy/Network for Good Page, if you're not on facebook.
Or send a check or money order to:
Mazi Mutafa, Executive Director
Words Beats & Life
1525 Newton Street, NE
Washington, DC 20010
And on your checks or messages, please write "In Honor of Rashid" or "Rashid's Birthday Drive" -- please don't put "In memory" because I ain't dead yet!
The fine print:
I am not a member of the WBL Board of Directors or Staff. I am not dating the ED or any of the staff or board of directors. I have only ever met one of them before and I honestly don't remember her. I am receiving nothing from them in exchange for fundraising. I literally just wanted to reward a nonprofit for doing the right thing when it comes to good work, thinking outside the box, and maintaining transparency.
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