Los Angeles, CA (BALLYHOO PUBLIC RELATIONS) - As the second annual Hip-Hop Leadership camp draws near, leaders in entertainment continue to rally for the cause of empowering young people. MC Lyte is the most recent confirmation to the list of attendees participating in the Hip-Hop Leadership camp, which gets underway August 10-13, on the campus of UCLA. Public figures from the worlds of music and entertainment will convene to conduct daily seminars for at-risk youth from the Los Angeles area. The purpose of the camp is to challenge youth to look beyond dreams of being artists, by empowering them with the tools to become business people.
Entertainers and industry professionals representing some of the most recognized brands in entertainment are volunteering their professional and celebrity status to give back to the youth by sharing their experiences while teaching the importance of empowerment through education using hip-hop as a tool. During the second week of August, 35 inner-city youth will be housed on the campus of UCLA where they will undergo a four day apprenticeship learning the ins and outs of the music business as a means to learning practical application of business skills.
The Hip Hop Leadership Camp (HHLC) utilizes the music, entertainment, communication, and technology industries as a medium to promote leadership and the empowerment of at-risk youth by introducing and illustrating career tools via hands-on workshops with DJs, radio personalities, artists, video producers, business managers, accountants, marketing/A&R representatives, and lawyers. 'This camp is more than just a series of classes," explains camp founder Karen Levy. 'The personal interaction and application of the skills acquired in the program gives them the chance to experience their potential as future leaders by using their love of hip-hop and entertainment as a learning tool.'
Rapper E40 and Mister Cartoon (World Famous Tattoo and Entertainment Artist) were among the artists on hand at last year's camp that equipped the youth with life changing advice on the business of entertainment. Along with educational workshops, the camp incorporates discussions geared toward leadership training and social responsibility, as well as recreational activities. The focus of all activities includes team building, goal setting and leadership development through the hip-hop culture and entertainment industry. The classes are the first step in the mentoring program, which guarantees students who maintain a 2.5 grade average and above and graduate from high school an internship in the entertainment field of their choice.
The program, a non-profit (501c3), has received generous donations thus far but is still in need of donations to cover tuition for some of the at-risk youth so the students have no out of pocket costs. To contribute to the program, contact Karen Levy at the address listed below.
This year's speakers include Sway (MTV's Hip Hop correspondent and co-founder of the Sway & Tech Wake Up Show), MC Lyte (artist), DJ Skee (DJ, personal DJ for rapper The Game, Radio DJ for Sirus & Founder of Marketing Co HYPE PR), Big Paul (Sr Director Promotion Mixshow Radio, National, Universal Music Group/Motown), Big Jon Platt (Executive Sr. VP Urban Music, EMI Music Publishing), Chino XL (rapper), Gary Jackson (Professor – Hip Hop Business at UCLA), Sticky Fingaz (rapper/actor) Davey D (Hip Hop historian, journalist, DJ and community activist), Gail Mitchell (Sr. Editor Billboard Magazine) Billy Johnson Jr. (Yahoo! Music), Poetess (100.3 the Beat), Luscious Liz (Power 106), Jerry Davis (Music Supervisor Fox Sports), Angela Sanchez (Director, Online Marketing Universal Video and Distribution), Arian Reed (ARPR Marketing), Myra McCaskill (CPA; Director, Marketing Finance and Planning Geffen), The Generalz (rap group), Milano (rapper), Big Chan (Formerly Doggy's Angels) and more to be confirmed including special surprise guests.
