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Hip Hop Caucus co-hosts Climate Justice-focused Cultural Center @ Climate Week NYC 2019

Hip Hop Caucus has teamed up with  If Not Us Then Who to host Our Village at Climate Week

NYC 2019! Our Village explores innovative solutions to the demands of indigenous peoples and communities of color to support locally driven action on the climate crisis, injustice, and inequality.

All around the world, local communities are responding to climate change with powerful resilience, innovative action, and a spirit that can profoundly impact our world. Our Village brings this spirit to New York City for Climate Week and invites people from all walks of life to belong to a community inspired by justice and our connection to the earth. We believe that by exploring creativity alongside ancestral and cultural wisdom, we can facilitate deep emotional connections, bringing together networks with new inspirational ideas.

This is the second annual Our Village — in 2018 we brought Our Village to the Global Climate Action Summit with much success and excitement. 

Our Village 2019 is presented by If Not Us Then Who and Hip Hop Caucus, in partnership with the Global Alliance of Territorial Authorities. In partnership with MescoAmerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB), Rainforest Foundation US, Amazon Watch, Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Frontlines, Pachamama Alliance, and Client Earth.

More information and a full schedule of events is available at OurVillage.us. #OurVillage

Also — on Friday, September 20 — we invite you to join us at Our Village for pre and post climate strike events! 

Strike With Us Gathering [9-11am] – RSVP

Join young leaders, Indigenous leaders, Climate Justice leaders, and climate strikers for a  gathering of fellowship, spiritual grounding, sign making, and media availability before taking to the streets in solidarity with those across the world. There will be sign making supplies, music, coffee, tea, and juice, and morning snacks. This is event is for all ages and RSVP is required. 

Worldwide Climate Strike! [Noon] – RSVP at StrikeWithUs.org

Climate Strike Celebration presented by Think 100% & Grist [6-10pm] – RSVP

Celebrate the youth-led Global Climate Strike, power of our movement, and hope for the future in an evening hosted by Think 100% co-hosts Antonique Smith & Rev Yearwood, There will be music, dancing, light snacks, and drinks, and special guests will be blessing us with brief remarks throughout the evening! This is event is for all ages and RSVP is required. 

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Press Uncategorized

Celebrate Hip Hop Caucus’ 15th Anniversary!

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RSVP for the Party – Sept 14 in D.C.

Hip Hop Caucus started on September 11, 2004, when we held an event at Howard University that brought together Young People, Hip Hop Artists, Activists, and Members of Congress — igniting a force to speak truth to power in Washington D.C.  From there we took the mandate to build grassroots and cultural power across a multi-issue agenda with the mission to empower communities impacted first and worst by injustice.

Ticket stub from the first event, September 11, 2004, at Howard University.

To celebrate 15 years of Hip Hop Caucus, we’re throwing a party! If you are in Washington D.C. this weekend for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC), join us for a celebration of this milestone Saturday night!


 

We are also co-hosting our 10th Hip Hop & Politics Braintrust with Rep. Andre Carson on Friday, which is always one of the most powerful and popular sessions at CBC ALC.

For 15 years we have organized, mobilized, and energized the movement across this country and world. 

Will you donate $15 for our 15 year anniversary?

At our very beginnings, we led in the recovery and fight for justice following Hurricane Katrina, sparking our leadership to solve the climate crisis for our communities. This has led to our bold and powerful climate work that is today our Think 100% platform.

We stood up against unnecessary wars and corporate greed of the Bush Administration. And in 2008, we launched what is now the longest running, most successful Hip Hop voting campaign ever, Respect My Vote!

As a civil and human rights organization for the 21st century, for 15 years we have marched against injustices of police brutality, gun violence, voter suppression, economic and educational inequality, and a biased criminal justice system. But there’s  more than marching in protest. We advocate, organize, and build alliances for solutions, and have supported so many policies that have led to real change in our communities over the years.

Looking back at all the incredible moments of triumph, as well as challenging moments of set back  — I am so proud that Hip Hop Caucus has been able to bring folks together to make real change. And it all starts and ends with you — our supporters. Thank you for being on this journey with us. 

The work ahead must be bigger and stronger than ever. The election in 2020 will have consequences that will last for generations. Donating today will go a long way in expanding our work in 2020. 

All power to the people!

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podcast

S2 – Episode 2: When the World Strikes! [Sept 6, 2019]

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podcast

S2 – Episode 1: “Vic Sues U.S. Gov & Keeps It 100” [August 29, 2019]

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Press

Climate Strike!

The Amazon Rainforest is on fire. The Arctic ice-caps are melting at an alarming rate. The world just experienced the hottest month ever. 

More intense storms, floods, wildfires, and droughts are devastating communities and ecosystems around the world, causing mass migration, rapid species extinction, more conflict, and the spread of infectious diseases. 

And it’s communities of color and poor people that are hit first and worst.  

We’ve had enough…

With politicians refusing to act, a system that puts profits over people, and an industry doing everything they can to rake in record short-term profits at the expense of our future on the planet.

That’s why we want you to join us for the Global Climate Strike on September 20th. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Just three days before the United Nations’ Climate Summit, millions of people are coming together worldwide to demand transformative action on the climate crisis.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, young people are organizing this mass mobilization around the world and are calling on everyone to join them.

Find out more about the U.S. Climate Strike on September 20 at StikeWithUs.org and actions taking place around the world from September 20-27 at GlobalClimateStrike.net

RSVP for a U.S. strike — there are hundreds taking place in communities across our country. Find the nearest one to you, or sign-up to host your own. 

If you need inspiration or want to learn more about solutions to climate change, check out our award-winning podcast, “Think 100%: The Coolest Show on Climate Change”. We are highlighting the voices of young people at the frontlines fighting for climate justice and fiercely advocating for our communities that are disproportionately impacted by this crisis. Think 100% is available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and wherever podcasts are found. Follow @Think100Show on Instagram and Twitter for the latest, and check out the YouTube page. Join the Think 100% community by signing up to receive updates. 

Just like in 2009 when we did Green the Block with artists like Drake, showed our communities a sustainable and prosperous future during our Clean Energy Now! tour in 2010, turned up the pressure during our Act On Climate tour in 2015, fought for real solutions like the Clean Power Plan, marched and testified in Congress earlier this year — we want our leaders to know that the stakes couldn’t be higher. Climate change is here. 

We demand our leaders at every level of government, industry, and society treat climate change as what it is; a crisis. Solutions exist right now — it’s been time to act. 

This September, we will make history and change the trajectory of climate change. We must mobilize for our future, for humanity, for our communities being impacted now, and for the children who are on pace to inherit a dying planet if we do nothing. 

Click here to RSVP. This is a critical moment and we need you with us. 

#Strikewithus #Think100 #ClimateStrike


About Hip Hop Caucus (HipHopCaucus.org): Established in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues impacting young people, underserved, and vulnerable communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Learn more at HipHopCaucus.org and follow @hiphopcaucus on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Press

Hip Hop Caucus co-hosting Hurricane Katrina 14th Anniversary March & Second Line

New Orleans Community, Hip Hop Artists, and Activists to Commemorate the 14th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, call for leaders to act on climate and justice

New Orleans, Louisiana – To remember the lives lost, honor the resiliency of the community, and advocate for the people most devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Hip Hop Caucus, New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation, Nuthin’ But Fire Records, Q93, and numerous community partners are hosting the 14th annual Hurricane Katrina March & Secondline this Sunday, September 1, 2019.

As part of the commemorative day, organizers are asking participants and supporters to:

  • Remember: by calling on the state of Louisiana to make August 29 a holiday commemorating the lives lost in Katrina.
  • Right the Wrongs: by calling for racial and economic justice, so that in the face of disaster, poor and people of color are not left without the ability to rebuild communities with good schools, good jobs, and good public health and safety.  
  • Say “Never Again”: by calling for action on climate change from local, state, federal and world leaders, otherwise we will only see more of these extreme weather events like Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma, and Maria around the world.

The day’s events will begin with a healing ceremony next to where the levee breached in the Lower Ninth Ward, followed by a march through the streets which will, in New Orleans tradition, feed into a very large secondline. The second line will end at Hunter’s Field with a rally hosted by Wild Wayne of radio station Q93.

The event will feature speakers and performers including prominent community and cultural leaders. This event serves as the largest and longest running annual community based commemoration of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and shows first-hand the consequences of climate disasters on communities who thirteen years later are still recovering.

Photojournalists are welcome to capture this event that acknowledges the somberness of the occasion while celebrating the heart and soul of New Orleans.

WHAT: Hurricane Katrina 14th Anniversary March & Second Line

WHEN: Sunday, September 1, 2019 – 10:00 AM EST 

WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana – From Jourdan Avenue & Galvez Street (Lower Ninth Ward) to Hunter Field (between North Claiborne Avenue & St. Bernard Avenue) 

SCHEDULE:

  • 11:00 – 11:30am – Healing Ceremony (Lower Ninth Ward between North Galvez Street & Jourdan Avenue): healing ceremony held right against the backdrop of where the levees broke in the Lower Ninth Ward. Community members gather for a multi-faith prayer and a reading of the names of those who died during Hurricane Katrina.
  • 11:30am – 1:30pm – March & Second Line (The march will transition into a second line to Hunter’s Field): The Second Line will feature New Orleans’ Hot 8 Brass Band.
  • 1:30 – 4:30pm – Rally and Performances (Hunter’s Field between North Claiborne Avenue & St. Bernard Avenue): An afternoon program with speakers and performers, vendors and community organizations

WHO:

Hosts: Wild Wayne – Q93 On-Air DJ and New Orleans Native

Second Line: led by famous New Orleans Hot 8 Brass Band 

Speakers and Performers:

Rev Yearwood, President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus

Mia X, pioneering rapper and recording artist from New Orleans

Sess 4-5, CEO Nuthin But Fire Records, recording artist and prominent community activist, Hip Hop Caucus New Orleans City Coordinator

Tae Money

Keedy Black

Princess Shea Shea

Shortyworld

Shaddy Feel Good

Magnolia Chop

Iris P

Andy Rebirth & John Doe

Ceolimonkey

Apostle Troy Lawrence Sr

Sporty’s Brass Band

WHY: This annual anniversary event will be the second line for the 14th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The full day of activities will demonstrate the resilience of the community and honor the lives lost 14 years ago. The speakers and messages will also highlight the continued struggle of families to navigate post-Katrina New Orleans’ realities because of racial and economic inequities; and it will call on all of us to prevent any future disasters of this magnitude by addressing climate change.

CONTACT: media@hiphopcaucus.org

About New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation: New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation annually organizes the largest community-led remembrance event on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, August 29th.

About Hip Hop Caucus (HipHopCaucus.org): Established in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues impacting young people, underserved, and vulnerable communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Learn more at HipHopCaucus.org and follow @hiphopcaucus on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.


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Press

Families, Members of U.S. Congress, and National Civil Rights Leaders to Demand Justice for A$AP Rocky and Team Members

‘Speak Out’ event in Harlem to bring public awareness, call for immediate release of Americans Rakim Mayers aka A$AP Rocky, and his two team members, David Rispers Jr. and Bladimer Codiel, unjustly imprisoned in Sweden.

WHO:

  • Families of the three Americans
  • U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
  • Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus
  • Derek Perkinson, NYC Field Director, National Action Network
  • Artists, Activists, Additional Members of Congress

WHAT:  In response to Swedish authorities’ unconscionable imprisonment and impending indictment of the three young men of color, the families of the three Americans, Members of the United States Congress, National Human and Civil Rights leaders, artists, and activists are hosting an event in A$AP Rocky’s native Harlem, New York City. This will be an opportunity to hear the families address the situation prior to the upcoming court hearing.

WHEN: 6:00 PM ET, Monday, July 22, 2019

WHERE: House Of Justice, 106 West 145th Street, New York, NY 10039

PRESS RSVP: email RSVP.Espaillat​@mail.house.gov​​ or call 212-663-3900

MEDIA CONTACTS:

  • Hip Hop Caucus: Mark Antoniewicz, mark@hiphopcaucus.org, 202-740-1177
  • National Action Network: Derek Perkinson, DPerkinson@nationalactionnetwork.net, 646-477-0701
  • Office of United States Congressman Espaillat: Candace Randle Person, Candace.Person@mail.house.gov or 202-225-4365

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Hip Hop Caucus (HipHopCaucus.org): Established in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues impacting young people, underserved, and vulnerable communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. For more, visit HipHopCaucus.org and follow @hiphopcaucus on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook.

National Action Network (nationalactionnetwork.net):NAN is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. For more information visit nationalactionnetwork.net.

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) (Espaillat.house.gov): First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his second term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Small Business Committee. He serves as a Senior Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as CHC Whip. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Rep. Espaillat’s Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at Espaillat.house.gov.


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Press Think 100

TAKE ACTION: demand news media call climate change what it is: a crisis.

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Press

TAKE ACTION: Stand Against Police Violence, Demand Justice for Stephanie and Paul!

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney: Provide the people with an immediate fair, moral, and transparent independent investigation that holds all officers involved accountable.

SIGN HERE

Two weeks ago police officers in Connecticut opened fire on a car at a gas station in a neighborhood near Yale University. Inside the vehicle were two unarmed people of color,Stephanie Washington, 22, and Paul Witherspoon III, 21. They were listening to music, singing love songs to each other.

Stephanie was hit in the face and torso, and taken to the hospital. Paul was not physically harmed but was arrested and later released with no charges. Paul was lucky not to be hit by the 15 shots fired by police, and Stephanie is fortunately still alive. But this violence is all too common for black and brown people in Connecticut and across our country.

Police say that Paul and Stephanie’s vehicle was associated with an alleged attempted armed robbery. Prior to being shot at by the police, Paul reportedly had a heated exchange at the gas station, but there were neither any physical altercation nor any robbery attempts. This is not the first time law enforcement officials in Connecticut have harmed people of color under highly questionable circumstances. Enough is enough.

No family should ever have to suffer from senseless police violence. We send our love and support to families of Stephanie and Paul and to countless other families of people of color who have been killed and assaulted by police. Meanwhile the officials in Connecticut must hold the alleged assailants fully accountable.

Tell Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney: Provide the people with an immediate fair, moral, and transparent independent investigation that holds all officers involved accountable.

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Press

Hip Hop Caucus’ Think 100% Earth Month Events: Paris to Pittsburgh Film Screenings

Hip Hop Caucus’ Think 100% Platform Screens Paris to Pittsburgh Documentary in Cities Across America for Earth Month to Inspire More Grassroots Action in Communities Impacted First and Worst by Climate Change

Documentary distributed by National Geographic tells stories of climate impacts and communities leading on climate solutions in diverse places across the U.S. This Earth Month grassroots screening series will inspire locally led action in 10 major cities across the country.

Washington D.C. (April 11, 2019) – Hip Hop Caucus’ Think 100%: the Coolest Show on Climate Change has partnered with Paris to Pittsburgh producers to screen the recently released National Geographic film at community events Hip Hop Caucus’ city based Leadership Committees have organized. The free screenings will bring together community leaders, advocates, cultural influencers, local government officials, and young people to inspire local climate action. The events will be held throughout the month of April, which is Earth Month, in Orlando, FL, Harlem, NY, Charlotte, NC, Virginia Beach, VA, Detroit, MI, New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, CA, and Boston, MA.

Paris to Pittsburgh is a new film from National Geographic, produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, and narrated by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning actress and activist Rachel Brosnahan. The film brings to life the impassioned efforts of individuals who are battling the most severe threats of climate change in their own backyards and highlights urban and rural communities’ climate solutions.  

Communities of color and low-income communities are impacted first and worst by climate change. Paris to Pittsburgh does an excellent job telling diverse stories about both climate impacts on people and climate solutions people and local governments are implementing.,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO and Think 100% Show Co-host. “Everyone can play a role in solving climate change, and the film shows that there is hope in that. We are thrilled that through our Think 100% storytelling platform and our grassroots Leadership Committees we can share Paris to Pittsburgh with local leaders and influencers to educate and move more people to action.

The film’s title refers to President Trump’s statement when he announced his intention to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” The Mayor of Pittsburgh immediately countered that their city would stick to their commitments to do their part to meet the Paris agreement targets and hundreds of cities followed suit, signing the “We Are Still In” declaration.. Through leadership in states and cities, the United States is more than halfway to its Paris Agreement commitments despite federal inaction.  

The free screenings will feature discussions sessions following the film and coordination of a collective action decided upon by the attendees to advance just-solutions to climate change in their local communities.

“Paris to Pittsburgh tells the stories of some the frontline communities who are grappling with the impacts of climate change, and more importantly, developing their own solutions,” said Antha Williams, head of Bloomberg Philanthropies environmental programs and consulting producer for Paris to Pittsburgh. “We are thrilled to partner with Hip Hop Caucus to bring these stories to new audiences and build an even stronger climate movement to protect everyone.”

The screening series kicked off on April 4th last week in Orlando with a live production of Think 100%: the Coolest Show on Climate Change at the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, where conference attendees watched the film and took part in an interactive panel discussion with Chris Castro, film participant and Director of Sustainability & Resilience for the City of Orlando; Michelle Suarez, Regional Director of Organize Florida; Robin Harris, a local climate and environmental justice advocate; and guest Think 100% host Brandi Williams, Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Coordinator. The rest of the screenings will take place throughout April.

Find the dates, locations, how to RSVP, and more about the screenings series at Think100.info/P2P and follow @Think100Show and @hiphopaucus on social media for the latest from the series this month.

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About Hip Hop Caucus (HipHopCaucus.org): Established in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues impacting young people, underserved, and vulnerable communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Learn more at HipHopCaucus.org and follow @hiphopcaucus on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Think 100% (Think100.info):Think 100% – The Coolest Show on Climate Change” is Hip Hop Caucus’ award-winning multimedia platform that highlights solutions to climate change and environmental injustices, including a just transition to 100% clean energy for all. More at Think100.info and follow @Think100Show on Twitter and Instagram.