1. THE MOTIVATOR
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2
SPRING 2011
MOY Visits Harvard University
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, March 19
Professional School Visitation
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
NCCU- BRITE Program, Durham
Saturday, March 26
Charlotte Bobcats Game
Time: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Time Warner Cable Arena,
Charlotte
Friday, April 8 – Saturday, April 9
College Tour
source facebook.com/harvard
Harvard University, Cambridge,
MA
Movement of Youth mentors and mentees will travel to Saturday, April 30
Cambridge, Massachusetts from Friday, April 8 to Saturday, Golf Clinic & Frankie’s Fun Park
April 9, to tour the internationally renowned Harvard Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
University. MOY members will participate in a panel discussion Hillandale Golf Course, Durham
with Harvard’s Black Student Association, a Harvard Museum of
Natural History Tour, and a performance by ImprovBoston Tuesday, May 3
Comedy Show. Closing Ceremony
Time: 6:30pm
West Campus Union Building,
Harvard University’s undergraduate program is ranked first Duke University, Durham
among “National Universities” by the U.S. News & World Report.
In the QS World University rankings, Harvard University is
ranked second behind the University of Cambridge in the U.K.
Established in 1646, Harvard University’s distinguished alumni IN THIS ISSUE
include: comedian Conan O’Brien, civil rights leader W. E. B.
Dubois, chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates, and President Barack College Tour: Harvard U., 1
Obama. Hip Hop Symposium “Rap”-Up, 2
Mentor Mentee Spotlight, 3
The deadline for students interested in attending was Monday,
March 7. Transportation and lodging for the trip is covered for
all mentors and mentees.
WWW.MOVEMENTOFYOUTH.ORG
2. THE MOTIVATOR – PAGE 2
5th Annual Hip Hop Symposium “Rap” Up
High school students, college students
and local music lovers attended
Movement of Youth’s 5th Annual Hip
Hop Symposium on Saturday, February
26 at the Frank Porter Graham Student
Union Auditorium at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Guests listened to a mini-lecture from
WQOK K97.5’s own Brian Dawson. “I
wanted to focus on the positive aspects
of hip hop,” said Dawson in an
interview. “I think today hip hop gets a Movement of Youth Board Member Asa Fleming, rapper King Mez,
lot of negative attention and anything motivator Dr. Derek Greenfield and radio personality Nanci-O on the
discussion panel conversing about the state of hip hop .
that gives me the opportunity to reach
out to the youth, I am happy to
Lastly, the symposium featured performances by King
participate.”
Mez, from the hip –hop duo the Lazaretto Crew, and
the UpRite Lions, a rap trio hailing from Greensboro,
Next guests transitioned to a poetry
NC.
session with Kane “Novakane” Smego,
the founder of Sacrificial Poets- a
Planning for the 6th Annual Hip Hop Symposium is
performance team that conducts
already underway. Brain Dawson is projected to be the
outreach workshops to teach poetry.
host of the 6th Annual and serve as a creative mind
“Artistic expression provides a space
alongside Pierce Freelon.
for kids to gain confidence for
themselves and their own stories,” said
“I want to expose [the symposium] to more youth and
Novakane. “My main idea was to show
get the radio station on board,” said Dawson. “I
students that spoken word is a sub
definitely have some great things in store.”
genre of Hip Hop.”
Movement of Youth Board Member Asa
Fleming, rapper King Mez, motivator @movementofyouth
Dr. Derek Greenfield and radio
personality Nanci-O answered burning @Atrayus: @thebriandawson is dropping knowledge at the
questions about the state of hip hop. @movementofyouth hip hop symposium.
Discussion was proctored by Pierce
Freelon, the artistic director of the Hip @charniew: I had no idea. RT @Clutch_Chapman: Raleigh got a
Hop Symposium. great artist; King Mez @movementofyouth
“I am used to actually performing at @poundDEADED: "Hip Pop is supposed to make us less than
functions like this,” said Freelon. Hip Hop is supposed to make us greater" -- Dr G
@movementofyouth
“However, working with mentees,
Atrayus, and other people from
@nancioradioshow: I love what @movementofyouth is doing
Movement of Youth’s executive has for minority students in the Durham/Chapel Hill communities.
been cool. It gives me the opportunity Y’all should definitely check them out.
to step in a more administrative role.”
3. THE MOTIVATOR – PAGE 3
Mentor Mentee Spotlight
Anna Jeffries
Mykia Johnson has been a part of Movement of
Youth for three years. Serving as Director of Programs, Mykia
has had a hand in planning everything from the Saturday
Academies to the 5th Annual Hip Hop Symposium. Her
dedication and uplifting spirit will be missed next year. We sat
down and talked with Mykia about her experiences with MOY.
MOY: What made you become a mentee in
MOY: What made you want to become a mentor for
MOY?
MOY?
Anna Jeffries: I was interested in becoming a
Mykia: I heard that the program was targeting
mentee when I met Atrayus at Kestrel Heights
Durham high school students, I wanted to give back
School. As soon as I met him I wanted to join;
to Hillside High School because they gave so much
the program seemed like something that I
to me. I also have a passion for youth and minority
would enjoy and it was a positive thing.
achievement.
MOY: What have you gotten out of the
MOY: What have you gotten out of the program?
program?
Mykia: A lot! I have gotten more out of my
AJ: I have become a lot more outgoing than I
leadership roles; Movement of Youth has taught me
was before, and I have met people that have
professionalism, meeting deadlines and improving
helped me get to that point.
my professional skills. I learned that dedication
and proficiency is important. Overall, it has been a
MOY: How has your relationship with your
good learning experience.
mentor/ mentee had an effect on your life?
AJ: I'm not so sure if my mentor, Camile Jones,
MOY: How has your relationship with your mentee
knows that I look up to her, but I do. When I
had an effect on your life?
first met Camile our relationship was kind of
Mykia: My relationship with my mentee,
weird, but with time it has became a lot better
Dominique Cross, has given me something I can
and I really do appreciate her being my
look forward to. I am really impacting someone’s
mentor. She is always eager to help me out
life. That inkling of hope in myself to know that I
whether it involves school or personal issues,
have been helping her has been rewarding to me.
and she's made me view things differently
from before. Basically, her optimism and
MOY: What has been your favorite event or
helpful spirit has rubbed off on me.
moment during Movement of Youth?
Mykia: The Hip Hop Symposium in 2009, my
MOY: What has been your favorite event/
sophomore year in college, was a really fun and
moment with MOY?
really down to earth experience. We learned a lot
AJ: My favorite event was the 2010 Campus
about music and it was intimate and interactive.
Visitation Weekend. I had a chance to bond
The Beast was the feature. They played and talked
with people who I did not really know and
about different music. Anytime the students feel
tour UNC's campus.
engaged it’s rewarding to me.