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Pan-African Youth Empowerment ConferenceConference Schedule at a Glance: Friday, April 7th4pm - RegistrationPforzheimer House 56 Linnaean St. Cambridge, MA 02138 5-7pm - SMT Banquet Reception Keynote speakerr, Ms. Angela Peabody Pforzheimer House 56 Linnaean St. Cambridge, MA 02138 $40/non Harvard students FREE for Harvard students with ID - please contact kelley@sweetmother.org to sign up 8pm - SMT Film Festival, Co-Sponsored by the W.E.B DuBois Institute at Harvard University Featuring a screening of Inventos: Hip Hop Cubano Director, Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi Brattle Street Theater 40 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 $10/non conference registrants FREE for conference registrants more on the Brattle Theater ***After the film, join the A-Group, Nubian Professionals Network, and Upper Echelon Events for "First Fridays/Friendly Takeover" - drinks, networking, and dancing at Whiskey Park, 64 Arlington St., Boston********* Saturday, April 8thAll Saturday events will take place at the Harvard University Science CenterAt the corner of Oxford and Kirkland Streets Cambridge, MA 02138 Get to Harvard Day Passes Available 7:45-8:30am - Registration and Breakfast 8:30-10am - Presentation of the SMT 10:05-11:30am - Morning Session - PANELS* A Woman's Worth: The Image and Impact of African Women in the Media What IS the image of black women in the media- What is its impact on individuals and society and what can we do about it- How do we empower African women to represent ourselves- What are some success stories- What does Sweet Mother mean to you- Panelists Bridging the Digital Divide:- The Promise of Cell Phones, Wi-Fi, and New Communications Technologies This panel will explore the impact of the new "digital divide" and the promise of cell phones, wi-fi, fiber optics, and new communications technologies. It will examine the impact of ICTs on business development in Africa. Are the success stories for real- What does the advance of technology mean for the future of life & work on the continent- Panelists The Rise of African Hip-Hop: An underground phenomenon Panel will feature international participants via video-conference What is real and who is "gangsta-" African hip-hop is slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with. But are African artists developing a distinctive voice or simply mimicking their peers in the West- What will it take for the voice of African Hip-Hop have an impact beyond the continent- Panelists 11:30-12:30pm - Lunch break pay here 12:35-2:05pm - Afternoon session I - WORKSHOPS II
HIV attacks Industry and Society - Who will Fight Back- This panel will examine the effects of HIV/AIDS on business and society in general. What does research reveal about the social and economic impact of HIV- Is this a disease of the poor or the promiscuous- How can the business community contribute to the protection of its most valuable asset - people - Panelists Taking Ownership of the African Image How would one describe the "African" image- How can we be empowered to balance the picture painted by big media corporations and take more ownership of our image- What tools are available today to build a more authentic understanding of Africa- Where have we seen successes- Panelists Music : Africa's Greatest Export! If Africans are a musical people, then is music not our most abundant natural resource- How can African music be a tool of political and economic empowerment for African peoples- Panelists 4:05-5:35pm - Afternoon session III - WO WORKSHOPS II
9pm-1am - SMT Benefit Concert featuring the Diaspora Fuunk Movement!! Sunday, April 9thAll Sunday events will take place at the Harvard University Science CenterAt the corner of Oxford and Kirkland Streets Cambridge, MA 02138 Get to Harvard Day Passes Available 7:45-8:30am - Breakfast 8:30-9:55am - Morning Session I - PANELS Strategic Development - Putting Africa on the Map Panel will feature international participants via video-conference What will it realistically take to put African nations amongst the ranks of the developed world- How do we effectively move past neo-colonial economies, warfare & corrupt governance, while preserving our heritage and environment- What incentives do individuals, organizations & nations have to embrace alternative models for development of the continent- Panelists Africa Through our Lenses - the future of filmmaking in Africa Explores the power of film as a medium for telling new stories and changing perceptions of Africa and of Africans. What is the status of the current African Film scene- How do we draw further investment into African Film- Who is qualified to tell an "African" story, and what makes a story African- Panelists The Arts in Education - Harnessing the Power of Pop-Culture Art has played a powerful role historically in many African societies. What is its place today- Are our Educational systems teaching youth to think creatively or to conform to the status quo- If pop-culture can teach African youth to call each other ni@@as, can it teach them to stop- Should it- What is the power of Art to transform the ways in which we learn... Panelists 10:00-11:30am - Morning session II - WORWORKSHOPS III
12:10-12:30pm - Closing Comments 2-5pm - SMT Film Festival (cont.), Co-Sponsored by the W.E.B DuBois Institute at Harvard University Featuring a screening of Hip-Hop Colony Director, Michael Wanguhu Brattle Street Theater 40 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 $10/non conference registrants FREE for conference registrants Register here more on the Brattle Theater Pan-African Youth Empowerment Conference at Harvard University
This 3-day conference, taking place April 7-9, 2006 on Harvard University's campus, will highlight five themes of importance in African development African Image and Identity, Technology, Economic Empowerment and Public Health, Education, and Arts and Culture. Established scholars and dynamic youth leaders in these various fields will present workshops and host panels addressing these topics, and will engage in dialogue about the development and future of the African continent. Attendees will learn from and connect with like-minded youth from around the world, as well as established and pioneering experts in the non-profit and for-profit worlds, building a powerful network that will serve as the launch pad for the Pan-African Renaissance of this century. Please contact Kelley N. Johnson at kelley@sweetmother.org or 617-492-3673 if you are interested in doing a story on the SMT or covering the conference this April. To learn more about the international impact of the SMT visit www.sweetmother.org. ******* The Sweet Mother Tour (SMT) is a project that uses elements of popular culture music, television, film and literature to present empowering images of people of Africa and the African Diaspora. As presented in its mission statement "The founders of the SMT recognize that no society can develop without an understanding of its own worth. We believe that cultural empowerment is a crucial ingredient in the successful political and economic development of any society". Launched in 2004 by a group of young artists, educators and entrepreneurs with roots in West and Southern Africa, North America and the Caribbean, the project has, to-date, developed multi-media products that have gained worldwide exposure via such avenues as BBC Worldservice Radio and Channel O. -- Kelley N. Johnson See also: Pan-African Youth Empowerment Conference & Benefit Concert |
