TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Ferguson Center Student Union will host the fourth annual Hip-Hop Summit with the theme “Expressing the Nation” Feb. 16-18 on campus.
The Hip-Hop Summit is designed to educate, entertain and provide a forum for people of all backgrounds to discuss the variety of messages and images in hip-hop. The events are free and open to the public.
The UA Community Service Center, Black Student Union and the Ferguson Center are sponsoring a service project in conjunction with the summit. It will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16 at the Boys and Girls Club in Alberta City.
Student volunteers will help children paint the gym and decorate T-shirts. A graffiti artist will detail the painting. The event will also have an educational component to emphasize positive aspects of hip-hop, a poetry reading, a performance by the Phi Beta Sigma step team, a DJ and a representative present from EA sports. Refreshments will be provided.
“This is a great way for children to see that not all hip-hop promotes negative effects. It inspires you to do go outside the box and achieve what you want,” said Latoya Scott, coordinator of the event.
Volunteers are welcome and still needed for the community service project.
A calendar of events for the summit includes:
Monday, Feb. 16, 3-6 p.m.
Hip-Hop Summit Community Outreach for Boys and Girls Club of Tuscaloosa
Boys and Girls Club, Alberta City
Sponsored by the Black Student Union, Community Service Center, Ferguson Center Student Union and Undergraduate Admissions
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 3-5 p.m.
Forum on “Exploring Hip-Hop’s Global Influences on Cultures”
Ferguson Center Forum
Sponsored by Black Student Union, Community Service Center, Counseling Center, Crossroads Community Center, Ferguson Center Student Union and NAACP
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8-11 p.m.
“Common Ground Poetry Slam” competition
Ferguson Center Heritage Room
Sponsored by Common Ground, Crossroads Community Center, Counseling Center, Ferguson Center Student Union, Speak the Speech and SquareRoot
Thursday, Feb. 19, 8-10 p.m.
“Expressing the Nation” Main Event
Ferguson Center Student Union Ballroom
Sponsored by Black Student Union, Community Service Center, Counseling Center, Crossroads Community Center, Ferguson Center Student Union, Kappa Alpha Psi, NAACP and Women’s Resource Center
This event features an array of up-and-coming artists, including DeMarcus Pruitt, Carla Edwards, Derryck ‘D-Sharp’ Gleaton, A2Z, Trinity Baptist Church, African-American Allstar Drumline and 63 Boyz. Other performers include Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Riptide Dancers, Krimson Krush and Assorted Flavors.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Latoya Scott, coordinator for special events, at 205/348-9958.
Contact
Dana Lewis or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Latoya Scott, scott060@sa.ua.edu, 205/348-9958