Our Annual Report!

kuumba
lynx
annual
report
2015
2015
ANNUAL REPORT
Demonstrating 20 years of preserving, presenting and promoting
Hip Hop as a tool for re-imagining community and liberation
1.
Ta b l e o f c o n t e n t s
2.
L e t t e r f r o m Fo u n d i n g D i r e c t o r s
3.
A b o u t K u u m b a Ly n x
4.
Who we engage (demographics & numbers, where they come
from socio economic, race)
5.
WGF, A Hip Hop Pedagogy
6.
Programs KL Hip Hop Arts Programs (KLPE, HPP, Community
Cultural Events)
7.
P r o g r a m H i g h l i g h t s : K u u m b a Ly n x P e r f o r m a n c e E n s e m b l e s
8.
Program Highlights: 1/2 Pint Poetics
9.
Program Highlight: Cultural Events & Collaborative Projects
( YOY , 6 0 6 , 1 L U V , a n d F r e s h E x p r e s s i o n s , & C o l o m b i a )
10.
Special Projects featuring the HIVE award to WGF media crew
11.
Growing our capacity
12.
Stepping into our 20’s - A look back
13.
Board of Directors
14.
Staff
15.
Fu n d e r s l i s t & O rg a n i z a t i o n a l Aw a r d s
16.
Looking forward
17.
Aw a r d s & M e d i a
l
ETTER FROM
FOUNDING DIRECTORS
growing our full time administrative team, establishing a solid
financial foundation, recruiting & training our board of directors,
developing & implementing a two year
strategic plan, articulating and drafting new systems for governance,
Twenty years ago, we gathered amongst respected family and friends,
evaluation processes, and focusing on long term-more intentional
all of them emerging Chicago leaders, educators, healers, artists
strategies. Our programmatic efforts have had an emphasis on
and activists in their own right. In response to the criminalization,
deepening our community engagement rather than expansion. As a
and marginalization of our communities, we started to build the
result of an organization assessment, we know that our most effective
necessary infrastructure to create the solutions we deeply craved.
outcome and impact is embedded in three core areas, Kuumba Lynx
Without any formal training, we began to cultivate visible change
Performance Ensemble Apprenticeships (KLPE) and performances, ½
through the facilitation of youth centered spaces that embraced the
Pint Poetics elementary school literacy project, and growing alumni &
cultural values of peace, love, respect, knowledge and having fun.
artist opportunities.
Through an intergenerational, citywide, critically reflective arts making
and ideological practice, we founded an organization, shaping Chicago’s
Marching into our twentieth year, we are re energizing our brave spaces
Hip Hop pedagog y.
with new tools for analyzing gender, race, & class, while honoring our
individual road maps to joy, justice & emancipation. We are refocusing
As youth ourselves, we assembled a creative course for radical
on cultivating creative spaces free of violence, bringing back an
wellness, aiming to contribute to a national narrative, working toward
ongoing practice of peace & story circles and shifting our language
establishing a methodolog y, we now articulate as WE GET FREE.
toward a more just world. We are strengthening our partners in critical
love through creative exchange across the city, country and world.
ACollectively, we have helped build an organization whose mission
We are growing our own leadership, accessing and supporting
is aligned with a program vision and administrative practice that is
professional development opportunities for emerging artists and arts
grounded in transformation. Through presenting, preserving and
administrators, who will be at the center of making change in Chicago.
promoting Hip Hop through a critical lens, one that creatively inspires
our communities to challenge, heal, and grow, we remain hopeful.
From the roots to the branches, we immerse ourselves in a movement
building culture that activates critical creativity, transformational
This year we began thinking about sustainability. Alongside a family of
experiences, transitional leadership, innovative & collaborative
stakeholders, including a small staff, Hip Hop Facilitators, youth
relationships, and accountability to our community. As founders, we
participants, alumni, funders, volunteers, interns, and our Board of
are humbled by the KL journey that is liberation through artistic
Directors, we set out to grow our capacity, operationally and
excellence.
programmatically. Together we are investing in Kuumba Lynx’s
operations efforts, reflecting a new commitment to strengthening
- In Peace, Love Honor & Respect, Jaquanda & Jacinda
existing and emerging leadership skills,
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C o Fo u n d i n g D i r e c t o r s
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“KL wants to
“KL is a
improve access,
counter
we embrace Hip
narrative. We
Hop and
show up to do the
amplify it as a
work that will
tool for
change the
liberation. It is
perception of
our way to
Chicago youth.
engage, resist,
We are the city’s
communicate
new version
unpopular ideas,
of Chicago’s
to heal, to
Super Transfer
encourage
trasnsit pass
conversation”
because we are
providing links
- Jacinda
to each other
and a better
world!”
- Jaquanda
Kuumba Lynx:
Liberation Through
Artistic Expression
F ounded
i n 1 9 9 6 , K u u m b a Ly n x ( K L ) i s a l e a d p r e s e n t e r o f C h i c a g o
youth Hip Hop art and culture. KL has honed an arts making
practice that presents, preserves and promotes Hip Hop as a tool
to reimagine and demonstrate a more just world.
Since our inception, KL’s tribe of artists, activists, practitioners,
educators, healers, mothers, fathers and community members have
engaged 45,000 youth in Chicago. They have facilitated countless
s u p e r t r a n sf o r m a t i o n a l o p p o r t u t t n i t i e s t o a m p l i f y , e n e rg i z e , a n d
challenge youth to deeply engage, listen, critically observe, react
and creatively communicate with one another.
K u u m b a Ly n x h a s c o l l a b o r a t i v e l y
produced 31 full-length Hip Hop Theater
productions, multiple Graffiti, Photo, Film,
and Art exhibitions; numerous open mics and
E m c e e , D J , Fo o t w o r k & B r e a k d a n c e b a t t l e s ;
released 3 mixtapes, 7 poetry chapter books/
m a g a z i n e s , a n d 2 1 C h i - To w n L o w D o w n p u b l i c
access TV shows.
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mission:
4. Cultivate Super Transformations with access to our city through citywide
K u u m b a Ly n x i s c o m m i t t e d t o t h e l i v e s o f y o u t h u s i n g u r b a n a r t
and performance to cultivate strong communities built on a foundation
of love.
partnerships and community collaborations. We make all KL programs
accessible by never turning away any youth or communities with needs that KL
or its collaborative partners can meet.
Vision:
Kuumba Lynx works to liberate the lives of Chicago youth, using art and
performance to instill leadership, collaboration, resiliency, responsibility,
confidence, and a love of learning. Through consistent year-round youth
development, social justice and arts activities, our ultimate aim is to
equip vibrant young minds with the essential tools for enduring success
in life.
Goals:
1. Grow our own collective of grassroots Hip Hop educators. Supporting
these emerging practitioners as art makers and facilitators of Hip Hop art
and culture. Where they are exposed to pathways and provided
performance, teaching & transitional leadership opportunities as well as
resources for creating, branding & promoting new works.
2. Galvanize Chicago youth and their communities around critical literacy
that strengthens their literacy and engages them beyond reading &
writing into knowledge of self and community, as well as the applicable
practice around issues of equity including education, health, arts &
culture, and civic engagement. Meeting youth where they are so as to
encourage active engagement with the discourse each day through
Hip Hop arts.
3. Nurture youth leadership through collaborations with citywide institutions to engage their genuine voice & collective lens; placing leadership
spaces at the center of learning and providing opportunities for youth to
drive programming and decision making processes.
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Hip Hop
Arts Continuum
IN ADDITION TO THE
K U U M B A LY N X
PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE
( K L P E ) , H I P H O P T H E AT E R
PERFORMANCES & YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIPS,
KL
Hip Hop Arts Programs are a palette for engaging
a participant’s social emotional development,
c r e a t i v e e x p r e s s i o n a n d c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g . We i n c o r p o r a t e
ritual, writing and freestyle ciphers fused with
dance, beatbox, spoken word, music production,
deejaying, photography, videography, graffiti,
mural making, and more.
THE 1/2 PINT POETICS
LITERACY PROJECT FOR
E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L
STUDENTS, AND
THE VARIOUS ANNUAL
PUBLIC EVENTS, KL
P R O V I D E S M U LT I P L E A R T S
MAKING WORKSHOPS AND
RESIDENCIES, HELD
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DURING & AFTER SCHOOL,
AND ON WEEKENDS.
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K L P E i s a n i n t e rg e n e r ational and interdisciplinary Hip Hop
Theater collective of
both adult artists and
youth from across the
c i t y o f C h i c a g o . To g e t h e r
they create original
performance work that
speaks to a wide and
diverse range of audi-
HPP is a literacy project
that challenges students
ages 8-14 to find, develop, present, apply, and
preserve their voices.
Participants engage in
an urban arts & activism curriculum that
emphasizes writing &
perfromance, crossgenerational exchange,
cultural interaction,
community service, and
ences. KLPE productions
intercultural competen-
reflect an urban arts
cy. The project culmi-
expertise inspiring an
nates each spring with
active discourse both
a two day poetry slam.
CULTURAL EVENTS
ENSEMBLE (KLPE)
1/2 PINT POETICS (HPP)
COMMUNITY
PERFORMANCE
1/2 PINT POETICS
ELEMENTARY
KPLE
ALL AGES
K U U M B A LY N X
C U LT U R A L E V E N T S
KL produces, often in
partnership with local
and national groups,
various arts & cultural
exhibitions, shows, and
competitions, as well as
festivals, colloquiums,
conferences, open mics,
and film screenings.
locally and nationally.
KL hosts three KLPE
Apprenticeship across
the city in the Uptown,
Little Village and Austin
neighborhoods.
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Hip Hop Arts
Continuum : the #s
A nnually,
KL Hip Hop Arts Programs support and create opportunities
Our participants are generally 8 to 18 years old (70%), but we also
that directly engage 1,500 participants and indirectly serves
serve 19 to 25 year olds (30%). 90% receive free lunch. Participants
another 2,500 through monthly and annual cultural Events . KL
represent 27 communities across Chicago, including Uptown,
reaches 15,000+ people through live KLPE performances and
E n g l e w o o d , We s t To w n , A u s t i n , R o g e r s P a r k , H u m b o l d t P a r k , P u l l m a n ,
C o m m u n i t y C u l t u r a l E v e n t s . K L p r o g r a m p a r t i c i p a n t s a r e 5 5 % Af r i c a n
Pilsen, Little Village, East Side, Bronzeville, South Shore, Back of the
American, 30% Latino, 1% Native, 5% White and 9% other.
Ya r d s , A u b u r n G r e s h a m
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1/2 PINT POETICS
RESIDENCIES,
WORKSHOPS,
ARTS & ACTIVISM
D AYS A G E S 8 - 1 4
1,425
SCHOOLS: 1 9
# O F H P P PA R T I C I PA N T S :
# O F PA R T I C I PAT I N G H P P
1 1 5 5 PA R T I C I PA N T S
RECEIVED LESS THAN 15 HRS
OF DIRECT SERVICE
12 SCHOOLS:
E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L S :
D O N A H U E , R AV E N S W O O D ,
DUKE, DEENAN, ABC,
ENGLEWOOD MONTESSORI,
SOUTH SHORE, ROGERS,
9 5 PA R T I C I PA N T S
RECEIVED 16-30 HRS OF
DIRECT SERVICE
2 SCHOOLS:
GARY, SHABAAZ, MADERO,
CASTELLANOS, HARTE,
GARY, LARA, LANGFORD,
EVERS, WENTWORTH,
SHERWOOD, CHALMERS,
1 7 5 PA R T I C I PA N T S
RECEIVED 30-65 HRS
OF DIRECT SERVICE
5 SCHOOLS:
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FA R A D AY , A R I E L , B A S I L ,
M C N A I R , C O U R T E N AY ,
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KLPE APPRENTICESHIPS,
SHOWS, AND SHORT TERM
RESIDENCY/WORKSHOP
FOR AGES 8-25
HS SITES: CLARK, MARSHALL, NANCY JEFFERSON,
H A N C O C K , F E N G E R , U P L I F T , A U S T I N , LV H S
O R G A N I Z AT I O N S I T E S : B U I L D , L C N , Y O U T H G U I D A N C E ,
C H I C A G O PA R K D I S T R I C T , C H I C A G O P U B L I C S C H O O L S ,
B N V , LTA B , L O G A N C E N T E R U N I V E R S I T Y S I T E S : U O F
273
SITES: 3
# O F K L P E A P P R E N T I C E S H I P PA R T I C I PA N T S :
# OF OFF
C , U I C , C O L U M B I A , S A I C , T R U M A N , U W M A D I S O N , D E PA U L ,
N O R T H E A S T E R N , L O Y O L A , C O L U M B I A , R O O S E V E LT
6-20HRS PER WEEK FOR 30-50
W E E K S A N N U A L LY
T O TA L # O F C U LT U R A L E V E N T S :
14
T O TA L # PA R T I C I PA N T S : 2 , 5 0 0
75
15,000
# OF KPLE SHOWS:
# T O TA L E S T I M AT E D A U D I E N C E :
ARTS EXPLOSION: 220
HPP HIP HOP SHOWCASE: 555
1000
S C H O O L S / S PA C E S : 3 5
# O F W O R K S H O P / R E S I D E N C Y PA R T I C I PA N T S :
# OF
HALF PINT POETICS POETRY SLAM: 200
1 L U V B A C K T O S C H O O L B AT T L E J A M : 2 5 0
EXTRA EXPLICIT GALLERY: 100
2 1 S I T E S / 7 3 5 PA R T I C I PA N T S R E C E I V E D 1 5 H R S O R
LESS OF DIRECT SERVICE 6 SITES/ 250
PA R T I C I PA N T S R E C E I V E D 1 6 - 3 0 H R S O F D I R E C T
S E R V I C E 4 S I T E S / 1 2 7 PA R T I C I PA N T S
RECEIVED 30+ HRS OF DIRECT SERVICE
606 GARDEN OPENING: 600
G L O R Y F O O T W O R K L E A G U E M O N T H LY B AT T L E S : 1 8 5
PUBLIC VIDEO SCREENINGS: 225
SLAM SEND OFF: 90
4 OPEN MIC FRESH EXPRESSION: 230
DROP IN BREAKING CIRCLES: 40
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wgf
hip hop
pedag
ogy
K U U M B A LY N X ’ D I S T I N C T I V E A P P R O A C H
T O G A LVA N I Z I N G YO U T H A N D T H E I R
COMMUNITIES, CONSTITUTES A HIP HOP
PEDAGOGY KNOWN AS "WE GET
FREE" — A METHOD OF ENGAGEMENT
AND LEARNING BORN OF OUR
I N D I G E N O U S C U LT U R E O F U R B A N
ARTISTRY AND ACTIVISM.
WE CIPHER AN ETHOS FOUNDED UPON
SEVERAL KEY PILLARS...
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WE CIRCLE UP
our peers that nurture transition, accountability, and
Utilize rituals to enter, establish and exit community,
and elders.
trust, ensuring the development of youth, young adults
where our interactions are guided by a set of principles
that honor our diverse histories, shared responsibility,
and collective growth.
FA M I LY AT M O S P H E R E
Fa c i l i t a t e a n e x t e n d e d - f a m i l y e n v i r o n m e n t a n d s a f e
EXPOSURE
space to share our talents, celebrate our triumphs, and
unpack our traumas.
Exit our comfort zones and enter our communities
& other spaces in order to expand our perspectives,
R E L AT I O N S H I P S
r e a l i t i e s , b e l i e fs , a n d c u l t u r a l c o n s t r u c t s .
Nurture peer to peer mentorship, partnerships, and
GAIN CRITICAL SKILLS
Meet each other at our level of interest and ability
in order to promote an equitable, relevant, and
ongoing community building amongst all participants,
program facilitators, and the broader community.
E T H I C A L E X A M I N AT I O N S
participatory learning that focuses on art making
acquisitions rooted in active listening, critique,
Provoke the creation of Hip Hop art to inspire a critical
self-awareness and real world context.
inquiry of identity, civil rights, justice, and a philosophy
of liberation.
ESPERANZA
E M A N C I PAT E O U R S E LV E S
Share ourselves & our experiences while
investigating teaching & learning practices in order to
confront obstacles and radically heal.
Identify, challenge, and resolve inequalities we face
through a culturally relevant pedagogy that takes an assets-based approach to participant’s lived experiences
T R A N S F O R M AT I O N A L L E A D E R S H I P
and affirms a counter-mainstream narrative.
Activate a continuum of opportunities amongstPg.21
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Program
Highlights
Kuumba Lynx
Performance
Ensenmble
2015 KLPE Accomplishments
• KLPE Apprenticeship participants who participated in 2+ years
• KLPE traveled to Bocaton, Columbia to perform & paint murals
• KLPE provided approximately 75 performances to a total audience
of more than 15,000
• K L P E r e c e i v e d a M a c A r t h u r Tr a v e l G r a n t t o e n g a g e i n a n e x c h a n g e
with Moroccan youth
• KLPE film "Police Brutality Montage Throughout The Ages" was
screened at the Kennedy Center
• K L H i p H o p A r t s Fa c i l i t a t o r s r e c e i v e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 5 4 h o u r s
of programs were accepted to over 20 universities, including
of Professional Development training, participating in courses
Miami University, UW Madison, NEIU, UIC, U of C, UW Milwaukee,
p r o v i d e d b y C h i c a g o A r e a Yo u t h D e v e l o p m e n t C e r t i f i c a t i o n , Af t e r
UofI-Champaign, Ann Arbor, Cal Poly, Carbondale, Spellman,
School Matters, Chicago Freedom School, Second City, Chicago
Howard, New School for Social Research, and various junior and
G r a s s r o o t s C u r r i c u l u m Ta s kf o r c e , a n d C h i c a g o C o m m u n i t y Tr u s t ’ s
city colleges.
Arts Infusion Knowledge Shares.
• KLPE Apprenticeships provided 115 summer jobs
• KLPE slam poets won Louder Than A Bomb for a 5th time
• KLPE honored the nation’s first police abuse reparations
o r d i n a n c e w i t h a p o e t i c w o r k d e d i c a t e d t o t h e 1 0 8 B u rg e p o l i c e
torture victims.
• K L P E P r o d u c t i o n " H i p H o p H o l y " w a s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e O l d To w n
S c h o o l o f Fo l k M u s i c ’ s F i e l d Tr i p S e r i e s
• K L P E c o m p e t e d i n B r a v e N e w Vo i c e s , p l a c i n g i n t h e t o p
third of the nation
• K L P E p e r f o r m e d o n t h e m a i n s t a g e o f t h e a n n u a l S O AW
g a t h e r i n g i n G e o rg i a
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Kuumba Lynx
Performance
Ensenmble
(CONT.)
The way KL builds community,
can and always challenge me
writes, performs, critically looks
creatively to try new things and
at the world, ourselves, our
test my skills.
families, and the institutions
surrounding us, has allowed
It’s been a blessing.
me to make peace with things
I would have never thought I
K u u m b a Ly n x m a k e s s p a c e
has provided me the space
could; it’s taught me so much
for you to come have fun, share,
to grow as an individual as well
about myself, the people around
create, grow, and learn; KL
as the chance to experience
me, and the world around me.
builds the youth up. It teaches
growth and creation with a
KLPE has brought out some of
people (of any age) life skills,
collective of people. It
my strongest character traits
whether that is through
challenges artistry and creative
and has always pushed me to
workshops on food deserts or
process when you’re blessed
become better in any field and
how to interact safely with
with the opportunity to create
just a better person in general.
police officers. It impacts the
with other dope people; it opens
It has opened up so many
community by focusing on the
your mind to new perspectives
opportunities for me and made
youth and helping build future
and approaches for performance.
life for me just a lot more
community and world leaders.
It creates stronger ties within
enjoyable. KLPE focuses on
the community of artists and
unpacking social justice
Being a member of the Kuumba
activists too, which is
topics and the world around us,
Ly n x P e r f o r m a n c e E n s e m b l e
important because we can be
which tends to be very heavy and
heavily discouraged by outside
hurtful at times, but KLPE has
source.
created a safe space for me that
serves as a reminder that there
are still spaces of light and love.
When working through heavy
situations and content, it can
feel overwhelming sometimes,
but KLPE has allowed for healing
space as much as work space.
KLPE has been crucial in my
development as an artist; the
- VA N I A G U T I E R R E Z , M E M B E R O F
THE UPTOWN KLPE APPRENTICESHIP
people in KPLE push me to best I
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Program
Highlights
1 /2 Pint
Poetics (HPP)
FA C I L I TAT E D
15 -65+hrs of literacy, where
600 students from 19 CPS
elementary schools engaged in
arts making workshops,
service projects and open
HALF
PINT POETICS:
mics.
EXPOSED
31 professional educators to
Hip Hop history & methods of
engagement through the HPP
curriculum and WE GET FREE
praxi sharing
PUBLISHED
27 student written poems
in the HPP poetry magazine,
" Wo r d Wa r r i o r " .
HOSTED
755 students and teachers at
the city’s largest elementary
school poetry slam, presented in partnership with DePaul
University
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Kuumba Lynx
Performance
Ensenmble
(CONT.)
85%
90%
say working as a group to create artistic works
that included all perspectives increased their
problem solving skills
say workshops improved their comfort with
collaboration
89%
say exposure to art and artists who shared goals and
97 %
say using writing and performance strategies to
95%
say being exposed to new ideas, peoples, and
10 0 %
10 0 %
79%
strategies motivated them to Plan for Success
express an idea improved their verbal skills
conditions improved their personal Mindset
say peacemaking and cross cultural building arts
and activism activities increased their social
awareness
say students overall classroom engagement
increased
say students had an increase in letter grades
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Pg.30
1 /2 Pint
Poetics
(HPP)
The best advice for me was to just go do it- jump on stage and
express yourself. Going to HPP activities and eventually competing in
the slam, then joining KLPE at Clarendon Park and taking up music
production & recording with Elgin Bokari, DJ Dishwasha and Solar
Five, made me realize what I wanted to do with my life. It also taught
me about family and how to work through our personalities. When
we host the "1/2 Pint Poetry Slam", it gives us a chance to show what
Each year we collaborate with CPS Office of Service Learning,
we’ve got and we can give back now.
L o u d e r t h a n a B o m b P o e t r y f e s t , C o l u m b i a C o l l e g e ’ s R a w Vo i c e s , a n d
DePaul University to produce 1/2 Pint Poetics Arts & Activism Days
& the culminating poetry slam. 2015 marked our 7th year hosting
open mics, service & civic engagement projects, field trips to
see professional authors & artists, and opportunities to record &
publish works. Destiny and Clayton are now mentors helping to
facilitate HPP:
W h e n w e f i r s t p a r t i c i p a t e d i n H P P , D e e w a s 7 a n d I w a s 8 . We t o o k
fourth place in the slam. Everyone used to know us as "Keekey’s
Te a m " b e c a u s e s h e ’ s o u r o l d e r s i s t e r a n d w a s o n t h e K L t e e n s l a m
team that won Louder than a Bomb in 2008. She was our first
poetry coach.
We j o i n e d o u r e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l ’ s t e a m t o r e p r e s e n t E n g l e w o o d ,
where we are from. Our sister helped coach that team too. Every year
w e t r a n sf o r m e d , a n d a s w e g o t b e t t e r , e v e r y o n e s t a r t e d t o c a l l u s
DC. Being in 1/2 Pint Poetics really exposed us to new stuff, like
watching people on stage and seeing how they present themselves in
f r o n t o f o t h e r p e o p l e . We a r e c o n s t a n t l y g e t t i n g b e t t e r e v e r y
time we’re on the stage. Our writing has progressed, and we have
a bigger vocabulary. If you are an artist, a rapper, or anything out
there, coming to KL programs is something you should do!
DC aka Destiny Cox and
Clayton Harris, 1/2 Pint
Poetics Alum
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Cultural Events
& Collaborative
Projects:
Youth on Youth (YOY)
YOUTH ON YOUTH ENGAGED 120
YOUTH IN 120+ HOURS OF
H U M A N I T I E S , M AT H , A N D U R B A N
ARTS VIA PEER-TO-PEER
INSTRUCTION
IN THE 1990’S, A COLLECTIVE OF UPTOWN
YO U T H D E V E L O P E D YO U T H O N YO U T H
A L I T E R A C Y P R O G R A M T H AT F O S T E R E D
PEER TO PEER LEARNING IN A HOP HOP
C O N T E X T . T H E I R I D E A WA S I N S P I R E D B Y
AND MODELED AFTER MISSISSIPPI
F R E E D O M S C H O O L S A N D B L A C K PA N T H E R
C O M M U N I T Y I N I T I AT I V E S . A S YO U T H , K L
FOUNDERS, JACINDA, JAQUANDA AND
L E I D A W E R E PA R T I C I PA N T S I N YOY , A L S O
SERVING AS HIGH SCHOOL AND
C O L L E G E M E N T O R S T H E M S E LV E S . T H I S
PA S T S U M M E R , W I T H T H E S U P P O R T O F
UPLIFT HIGH SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL
M AT T E R S , A N E W C R E W O F C R I T I C A L
P E D A G O G Y FA C I L I TAT O R S R E C L A I M E D
THIS SUMMER, 160 YOUTH
REPRESENTING TWENTY-ONE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS,
G AT H E R E D T O R E M I X A N D
REVIVE YOUTH ON YOUTH,
A TWENTY YEAR OLD CRITICAL
LITERACY, ARTS, AND
R E C R E AT I O N P R O G R A M .
Pg.33
T H E YOY P R O G R A M F O R T H E M S E LV E S
AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
Pg.34
Fo r e i g h t w e e k s , 1 6 Yo u n g A d u l t M e n t o r s , m e n t o r e d 4 0 H S
Leaders, and together they mentored approximately 80
elementary school students. From Uptown to Auburn
Gresham, Humboldt Park to Englewood, Little Village to
B a c k o f t h e Ya r d s , t h e 1 5 6 y o u t h w e r e d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e
cohorts, selected crew names reflective of their favored
college or university then sat out for peer to peer learning
and community building. Their daily routine included
critical math and humanities workshops, peace circles,
community building activities, arts making, college and
career readiness, and curriculum inquiry.
Each week participants would spend their mornings,
exploring self care, personal purpose, and community
visions all while strengthening their math and reading
skill sets. In the afternoons, they gained arts making and
technology skills by selecting two intensives that
included dance, mural painting, music production, slam
poetry, videography, theatre, journalism, basketball,
soccer, volleyball and or swimming. Each week ended with
a community outing such as neighborhood mural tours and
theatre performances.
Pg.35
Pg.36
Participant
Feature:
Youth on Youth (YOY)
I was in the fourth grade when
At that time I thought attending
safe space, build community,
YOY i s a n i n n o v a t i v e a n d u n i q u e
5 college mentors visited my
college was out of the question
a n d c r e a t e a r t . I t i s s o e a sy t o
program that’s not only
classroom at Brennemann
for me. Nearly a decade after,
succumb to the glorification of
beneficial to the Uptown
elementary school. They came
I sat in that same Uplift high
street life and fast money, so I
neighborhood, but also the lives
in and taught us a call and
s c h o o l a s a YOY s t u d e n t , I w a s
was so excited to see so many
of everyone involved- from
response clap game called ‘Car
able to return to lead my peers
students show up every
student to teacher to parent.
Wa s h ’ . I f e l l i n l o v e i n i t i a l l y
in a summer of intellectual
morning ready to learn and
There is no program in the
with how Intune they were and
conversations and the freedom
g r o w . YOY i s i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e
city that can be as beneficial
how they seemed to enjoy each
to produce any art they chose.
of how prevalent violence is in
a s YOY o n i t s p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d
other’s company while
At the same time, we all learned
the city. This program is geared
I am living proof of this.
interacting with us. I looked
the importance of being
towards informing children of
up to them as scholars and
unified as black and brown
the world they live in as well as
leaders of my community.
youth. It gave me so much joy
providing them with the mental
to be a part of this program
and vernacular ability to speak
reboot to give back to
on combat injustice through
community and to a program
the arts and activism.
that really introduced me to
collegeas a tangible goal in my
I learned that the ability to
life.
learn is never ending. I served
as one of the head college
- D A R I U S PA R K E R , J O U R N A L I S M
M A J O R AT N O R T H E R N I L L I N O I S
UNIVERSITY, KL AND YOUTH ON
Y O U T H A L U M A N D Y O U N G A D U LT
MENTOR
YOY h a s h a d s u c h a n i m p a c t
mentors for my group (VENOM)
in the Uptown community by
and while we embarked on a
giving the students in the
journey of debate and critical
neighborhood an outlet. It
thought, they taught me the
allows students in the
importance of being open
neighborhood to come into a
minded and patient to be a
better leader and teacher.
Pg.37
Pg.38
"All of us, whether College Mentors, HS
leaders, or participating youth, had
multiple opportunities to practice
social emotional skills.
We a l s o
learned strategies for building and
maintaining healthy interpersonal
relationships, and respond to trauma,
conflict and violence."
K U U M B A LY N X A L U M N I H AV E G O N E O N
T O PA I N T A C R O S S T H E W O R L D , P R O D U C E ,
KYLER HUGHES, KL, YOY
& UPLIFT HS ALUM, COLLEGE MENTOR,
WRITE, RECORD & PERFORM IN THE
H O WA R D U N I V E R S I T Y
MUSIC, MEDIA & FILM INDUSTRIES,
PUBLISH INDIVIDUAL WORKS, PRESENT
LIVE PERFORMANCE WORKS ON
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S TA G E S , E N G A G E I N A
GLOBAL CRITICAL JUSTICE & ARTS
D I S C O U R S E , T R AV E L W I T H P O P I C O N
"Not only have I seen the elementary
students’ love for language, reading
and critical thinking increase, but my
own literacy and passion have
improved"
JACQUESE ROBINSON, HS LEADER,
WESTINGHOUSE
A R T I S T S , A N D M O S T I M P O R TA N T LY ,
NURTURE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING
FA M I L I E S C O M M I T T E D T O L O V E &
L I B E R AT I O N ! T H E S E A L U M N I P R A C T I C E
RECIPROCITY BY RETURNING
F R E Q U E N T LY T O K L . M E E T S O M E O F
T H E YO U T H O N YO U T H K L M E N T O R S . . .
" We w o r k e d t o d e v e l o p l e a d e r s h i p
skills through the creation of Hip Hop
artistic projects which identified and
responded to issues relevant to our
own lived experiences."
ZEBADIAH ARRINGTON, KL ALUMNI,
COLLEGE MENTOR, SCHOOL OF THE ART
INSTITUTE
Pg.39
Pg.40
80
17
16
13
11
40
Youth on Yo uth
participant s ages 11-13
Chicago communities
represente d amongst participants
YOY College Mentors
& Art Facili tators ages 18-23
Universities represented
amongst College Mentors
SCHOOLS rep resented
amongst the H.S. Mentors
YOY High Sch ool
Mentors ag es 14-17
Pg.42
Cultural Events
& Collaborative
Projects
606 Graffiti Garden
5 0 S t r e e t A r t i s t s a n d G r a f f i t i Wr i t e r s f r o m a c r o s s
Chicago aerosoled genius on the bare concrete walls down
Bloomingdale between Kimball and Central Park.
K u u m b a Ly n x ’ s G r a f f i t i G a r d e n i s a t h r e e m i l e s t r e t c h o f
murals curated by Stef Skills and BboyB for this past
s u m m e r ’ s o p e n i n g o f t h e 6 0 6 Tr a i l . T h e a r t i s t s r e p r e s e n t
a multi-generational cross-section of crews painting in
Chicago.
Many of the now internationally noted artists got their
start painting down Bloomingdale as far back as the 80’s.
The walls have served as sanctuary for street artists
working to reclaim space, resist gentrification and utilize
their art as an alternative to violence.
Pg.43
Pg.44
Cultural Events
& Collaborative
Projects
ChiTeen Lit Fest
With this same funding source but in partnership with a
g r a n t g i v e n t o YO U M e d i a , w e c o l l a b o r a t e d a l o n g s i d e
Chicago Public Library, Columbia College Chicago, Poetry
Fo u n d a t i o n , U I C - C o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n , Af t e r S c h o o l M a t t e r s ,
and the Center for College Access and Success to plan and
p r o d u c e t h e T h e C h i c a g o Te e n L i t Fe s t .
The two day fest which takes place at Columbia College
a n d H a r o l d Wa s h i n g t o n l i b r a r y o n A p r i l 1 5 t h a n d 1 6 t h t h i s
year aims to provide a safe and creative space for young
adults to unlock and discover their unique voice through
literary arts. It will bring together 500+ young people
from across Chicago and celebrate their talents as they
express themselves through exceptional and honest art.
Pg.45
Pg.46
Cultural Events
& Collaborative
Projects (cont.)
Fresh Experessions
In partnership with Inner City Muslim Action Network’s
Yo u t h C o u n c i l , K L P E a n d K L ’ s y o u t h b o a r d - U p t o w n U P R I Z E
collectively planned, implemented and presented eight
c o m m u n i t y f o r u m s h e l d a t I M A N ’ s H e a l t h & We l l n e s s
Center, on the city’s south side.
The monthly events provide a creative, artistic and
educational space for youth to connect around social
justice related issues utilizing positive art as a
vehicle of expression. A selected group of KLPE Apprentices
were asked showcase their works each month.
Pg.47
Pg.48
Cultural Events
& Collaborative
Projects (cont.)
1 Luv Fest
Since 1997 we have been collaborating with various
community partners and business’ to produce a youth
centered Hip Hop arts, culture and resistance festival
featuring live mural painting and performances. This year
emcees included Bella Bahs, FM Supreme, Jahleigh,
Rebel Diaz, and Ethos, an emcee, poetry, and dance
battle. The day began with a traditional healing circle
lead by the American Indian Center Positive Paths youth.
The opening ceremony was followed by a youth panel
coordinated in partnership with Desi youth project,
f e a t u r i n g l o c a l a c t i v i s t s f r o m B Y P 1 0 0 , We C h a rg e G e n o c i d e ,
Let Us Breathe Collective, and KL youth activists.
Attendees got free haircuts, health checks, food, school
supplies, and learned about "going green" by visiting our
free "thriftin" and participating in a recycled art making
w o r k s h o p s . Af t e r t h e t r a n s i t i o n i n g o f a K L y o u t h
participant, John VIetnam Nguyen, and Chicago Hip Hop
legend Unkle Hek, we partnered this summer with Chi Rock
Nation to officially name the event 1 LUV Back to
School Jam.
Pg.49
Pg.50
[special
projects]
We G e t F r e e M e d i a C r e w r e c e i v e d a s i x m o n t h p l a n n i n g g r a n t
t h r o u g h H i v e C h i c a g o Fu n d f o r C o n n e c t e d L e a r n i n g a t t h e C h i c a g o
C o m m u n i t y Tr u s t t o e x p l o r e i d e a s , c r e a t e p a r t n e r s h i p s ,
strategize and plan for a youth media making series focusing
on Chicago Hip Hop learning communities. A major goal of the
youth lead media series is to make contributing to the work
accessible, so that anybody who is interested can participate in
documenting citywide stories.
MANY YOUTH ARE ALREADY IMPORTANT CO NTRIBUTORS TO THIS WORK
WHETHER THEY SIMPLY TAKE A PHOTO ON
THEIR PHONE ONE TIME OR THEY
CREATE A FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY SE
RIES.
Pg.51
Pg.52
about
the
project:
A newly forming media
We G e t F r e e ( W G F ) M e d i a ( W G F
"With the media created, KL is
collective of youth ages 8-25,
is inspired by the pillars of KL’s
a b l e t o r e a c h a l a rg e r a u d i e n c e .
alongside KL’s two part time
best practices articulated in
This documenting work is also
youth marketing and
the acronym WE GET FREE).
important because it ensures
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s t a f f , To m a n d
t h e i n t e g r i t y o f K u u m b a Ly n x
Marie, have been informally
WGF Media Crew showcases
( and our communities)
documenting Chicago’s Hip Hop
their works through film and
history and narrative are kept
art, culture and resistance.
photo gallery installations. They
intact. WGF Media strives to
The crew captures city wide
broadcast to their networks and
capture the moments that
events, youth activities,
c o m m u n i t y a t l a rg e t h r o u g h
happen from our own
performances, and other
social media. Some of the
perspective which helps keep
activities that have strong
video works created include
our story alive and authentic.
roots in Chicago’s Hip Hop arts
artist portfolios made for
We b e l i e v e i n u s i n g t h e p o w e r o f
& activists communities.
several KL youth’s college
images to define moments that
They use both still and moving
applications, weekly videos that
go unnoticed, so we use them
footage.
are posted to social media
to convey our thoughts about
entitled, "A Moment’s Notice",
what’s happening in our
Marie, a KL alumni and
which documents youth led
community."
prolific visual storyteller and
social movements, and recap
To m , a v i s u a l a c t i v i s t ,
events happening across the
unofficially started by
city or nation. One of the major
documenting the KLPE poets
goals for WGF is to develop an
during their 2013 journey
ongoing archive of photos,
t o LTA B . T h e c r e w h a s s i n c e
videos, and documentaries
traveled out of the state to
created by and about Chicago’s
national festivals, events, and
youth.
- M a r i e & To m , W G F M e d i a C r e w
conferences, as the official KL
Pg.53
Pg.54
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERE N T W O R L D S O U T T H E R E T H AT
I WA N T T O E X P L O R E B E YO N D
T H E S C H O O L D AY A N D B E YO N D
THE STREETS OF MY OWN
N E I G H B O R H O O D . B E I N G A PA R T
OF KLPE AND THE KL POETRY
SLAM TEAM HAS SHOWED ME
SOME OF THESE NEW WORLDS:
FROM RECORDING A VOICEOVER IN A PROFESSIONAL
PRODUCTION STUDIO DOWNT O W N , T O T R AV E L I N G A L L O V E R
C H I C A G O A N D O U T O F S TAT E
T O P E R F O R M AT E V E N T S A N D
F E S T I VA L S .
" K U U M B A LY N X I S A S PA C E
W H E R E A R T I S C R E AT E D O N A L L
L E V E L S . I T W I L L O P E N YO U R
M I N D T O I D E A S YO U W E R E
N E V E R A B L E T O S E E . E V E R YO N E
IS IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNI N G . . . K U U M B A LY N X E D U C AT E S
STUDENTS ON SO MANY LEVE L S B E YO N D T H E S P E C T R U M
O F C L A S S R O O M E D U C AT I O N .
YO U B E C O M E S O PA S S I O N AT E
ABOUT THE ACTUAL WORK. THE
A R T I S A S M A L L P E R C E N TA G E
O F T H E W O R K W E ’ R E R E A L LY
DOING...THE PIECES ARE NOT
JUST ABOUT PERFORMING,
BUT THE PIECES ARE ABOUT
E D U C AT I N G O U R S E LV E S , O U R
PEERS AND ELDERS. WE ARE
THE KEEPERS OF THESE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES. MOST
S P E C TAT O R S H AV E E I T H E R
B E E N T O O A F R A I D T O S AY I T O R
NEVER EVEN HEARD OUR PERSPECTIVE."
- chirstopher “maddog” thomas,
-Sahara Burton, KLPE Alum
Pg.55
kl urban dance facilitator
Pg.56
growing our
capacity
O U R S T R AT E G I C P L A N N I N G P R O C E S S ,
2 0 1 5 O P E R AT I O N S A S S E S S M E N T S
IDENTIFIED 4 AREAS IN WHICH KL
REVEALED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
PROGRAMS ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL
ACROSS SIX OF SEVEN MANAGEMENT
• C U LT I VAT E A S PA C E F O R P E R S O N A L G R O W T H A N D
1 . C O N C E P T D E V E L O P M E N T, P L A N N I N G , A N D R E B R A N D I N G
T R A N S F O R M AT I O N
2. BOARD GOVERNANCE
• E M P L O Y B E S T P R A C T I C E O F A R T S I N S T R U C T I O N / FA C I L I TAT I O N
AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
• E N C O U R A G E C R I T I C A L L I T E R A C Y W H E R E PA R T I C I PA N T S A R E
3 . S TA F F I N G , S T R U C T U R E S A N D V O L U N T E E R S
4, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
I N V E S T E D I N A D I S C O U R S E I N O N E ’ S O W N C U LT U R E &
VERNACULAR, AND WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO NAME INJUSTICE,
RENAME AND CHANGE THE WORLD IN WHICH THEY LIVE
• E M B R A C E C R E AT I V E P E A C E M A K I N G W H E R E A R T M E E T S S O C I A L
5 . D E E P E N I N G O F P R O G R A M I M PA C T & C O M M U N I T Y
PA R T N E R S H I P S
6 . F I N A N C I A L M A N A G E M E N T A N D I N C O M E G E N E R AT I O N
J U S T I C E A N D P E R S O N A L / C U LT U R A L L I T E R A C Y I N T E R S E C T S
TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC LITERACY PROVIDED IN SCHOOLS.
Pg.57
7. AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING
Pg.58
1. staffing
2. leadership
We h a v e i n c r e a s e d o u r c a p a c i t y t o h i r e n e w f u l l , p a r t t i m e a n d
We w e r e a w a r d e d a p r o f e s s i o n a l c o a c h t h r o u g h t h e B N V c o h o r t w h o
c o n t r a c t u a l e m p l o y e e s . To d a t e , w e h a v e h i r e d a f u l l t i m e
was instrumental in helping us identify specific goals and people
B u s i n e s s M a n a g e r, p a r t t i m e M a r k e t i n g a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
w h o c o u l d a s s i s t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n g r o w t h a n d v i s i o n i n g . We h a v e
C o n s u l t a n t , a n d c o n t r a c t e d a p a r t t i m e F u n d D e v e l o p e r.
gained some leadership coaching, trainings and systems for
A d d i t i o n a l l y, w e c o n t r a c t e d c o n s u l t a n t s f o r b o a r d d e v e l o p m e n t .
m a n a g i n g t h e i n c r e a s e i n c a p a c i t y. O u r C o E x e c u t i v e l e a r d e r s h i p
attended two essential leadership trainings through the Rockwood
We h a v e a l s o c o n t r a c t e d v a r i o u s o p e r a t i o n s a n d t e c h n i c a l s t a ff t o
F o u n d a t i o n a n d U r b a n B u s h Wo m e n . C o l l e c t i v e l y v a r i o u s o t h e r s t a ff
assist with graphic and audio design for programming, artists to
attended professional development trainings presented in
assist with organization/event logos, grant writing and reporting,
p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h I n g e n u i t y,
annual report layouts, larger performance lighting & audio designs
contracted a part time Fund Development person, hired two part
A f t e r S c h o o l M a t t e r s , C h i c a g o F r e e d o m S c h o o l , Yo u t h S p e a k s , A r t s
time marketing and communication people, contracted consultants
I n f u s i o n , G o o d m a n T h e a t e r, a n d m o r e . We w o r k e d w i t h a c o a c h
for board development, and marketing.
through the BNV cohort to engage our Co Executive leadership in
a set of leadership trainings to carve space for self-reflection and
F i n a l l y, f u n d i n g h a s h e l p e d t o s u s t a i n t w o f o u n d i n g D i r e c t o r s f u l l
p r o v i d e t o o l s a n d e x e r c i s e s t o s h a r e w i t h o u r o t h e r ( j u n i o r ) s t a ff
t i m e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o s i t i o n s , o n e f u l l t i m e P r o g r a m M a n a g e r, a f u l l
a r o u n d p u r p o s e . We w e r e a b l e t o t a k e s t o c k i n o u r o w n w o r k a n d
t i m e P u b l i c A l l y, a n d a F u l l Ti m e I n t e r i m B u s i n e s s M a n a g e r a n d f o r
the organization, to reflect on where we are as an emerging
t h e f i r s t t i m e o ff e r e d t o p a y a p o r t i o n o f h e a l t h c a r e b e n e f i t s t o t h e
leaders critical to the long-term health of KL.
c u r r e n t t h r e e f u l l t i m e s t a ff .
We h a d m a n y m o m e n t s o f d o i n g t h i n g s “ r i g h t , ” b e i n g i n t e n t i o n a l i n
our choices and being clear about our individual and organizational
g o a l s s o t o l e a d u s t o p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e l o n g e r - t e r m . We n o w
have a stronger clarity of personal and organizational mission and
purpose as well as some concrete tools for strengthening our
l e a d e r s h i p h e l p i n g u s t o c r e a t e a m o r e e ff e c t i v e , s u s t a i n a b l e ,
organization and humane life.
Pg.59
Pg.60
3. Concept
Development
& Rebranding
• G A I N E D A B R A N D I D E N T I T Y & P L A C E M E N T S T R AT E G Y I N C L U D I N G
KL contracted a professional coach who was instrumental in
4.
helping leadership identify specific goals and people who could
H O W T O B E S T U S E L A N G U A G E A N D L O G O T O AT T R A C T N E W
S TA K E H O L D E R S W I T H O U R B R A N D I D E N T I T Y
• INCREASED OUR OVERALL BRANDING FOOTPRINT ACROSS CHICAGO
assist the organization with a much need rebranding leading
i n t o t h e 2 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y.
Alongside a creative design consultant, a copy person and
Partnerships,
Special Projects
& deepening our
impact
Marketing consultants, KL leadership, several participants,
transitioning youth-alumni and a few Board members with marketing
We d e v e l o p e d a s p e c i a l p r o j e c t i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f o u r 2 0 t h
and communication skills took a hard look at how we position
anniversary that will now be an annual event. Applications were
o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s b r a n d i d e n t i t y i n o u r l o c a l e c o s y s t e m .
released and presenters selected for The 2016 Chicago Hip Hop
Theater Fest. It is a means for activating our alumni, deepening
We h a v e :
our existing alumni relationships and creating some new ones with
youth ages 18-26 who share a similar exposure to critical Hip Hop
• D E V E L O P E D A N E W L O G O T H AT W I L L B E U N V E I L E D I N J U N E F O R
OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY KICK OFF
pedagogy through their participation in similar local/national
o r g a n i z a t i o n s ( U W M a d i s o n F i r s t Wa v e H i p H o p , F l o r i d a Tr u e
S p e a k s , A t l a n t a Wo r d Wo r k s e t c ) . C H H T F w i l l a l s o h e l p u s
• U P D AT E D A N D R E F R E S H E D O U R L A N G U A G E A R O U N D O U R
M I S S I O N , V I S I O N A N D O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L D E S C R I P T I O N U S E D
develop and strengthen our producing and special event capacities
as we transition into our roles as artistic directors.
IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT THIS YEAR
We h o p e t h a t t h e p r o j e c t w i l l g e n e r a t e a n e w s o u r c e s a r e v e n u e
• REFLECTED AND REFRAMED OUR WORK AND
T H E VA L U E O F O U R M I S S I O N
f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . U l t i m a t e l y, w e k n o w i t i s s t r e t c h i n g o u r s e l v e s
creatively through a community-designed performance practice but
it aligns with both our transitional leadership and alumni relation
• D E V E L O P E D S T R O N G E R O V E R A L L C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
goals.
POSITIONING AND MARKETING MESSAGING
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Pg.62
revenue
fiscal
management
50%
30%
10%
10%
F O U N D AT I O N G R A N T S &
EARNED INCOME
G O V E R N M E N T AWA R D S
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R S H I P
PERFORMANCES AND SERVICES
& CONTRACTS
60%
22%
16%
2%
PROGRAMS
A R T S FA C I L I TAT O R S
O P E R AT I O N A L S TA F F
YO U T H S C H O L A R S H I P
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Pg.64
K u u m b a Ly n x r e c e i v e s f u n d i n g t h r o u g h c o n t r a c t e d
performances & services, private & public grants, corporate sponsorship, and individual donors.
K u u m b a Ly n x i s s u p p o r t e d b y Af t e r S c h o o l M a t t e r s , A l b e r t
P i c k Fu n d , A l p h a w o o d Fo u n d a t i o n , A r t s w o r k Fu n d , B e y o n d
t h e B e l l , C h i c a g o C o m m u n i t y Tr u s t , C h i c a g o H I V E Fu n d f o r
C o n n e c t e d L e a r n i n g a t T h e C h i c a g o C o m m u n i t y Tr u s t , C i t y
A r t s I , C o o k C o u n t y V i o l e n c e P r e v e n t i o n Fu n d , C r y s t a l Fu n d ,
D e p a r t m e n t o f C u l t u r a l Af f a i r s , D e p a r t m e n t o f Fa m i l y a n d
Support Services HUD, House of Blues, Illinois Arts Council;
a state agency, Oak Park MacArthur International Connect i o n s Fu n d , N a t i o n a l E n d o w m e n t f o r t h e A r t s , O a k P a r k - R i v e r Fo r e s t C o m m u n i t y Fo u n d a t i o n , P o l k B r o s Fo u n d a t i o n ,
T h e L o g a n Fo u n d a t i o n , T h e R i c h a r d H . D r i e h a u s Fo u n d a t i o n ,
Yo u t h S p e a k s , a n d I n d i v i d u a l D o n o r s .
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Pg.66
Marching into our
20s...a look back
Some 20th anniversar y
facts:
S I N C E 2 0 0 0 , I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H
9 0 % O F YO U T H W H O PA R T I C I PAT E F O R 3 +
A F T E R S C H O O L M AT T E R S , T H E I L L I N O I S
YEARS IN KL ARE ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE.
ARTS COUNCIL, AND COOK COUNTY
VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUND, KLPE HAS
8 7 % O F YO U T H W H O PA R T I C I PAT E F O R 2 +
PROVIDED OVER 4,500 STIPENDS TO
YEARS IN KL FULFILL ALL OF THEIR
APPRENTICES & INTERNS
REQUIRED CPS SERVICE LEARNING
HOURS
SINCE, 2010, KLPE APPRENTICESHIPS
H AV E H A D A N E S T I M AT E D 9 2 %
R E T E N T I O N R AT E
SINCE 2010 KL’S OUT OF SCHOOL HIP
H O P A R T S P R O G R A M S H AV E H A D A N 8 0 %
C O M P L E T I O N R AT E
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Pg.68
19 9 6
A s c o m m u n i t i e s o rg a n i z e d a g a i n s t
19 9 9
Fo u n d e r , L e i d a " L a d y S o l " & P o p p i n
CPS arts funding cuts, the Three
Chuck start Urban Dance Project in
Strikes Law and the first Chica-
L.A. KL partners with Alderman Helen
go Anti Gang Loitering Ordinance,
Shiller to host the Hip Hop Arena in
founders in collaboration with city-
partnership with the Uptown Survival
wide activists published the first
D a y Fe s t .
i s s u e o f T h e C h i To w n L o w D o w n a n d
p r o d u c e d t h e f i r s t K u u m b a Ly n x
Performance Ensemble show, both
debuting at The 500 Nations Cafe.
19 97
C o - Fo u n d e r s s t a r t T h e Ly r i c i s t
2000
KL becomes a Chicago Park District
Te m p l e , a w e e k l y o p e n m i c , i n a n
Arts Partner at Clarendon Park in
effort to support program costs
Uptown, offering free Drop-In Arts
programs for Chicago’s youth
19 9 8
2 0 01
KL partners with CAN TV and Chi-
Inspired by artists from the Clarion
To w n L o w D o w n t o p r o d u c e “ T h e L a n d
Alley Mural Project in Oakland CA,
Grab”, a Hip Hop narrative unveiling
K L i n i t i a t e s A l l e y A r t To u r s , a G r a f -
the untold truths behind Chicago
fiti Arts project led by Nerd La Roc,
gentrification.
aimed at preserving community stories via murals on garage panels
Pg.69
Pg.70
2 0 02
K u u m b a Ly n x P e r f o r m a n c e E n s e m b l e
(KLPE) begins national and interna-
2005
KL releases first full LP, El Barrio
Clocks our Beats and Rhymez
tional travel
2003
KL, University of Hip Hop, Connect
2006
KL’s 10th year anniversary is marked
Fo r c e , a n d Yo u t h S t r u g g l i n g f o r S u r -
b y a p o e t i c i n s t a l l a t i o n , T h e Af r i c a n
vival travel to South Dakota for Red
Presence In Mexico, curated by The
Noize, an arts & culture exchange
Mexican Fine Arts Museum.
with Pine Ridge Reservation in South
KL gave 3 college scholarships to
Brittney Connor, Eduardo Garcia, and
M o rg a n C l e v e l a n d .
2004
KLPE protests with over 10,000 students at the annual School of the
A m e r i c a s Wa t c h i n M a r i e t t a , G e o rg i a ,
both hosting and performing on the
main stag
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2 0 07
L a d y S o l d e v e l o p s C h i c a g o Fo o t w o r K INGz, the professional dance ensemb l e o f K u u m b a Ly n x
K u u m b a Ly n x e s t a b l i s h e d a p a r t n e r ship with the University of Wiscons i n - M a d i s o n ’ s F i r s t Wa v e H i p H o p
and Urban Arts Learning Community,
the nation’s only full tuition scholarship for Hip Hop Arts
Pg.72
2 0 08
E d u c a t i n ’ E n e rg y i s p r e s e n t e d b y
2 010
K L P E S l a m Te a m w i n s C h i c a g o ’ s
S t e p p e n w o l f T h e a t e r ’ s Tr a f f i c S e r i e s
Louder Than A Bomb and returns to
photos can be the actual flyer, one of
B r a v e N e w Vo i c e s I n L A t o r a n k i n t h e
the pics off the steppenwolf website
top 20 poetry teams of the world
i like the one of tamera taken by
John Moye or the newspaper article
that was in the Chicago Defender.
K L P E ’ s S l a m Te a m w i n s C h i c a g o ’ s
Louder Than A Bomb teen poetry
festival and competes in Brave New
Vo i c e s I n t e r n a t i o n a l p o e t r y f e s t i v a l
i n Wa s h i n g t o n D . C .
1 / 2 P i n t P o e t i c s , C h i c a g o ’ s l a rg e s t
2 01 1
KLPE members Lala Bolander, Marvin
elementary school poetry slam
Gutierrez, and John Vietnam Nguyen
swaggs out the city.
receive full tuition scholarships to
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2009
" Ta k e F l i g h t " D V D i s r e l e a s e d . T h e
f i l m d o c u m e n t s t h e Fo o t w o r K I N G z
2 01 2
Little Village Lawndale HS KLPE
apprenticeship celebrates 10 years
journey to Madonna’s world tour.
KL hosts Life is Living festival in collaboration with Marc Bamuthi Joseph
& Yo u t h S p e a k s I n c
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Pg.74
2 01 3
KL Adult Ensemble presents Braid
Ta l e s a t G o v e r n o r s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
2 01 5
KLPE Slam team wins Chicago’s
Louder Than A Bomb and returns to
B r a v e N e w Vo i c e s i n A t l a n t a .
KLPE is selected to present at the
Harris Theatre Chicago Dance
Fe s t i v a l . K L A l u m t r a v e l s t o C o l u m bia. WGF presents at national film
f e s t i v a l s i n c l u d i n g Wo r d s B e a t s L i f e .
2 014
KLPE Slam team wins Chicago’s
Louder Than A Bomb and returns to
B r a v e N e w Vo i c e s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a
Wo r d s B e a t s a n d L i f e a w a r d s K L t h e
H i p H o p O rg a n i z a t i o n o f t h e y e a r
award
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Pg.76
Board of Directors,
Staff, Volunteers &
Interns
Darius Parker
Museum of Contemporary Art
Mobalaji Akintunde
Brand Strategist Consultation
Steve Moon
T h e K u u m b a Ly n x B o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s a n d s t a f f a l i g n t h e i r
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
work with strategic plans for continued fund development
and increased visibility among funders. This year,
Dr. Soyini Madison
K u u m b a Ly n x h a s u p d a t e d o u r b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s p o l i c i e s
Northwestern University School of Communication
and evaluation tools for staff to strengthen the training
process and integration of new board members.
O P E R AT I O N S S TA F F
J a q u a n d a V i l l e g a s , C o - Fo u n d i n g D i r e c t o r
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J a c i n d a B u l l i e , C o - Fo u n d i n g D i r e c t o r
Kiela McNair, Public Ally
Christopher "Mad Dog" Thomas, KLPE Uptown
Sol Flores, President
Program Manager
La Casa Norte
To m C a l l a h a n , C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Dela-Marie Soudy, Communications
David Stovall, Vice President
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
H I P H O P A R T S FA C I L I TAT O R S
Leida Garcia, Creative Director of KLPE Urban Dance Projex
Brendan Shiller, Secretary
at Little Village Lawndale HS
Shiller-Preyer Law Office
Ta n y a S m i t h , Wr i t i n g & P e r f o r m a n c e , K L P E We s t S i d e
M a r q u i s H u d s o n , U r b a n D a n c e , K L P E We s t S i d e
D a n n y N e l s o n , Tr e a s u r e r
Quenton Cole, Music Production, KLPE Uptown
PFM Financial
Jessie Livingston, Music Production
E m o n M c G e e , Wr i t i n g , 1 / 2 P i n t P o e t i c s
Cydney Edwards
G r e g o r y R o g e r s , Wr i t i n g & P e r f o r m a n c e , 1 / 2 P i n t P o e t i c s
Chicago Debate League
Zebadiah Arrington, Graffiti Arts, KLPE Uptown
Justin Grey, Mural Arts, KLPE Uptown
Ida Musoni
Maurice
Moqoface Design
Elgin Bokari, Music Production & Recording
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Pg.78
D J M o z D e f , K L P E Tu r n t a b l i s t
CHRISTOPHER "MAD DOG" THOMAS
J u l i o D J I l l a n o i z e , Tu r n t a b l i s t
KLPE alumni and the current KLPE Uptown Program Manager at Clare n d o n P a r k a n d t h e J u v e n i l e Te m p o r a r y D e t e n t i o n C e n t e r . H e i s
INTERNS
responsible for directing JDTC-community based dance programs
DePaul, Loyola, Northwestern and Columbia College
for both incarcerated youth and those at high risk of incarceration.
C h r i s t o p h e r a l s o o v e r s e e s b o t h t h e J D T C a n d C l a r e n d o n P a r k Fo o t -
staff highlights
working and Performance Apprenticeships.
We a r e e x c i t e d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t K u u m b a Ly n x h a s b e c o m e a
p a r t n e r o rg a n i z a t i o n o f P u b l i c A l l i e s ! A s a r e s u l t , w e n o w h a v e a f u l l
time Public Ally, Kiela McNair. Kiela is gradually being introduced to
all components of program management, which has helped increase
o rg a n i z a t i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c a p a c i t y o v e r a l l .
KIELA
Alumni of KLPE Uptown and has demonstrated a strong desire to
develop her non-profit management skills. Through her full time
position with KL, Kiela has been exposed to contracting,
budgeting, community outreach, relationship building, supervising
interns and volunteers, event planning, event execution, funding
requests and reporting.
Pg.79
Pg.80
L E I D A " L A DYS O L " G A R C I A
When alumni return, it is another testament to how students
The best memories and experiences of my career as a teaching artist
develop a need for self expression and recognize their responsibility
w i t h K u u m b a Ly n x h a v e b e e n c e m e n t e d a t LV L H S t h r o u g h t h e s t u d e n t s
to pass down what they have learned in our programs as a form of
that I have had the honor of serving while developing Urban Dance
preservation.
Projex (UDP) program curriculum.
A s I p o n d e r w h a t i s n e x t f o r K u u m b a Ly n x a n d w h a t i s n e x t f o r m e ,
Since 2005, I have had the pleasure of teaching in-school and after
I am at peace knowing that the time we have shared and invested in
school dance programs at Little Village Lawndale High School with
hundreds of students across the city of Chicago is a legacy that will
t h e s u p p o r t o f Af t e r S c h o o l M a t t e r s .
n o t s o o n b e f o rg o t t e n .
LV H S o p e n e d i t ’ s d o o r s t h e s a m e y e a r U D P w a s b o r n a n d I w i t n e s s e d
the first graduating class of 2009. A hand full of students from my
first class with danced with UDP for 4 years including Jazmin Johns o n , J a z m i n S a l g a d o , Va n e s s a J o n e s , C h r i s t o p h e r J a c k s o n a n d D e r r i u s
Robinson. These students in particular taught me that "I should learn
more from the process of teaching than what I am trying to teach in
class." I use this as a constant reminder, especially when I get too
deep into worrying about the preparation for stage performances with
huge community audiences.
Though I am utterly proud of the amazing performance opportunities
and experiences that UDP has shared with audiences, I am constantly
asking myself, what are the participants taking with them when they
graduate or leave our program? Has this process affected their lives,
and if yes, how so?
What I can attest to is that students always come back to visit and
freely drop into the studio to say hi, to share stories with new students, to help with shows and dance choreography. I always feel good
knowing community has been established here and that they always
feel welcome. Some UDP students have transitioned to leadership and
c o n t i n u e t o w o r k w i t h K u u m b a Ly n x a s t e a c h i n g a r t i s t s i n o t h e r
p r o g r a m s a n d / o r o t h e r c o m m u n i t y o rg a n i z a t i o n s .
Pg.81
Pg.82
partnerships
C L A R E N D O N PA R K , C H I C A G O PA R K D I S T R I C T , A R T S PA R T N E R
HOSTS FRESH EXPRESSIONS, A FREE, ALL-AGES EVENT HELD
HOUSES UPTOWN DROP-IN ARTS PROGRAMS AND KL’S
E V E R Y M O N T H AT I M A N ’ S YO U T H A N D A R T S W E L L N E S S C E N T E R ,
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E O F F I C E S
A N D F E AT U R E S A C R E AT I V E M I X O F W O R K S H O P S A N D A R T I S T I C
EXPRESSION IN A SAFE, INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT.
CHICAGO FREEDOM SCHOOL
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ OFFICE OF SERVICE LEARNING
PRESENTS ANNUAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING AN ARTS
U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S AT C H I C A G O
A N D A C T I V I S M YO U T H D AY A N D P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T
FA C I L I TAT E S L E A D E R S H I P A N D P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T
FOR TEACHERS
W O R K S H O P S F O R E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L T E A C H E R S
C H I C A G O S C H O O L O F P SYC H O L O G Y
W E C H A R G E G E N O C I D E - K N O W YO U R R I G H T S
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
W O R D S B E AT S L I F E I N C .
C O - P R E S E N T S A R T S E X P L O S I O N A N D 1 L U V F E S T I VA L
C O - P R E S E N T S R E M I X I N G T H E A R T O F S O C I A L C H A N G E , A N AT I O N A L
T E A C H I N F O R H I P H O P E D U C AT O R S
D E PA U L U N I V E R S I T Y
PRESENTS 1/2 PINT POETICS ORAL LITERACY PROJECT AND
YO U N G C H I C A G O A U T H O R S
E L E M E N TA R Y P O E T R Y S L A M
C O - P R E S E N T S A N A R T S A N D A C T I V I S M D AY F O R 1 / 2 P I N T P O E T I C
P R O J E C T A N D H O S T S 1 / 2 P I N T P O E T I C S O P E N M I C AT L O U D E R T H A N A
B O M B P O E T R Y F E S T I VA L
HUMANITEA
P R E S E N T S H U M A N I T E A T I M E , F E AT U R I N G K L P E , T O I N S P I R E C H A N G E
YO U T H S P E A K S
MAKERS
C O - P R O D U C E R O F A N N U A L S U M M E R F E S T I VA L L I F E I S L I V I N G
INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK
S U P P O R T S O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
T H R O U G H G R A N T S A N D C A PA C I T Y - B U I L D I N G T R A I N I N G S
Pg.83
Pg.84
" K U U M B A LY N X I S A N
E X E M P L A R Y O R G A N I Z AT I O N
T H AT H A S H E AV I LY I N F L U ENCED MY WORK AND MY
APPROACH TO ENGAGING URBAN COMMUNITIES WITH HIP
HOP AND SPOKEN WORD. THE
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THEY
M A K E T O T H E YO U T H A N D
COMMUNITY THEY SERVE IS
A MODEL FOR ALL OF US IN THE
BNV NETWORK WHO SEEK TO
B E I M PA C T F U L W I T H O U R O W N
" K U U M B A LY N X I S T H E M O S T
I N S P I R AT I O N A L , L I B E R AT I N G
G R O U P O F P E O P L E I H AV E E V E R
MET AND WORKED WITH."
L O C A L W O R K . T H E Y A R E T R U LY
ONE OF THE BEACONS OF
T H I S YO U T H S P O K E N W O R D
MOVEMENT."
- Hodari B. Davis, National Program
Director, Youth Speaks Inc.
Pg.85
- jason ware, byp100
Pg.86
This publication was compiled
by Paula Lala Bolander
and designed by Kamal AKINYELE CollinS