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Hip Hop Summit for Mississippi Youth is Big Success

4th Annual Mississippi Youth Hip Hop Summit: Turn Up The Volume!

The ACLU of Mississippi's 4th Annual Hip Hop Summit was a success! More than 600 registered for the summit and the annual Prevention of Schoolhouse To Jailhouse Conference. Youth participated in numerous workshops July 9-10 at Jackson State University. The topics included:

  • Bullying prevention
  • Diversity
  • Creative writing
  • Dating violence prevention
  • Money management

The youth also worked on a Student Bill of Rights, which outlined a variety of measures to promote a school environment conducive to learning.

Meanwhile, parents and community activists were informed about various dropout prevention strategies. They also were educated about due process rights for students who face suspension or expulsion. Panelists included:

  • Udi Ofer of the New York Civil Liberties Union
  • House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown
  • House Juvenile Justice Committee Chairman Earle Banks
  • Cassundra Peyton Brown, principal of Mary Bethune Alternative School
  • Carol Robinson of Jackson Public Schools’ Parent Resource Center

The summit's entertainment included rap star Lil' Al, Queen Lyrik, DJ Venom, Bboy/Bgirl, and others.

The sponsors for this year's events were:

  • The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP
  • Coalition for the Prevention of Schoolhouse to Jailhouse
  • Children’s Defense Fund and Southern Poverty Law Center