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'Youth Under Construction' Brings Positive Message to Jackson
November 22, Middle School at Parkside
Mellow D's Youth Under Construction will be performing two assemblies at the Middle School at Parkside on Monday, November 22. Youth Under Construction is a collection of students, teachers and musicians who have a positive vision of hip hop music.
Since 1992, this group has harnessed the power of hip hop and pop music and transformed it into a mechanism for spreading a positive, character-building message. In 2003 they received the Parents' Choice Magazine "GOLD Award" for their CD which features a NEW hip-hop style, "Cool Beats & Clean Rhymes," for the young and intelligent.
"Unlike what most of our young people are listening to, Youth Under Construction contains no foul language, graphic violence or themes inappropriate for youth in their music," said Cam Herth, director of Jackson Community College's Office of Multicultural Relations and the College Incentive Program (CIP). Herth's office, along with community partners, Full Circle, Community Action Agency, JPS, Jackson County ISD, Kelly Gable Kuhn, director of the Jackson Nonprofit Support Center, and Tri-R Entertainment are making this educational event possible.
"One of the things we hope to share with the youth through this presentation is that the music they listen to can be positive, creative, clean and fun all at the same time. With Youth Under Construction we are providing a positive teaching alternative that we hope students and adults alike will embrace," Herth said.
"Initially we wanted to bring Youth Under Construction in as an event for the JCC College Incentive Program (CIP) students and to help promote the monthly CIP academic enrichment sessions but, after seeing the group and talking with their business manager and the educational leaders at Parkside, I immediately realized that we can have more of an impact if we make this a schoolwide assembly allowing all students to attend.
"We recognize that the CIP program can inspire both our CIP scholars and their classmates to think and act in positive fashion that promotes healthy choices for all Jackson County youth," Herth said. "We encourage other educators, people who work with youth or just want to see what a positive effect Youth Under Construction has on its listeners to come out and join us."
In addition to the performance, Mr. Herth, working with community partners, has made it possible for Parkside to receive Youth Under Construction CDs and accompanying lesson plans for teachers to use as a discussion tool in the classroom.
"The lesson plans that go with the CD's are a great resource for teachers and other adults to use with students in order to explore and discuss how lyrics, content and messages are used in music," Herth said.
Individuals or organization that would like to help with the "Youth Under Construction" project, or future projects in the JCC Office of Multicultural Relations, may contact Cam Herth at (517)796-8470. For information on times, please contact Herth's office.
