Keepers of the Art, Inc and the City of Akron present The 4th Annual KOTA Hip-Hop Festival and Showcase on Saturday September 3, 2011 at Lock 3 in Akron, OH. This annual “edutainment” extravaganza consists of a concert and an assortment of educational outlets centered around Youth Development, Hip-Hop, Education, Art and Culture.
The 2011 version will consist of a FREE community conference along with the traditional evening concert.
Conference Theme: "Popular Culture & the Media - Their Impact on Urban Youth and Their Communities." The conference will consist of a keynote address from MC LYTE. After the keynote, there will be three (3) breakout sessions available.
Breakout topics include:
• “Non-traditional Approaches to Educating the 21st Century Urban Learner” (Gabriel Asheru Benn of Edlyrics, Inc. - Washington, DC)
• “Breaking the Spell of Mediocrity and Moving Urban Youth Toward Excellence” (Brian Hamlin of Prince Georges Community College - Maryland)
• “The Psychological Impact that American Popular Culture Is Having on Urban America” (Dr. John Queener of Minority Behavioral Health & The University of Akron - Akron, OH)
After the breakout sessions, a short panel discussion will be held on the evolution of rap music and the impact that it is having on the youth of today and their communities.
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Keepers Education is a community-based arts and education organization dedicated to improving the overall quality of life of the youth we serve through the fusion of quality arts and academic enrichment programming.
In the advent of much needed arts and music education being cut from schools and after-school programs, we intend to bridge the achievement gap through authentic, hands-on arts enrichment and youth development programming by any means necessary.
Through our “Brushes & Books” after-school program, middle and high school students are exposed to a plethora of different art mediums. Mediums offered are:
- Visual Arts – painting, drawing/sketching, collages, video production, film, jewelry making, and fashion design.
- Performing Arts – theatre/acting, piano, guitar, drumming, music production, djaying and dance.
- Academic Enrichment – standardized testing preparation, tutoring, college preparatory workshops and college visits.
Through our “Exposure Is Everything - Black College Tour”
The “Exposure Is Everything” Black College Tour is a student travel experience designed to expose Akron Public high school juniors to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) across the United States. Students who embark on this life altering travel experience will also be exposed to historical landmarks, museums; and entertainment and recreational outlets.
As career educators, we fully recognize the value and importance of a college education. This is the reason why the “Exposure is Everything” Black College Tour exists—to increase the numbers of African-American students who enroll, graduate, from a Historically Black College or University.
Presently, we have two tours available, our Southern U.S. tour and our Eastern/Mid-Atlantic Tour.
Southern U.S. Tour
Our Southern U.S. tour captures the essence of Historically Black College and Universities in the southern region of the United States. We will visit large and small HBCU’s throughout the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, plus we will also visit a select few traditional white colleges in these states as well.
Eastern/Mid-Atlantic Tour
Our Eastern/Mid-Atlantic U.S. tour captures the essence of Historically Black College and Universities in the Eastern/Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. We will visit large and small HBCU’s throughout the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, plus we will also visit a select few traditional white colleges in these states as well.
Donations are needed to keep Keepers of the Art and KEEPERS-EDU programs and education in the community and growing. Gifts in-kind are also welcome.
Please make all donations to KEEPERS OF THE ART, INC., 65 Steiner Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44301, click on the DONATION button located on the home page to make an electronic donation or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details.
