Literacy Through Hip Hop MTL

What is Literacy Through Hip Hop Montreal?Literacy Through Hip Hop Montreal is a pilot project that was created as an alternative to the traditional classroom for inner city youth between the ages of 10-13. The program will launch on January 26, 2007 at Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre in Little Burgundy. LTHH runs over a course of 12 weeks and promotes literacy, self-esteem and critical thinking skills, while also providing a safe and encouraging environment for kids to explore the positive elements of hip hop music and culture.Kids participating in this pilot program will receive one on one mentoring from volunteer instructors and local hip hop artists in order to learn how to write and perform a positive hip hop song. In partnership with Atwater Library’s New Media Program, they will be given workshops on the recording process will have a chance to write, record and mix their own hip hop song followed by a visit to a local recording studio.The curriculum was created specifically for the age group and demographics of the participants of the program. The program will focus on different learning methods, reading and writing, song creation and use of various media. Children will be evaluated weekly and will be provided with specialized feedback and mentoring. Kids will also be exposed to various facets of Hip Hop Culture including special guests from the Montreal Hip Hop Community.The overall mandate is two fold. 1) LTHH provides a supplement to the traditional classroom, engaging youth in literacy by using hip hop as a tool for engagement and 2) Promoting positive Hip Hop Culture and acting as an intervention between negative media messages and the reality of inner city youth in society.