NEWS:

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Between February and March 2008, Beatboard will work with the McCreary Youth Foundation and VIHA (Vancouver Island Health Authority) to engage aboriginal youth in three island communities - Ladysmith, Port Alberni and Victoria - in the development and delivery of a weekend community leadership and multimedia training.

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Beatboard is working with School District 61 on bringing challenge Day to 3 Victoria Schools.

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Mike is working with the Eart Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI) in presenting:

e-GLO

Earth Charter Global Learning Opportunity
Coming January 2008




In January 2008, we plan to launch e-GLO (Earth Charter Global Learning Opportunity), a 4 month, online, digital story telling and community leadership training inspired by the Earth Charter.

:: Find our community on Facebook ::


e-GLO will be offered to 20-30 participants aged 17-30 who are motivated community development project planners and socially conscious artists from around the world. Participants will meet online via webcam and mic in e-GLO's own virtual conference environment. The online sessions will happen every other weekend for a period of two hours. Each session will feature networking opportunities, interviews, presentations and workshops with expert guests, cultural performances, participant presentations celebrating local projects and e-GLO collaborative projects as well as a live interactive multi-media event open to the global public.

Technology Powered by:

Click here for more info.

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The Reel Youth Film Festival is coming to the Victoria Event Center November 27th

:: 7-9pm 1415 Broad St. ::

presented in part by and

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Saturday September 29th 11-4pm @ Event Center 1415 Broad st.

To register please call 383-5800 or email youth@lifecyclesproject.ca

Read Public Service Announcement for more info

Adult youth workers consider bringing youth

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Journey into the Earth Charter: Creating a New World Order - An Evening Talk

April 11th 7-9pm @ Royal Roads

 

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Here's a video of Mike working with Power of Hope in August 2006

Click on the pic below

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Mike represents the Earth Charter at the Commission on Sustainable Development in NYC

Mike Sheehan had the great privilege to attend the Fifteenth Annual Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15) at the United Nations Headquarters in NYC. Mike and Joel Vengo form the Democratic Republic of Congo were representing the Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI). For more information about this event and Mike’s participation visit Mike’s ECYI blog here. Please feel free to say hi or leave a commect.

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Nadia, Sara, Rup, and Mike represented The Power of Hope in an innovative program that worked with Yukon youth and a media firm in creating a social marketing campaign around delaying alcohol use in teens.

See pictures and read feedback from the project coordinator here.

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2007 Change Conference

Mike Sheehan opened for Alan Clements at this year’s Change Conference. This is Mike's fourth year in a row presenting his 50 minute stage show titled ‘Creating our Culture’. Click here for exciting reviews of Mike’s participation.

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On Friday April 13, 2007, 107 grade 5, 6 and 7 students from 10 schools in Greater Victoria met at S.J. Willis School for the 2007 Building Bridges Conference. The day started with Mike Sheehan from Beatboard warming up the group with fun activities to motivate them and create a safe space for fun and learning to begin!

 

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Nadia Reports: Berkana invites you on a Learning Journey to Mexico

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At Berkana, we believe the rest of the world has something essential and important to teach us about leadership. Join us in October 2007 on an extraordinary journey to two of Mexico's most unique regions, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Known for the vibrancy of their indigenous cultures, these southern states will inform our exploration of the tensions between ancient wisdom and the modern world.

For more information, visit our website or contact Lauren Parks

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This will be a great example of emerging INTERACTIVE web based communications related to social justice and environmental sustainability. I'm looking forward to sharing the potential of this technology with you through Beatboard and my recent partnership with Heart In Action. Tuning in on Saturday will allow you to see what is possible and may spur you to dream up new applications for this technology. Please feel free to interact live or simply watch and listen to the panel of professional speakers and musicians.

You're Invited!

When: Saturday, June 9, 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific, 18:00 GMT-5)
Where: Your home computer
What: A live online discussion for World Environment / World Ocean Day 2007

Click here for registration and more info

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To register or for more info please email Mike Sheehan

 

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Nadia Chaney emceed the Tacoma World Affairs Summit April 18-21 2007, in Tacoma WA.  The following is an interview by Tammy Lea Meyer describing that magical and inspiring event.

Play mp3 (length 7min)

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*Beatboard's Friends At Power Of Hope Are Presenting:

March break 19th - 25th

• Rhyme Writing • Beat-boxing & Beat Making • Break and Hip Hop Dance •
DJ skills & Studio Production • Graffiti & Visual Art • Media Literacy •

DREAM THIS:

Hip hop artists, youth mentors, and 14-18 year olds spending 5 days at beautiful Camp Alexandra: building community, learning about the history of Hip Hop as a youth-driven creative tool for social change, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and gaining skills in all the Hip Hop elements……
    oh and, recording a full-length album on-site!

Participants of past Hip Hop Hope programs in Seattle, Bellingham and Eugene have left Hip Hop Hope inspired to make amazing changes in their lives, perform at concerts and festivals, and have their tracks aired on the radio. Finally -- Hip Hop Hope lands in the Lower Mainland!   

You don’t have to be a hip hop artist to join us. Come discover your own creative passion.

REGISTER SOON BECAUSE SPACES WILL FILL UP FAST!!!!

www.powerohhope.org

 

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Sara and Emma have graduated from Victoria's Gettin' Higher Choir's Community Choir Leadership Training 2006/2007

Imagine … a world where every city, town, and neighborhood had a community choir, one where the music of many cultures and faiths was celebrated.

Imagine … a non-auditioned choir in your community where all were welcome.

Imagine … that this choir could support and engage in powerful community-based activities.

Click here for more info.

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Mike Sheehan designed a full day training program for 40 Peer Counselors at Frances Kelsey High School.

Click here to read students feedback

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Mike Sheehan is currently offering an on going program to transitioning sex trade workers at P.E.E.R.S. the Prostitute Empowerment Education and Resource Society in Victoria

Peers is dedicated to the empowerment, education and support of prostitutes. We respect those involved in prostitution and we work to improve their safety and working conditions. We assist individuals who desire to leave the sex industry and strive to increase public understanding.

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Mike Sheehan is currently offering an 8 month community development and leadership program at Spectrum Community (High) School.

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Beatboard's founder Mike Sheehan demos new applications in Web Broadcast technology Thursday night at 9:30pm on your computer. Catch Mike freestyle rap and talk about bridging the digital divide as he is featured(live) via the Internet at Hennessey Dining Lounge in Vancouver.

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Mike Robinson, longtime Beatboard member has graduated from the Master of Arts in Leadership and Training program from Royal Roads University.

Congratulations Mike!

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Mike Sheehan offers opening activites and workshops for youth and coaches at this year's Spirit of Excellence Symposium

    

The Spirit of Excellence Symposium empowers young Aboriginal athletes to be confident and competent leaders with strong decision-making and mentoring skills.

Though a series of workshops, keynote speakers and sport activities, participants explore topics such as leadership, decision-making, problem solving, drug and alcohol addiction and healthy lifestyle choices (e.g. tobacco reduction, diabetes prevention, active living and nutrition).

The Spirit of Excellence Symposium builds personal and professional excellence in sport for Aboriginal youth and coaches.

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Mike Sheehan works with AIDS Vancouver and YouthCo as Co-Host for a World AIDS Day Event targeted at Vancouver youth

Together, youth and students from across the Lower Mainland, will unite in the fight through an evening of creativity, music and awareness.
Hitting the stage at the Croatian Cultural Centre will be a range of styles, images and sounds.  From slam poetry to hip hop, gumboot dancing, dj’s and speakers. Most exciting will be the unveiling of the collaborative Digital Quilt created by you and youth around the world.  We are pleased to present this evening with our partners YouthCo, Youthink and CapAIDS.

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Rup, Nadia, Sara, Bernard and Mike bring HipHop and Social Justice awareness to teens with their performance troupe:

Coming to schools all over BC this fall. Click here for more info.

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Mike Sheehan along with eleven others were honoured in a ceremony at Surrounded by Cedar's AGM for their work in the community.

It was an honour to have Mike facilitate two programs for Surrounded by Cedar this year. In March, we held a week-long program entitled "Diversity Through Hip Hop" which focused on aboriginal identity. Then in August, Mike presented "Expressions", another week-long program focusing on celebrating and engaging the positive power of First Nation and Metis youth. Both programs culminated in a final performance by the youth for the community.

We witnessed young people who could barely enter the building; they were so consumed with shyness. Four days later, these same youth shared their heartfelt and personal poetry with the audience and performed rap pieces talking about the importance of being aboriginal. Then they jumped up and danced some breakdance moves and leaned on each other talking about issues like trust and dependability. It was a humbling and inspiring moment. We feel that Mike's programs will be held in their hearts and minds for a long time.

Lisa George, Child & Youth Counsellor, Surrounded by Cedar

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Beatboard member Mark Vonesch is offering free workshops connected to his own organization Reel Youth. Click here for more info (pdf).

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Visit Nadia's Blog here.

...You see, as far as i can tell, Jo-Burg is very metropolitan.  I know
that they are facing deep social issues that we do not encounter to
the same degree in Vancouver, but at the same time, it is
infrastructurally very similar.  I mean, the conference is in Melville, which reminds me a lot of Commercial Drive!...

Nadia Chaney has returned from South Africa. Nadia was attending the Pioneers of Change Learning Journey, a conference on Art and Social Change. pioneersofchange.org 

Pioneers of Change is a global learning network supporting practitioners in their mid-20s to mid-30s.  Founded in 1999, by a group of people from 16 countries and now includes participants from around the world. When you join Pioneers of Change you explicitly commit to the following principles: Be yourself, Do what Matters, Start now, Engage with others, Never stop asking questions.

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Aboriginal Youth make peace offering in response to racist graffiti.

...There is a great need for Indigenous voice all around the world. This group of youth's creative, compassionate and articulate response to a very culturally ignorant act gives me hope for a future where people value difference. This mural is the positive power of Aboriginal youth today in action...

Read the article by Mike Sheehan.

Click here for the mural photo gallery

This mural project is receiving national attention through Mike's involvement with the United Nations Association in Canada. He is currently working as a regional coordinator for the 'Youth of Today City of Tomorrow' project, an initiative designed to engage youth in human settlement issues. Mike will be delivering a program to assemblies of high schools students in Victoria on 'human settlement issues' in November.

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Expressions

Urban Arts and Leadership Summer Camp for Aboriginal and Metis Youth @ The Victoria Native Friendship Center

This event was amazing. Thanks to everyone involved.

“This program helped me find my dreams. You guys were awesome. It changed my life.”
~ youth participant

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Film Release Party

"Tellin' It Like It Is"- is an engaging 20 minute film with a Hip Hop sound track on what aboriginal youth are doing to create healthy communities. This project was an initiative of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. Mike Sheehan's facilitation and music directing are featured in the film.  Mike hosted an audience question and answer session with a panel of youth involved with the project at the film launch in September. The film is receiving national attention through health and education institutions.

Check out this music video trailer

Thanks to everyone involved! For copies of the DVD including the excellent discussion guide for classrooms contact Mike Sheehan.

 

If you have questions or feedback please contact us info@beatboard.org