The Hip Hop Architecture Camp Presents: Design A Seat At The Table
Program Overview
Participate in Lecture Series
Join us two times a month for our Lecture Series to gather ideas on what people are doing around The State of Wisconsin to help create a more equitable future for Black and Brown youth! During the lecture series you will gain ideas on how to create your own seat at the table. We will be joined by leaders in The City of Milwaukee, Hip Hop artists and poets!
Design Your Seat At The Table
Each student will receive two Herman Miller Molded Plastic Chairs and an art kit! You are to create a mural describing how you will use your “seat at the table” to positively impact The City of Milwaukee. Your chair can be a mural, a letter to your future self, a letter to whoever sits in the chair of whatever else you dream of creating. We will help you generate ideas and provide you with strategies to convey your idea on your chair!
Have Someone Reserve Your Seat
Each participant will write a letter on the second chair asking someone within the City of Milwaukee to reserve their seat at the table. The chair will be delivered to that individual or organization. Be creative, do you want an summer internship as a college student with a specific company? Let’s tell them to reserve your seat! How about a full time position when you graduate?
Where Have You Seen This Eames Chair Before?
“Countdown” by: Beyoncé
Where have you seen this Molded Plastic Chair by designers Charles and Ray Eames before? Its been in a number of places including Beyoncé’s “Countdown” music video. Take a look, it appears at the 50 second mark and throughout the video.
Win Prizes!
Everyday, students will have a chance to win gift cards during our trivia ice breakers!
Each student will receive a special gift for participating in The Seat at The Table program.
The top chair design concepts will a pair of Beats by Dre!
The Lecture Series
Mama Sol, Rapper/ Poet
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Mama Sol is an activist whose message extends across the globe. Sol has been welcomed to speak at several Job-Corps, schools, colleges, universities, churches, museums, prisons & detention-centers. Sol has a unique style in delivery that is unseen by todays motivational speakers. Lyrically, Sol has specialized skills with blending hip-hop & spoken word into motivating metaphors delivered in rhythm & rhyme that leaves the youth on the edge of their seats!
After her bout with Cancer, Sol earned a job as a Lead Teacher and Director of Special Education at Timbuktu Academy of Science and Technology, an African Centered School on Detroit's Eastside. There the name "Mama Sol" was coined. While teaching, Sol received news that she would conceive a gift, a baby boy. In order to be the type of Mother and Artist she was called to be, she reluctantly left the confines of the school walls. She promised her students she would keep the name "Mama Sol" to honor them, and made a deliberate commitment to always impress positivity on the world by ensuring her words are honest and responsible.
Muhibb Dyer, Poet/ Activist
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Muhibb Dyer has performed all over the U.S. and in 2002 was a finalist at the National Poetry Slam (the nation’s top spoken word competition). Other notable performances include: Def Poetry Jam-Local Finals, MATC Dinner with Geronimo Pratt, Featured in Sing Your Song Documentary of the life of Harry Belafonte, Operation Push - featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Vote or Die Rally - featuring P. Diddy, C-Span appearance at 2004 Democratic Convention. Muhibb Dyer is co-founder of Flood the Hood with Dreams. Wanting to live and teach the messages he brings, Muhibb began a successful campaign to bring the art of the spoken word to inner city youth.
He has conducted several seminars and conflict resolution workshops in the Milwaukee Public School system encouraging youth to take responsibility for their futures. Mr. Dyer has also made numerous guest appearances as a motivational speaker for graduation commencement ceremonies as well as other events. A native Milwaukeean, Muhibb began counseling and mentoring youth through various programs while he was still in high school himself.
Rafeeq Asad, Architect
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Rafeeq Asad is Vice President and Director of Team Development at JLA Architects. Asad is also an artist and community advocate! Heralded as a “local leader in social justice”, he is deeply passionate about uplifting the community and inspiring youth about architecture and the built environment. In 2019, Rafeeq in partnership with other minority architects in Wisconsin established the state’s first National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Chapter. As a committed mentor, he received the “2017 Outstanding Mentor” award by 100 Black Men of Madison, Inc. Rafeeq has extensive experience designing inspiring cultural spaces for communities to ranging from libraries and museums to complex multi-use facilities. In 2018 and 2019, he was awarded as “Man of the Year” by the Gamma Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.
Chantell Jewell &
Anthony Cooper
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Superintendent Chantell Jewell is a values-based professional with over 25 years of experience serving the community. Ms. Jewell spent most of her career with the Department of Corrections (DOC) where she gained a wide range of knowledge in the Criminal Justice System, her unique perspective includes community-focused work at Employ Milwaukee, and working with justice-involved youth at the Division of Youth and Family Services. During her time at the DOC, Ms. Jewell served as a Youth Counselor, Probation/Parole Agent and retired as a Corrections Field Supervisor after 20 years of service.
After retiring from the DOC, Ms. Jewell remained driven to serve Milwaukee County, where she calls home. At Employ Milwaukee, Ms. Jewell served as the Reentry Services Manager and at Milwaukee County’s Division of Youth and Family Services she served as a Deputy Administrator. Both of those positions allowed her to continue her commitment in creating long-term change within Milwaukee County and the Criminal Justice System.
On October 26, Chantell was appointed as Superintendent of the House of Correction and began her tenure on November 16. Confirmed by the County Board on December 17th, Jewell officially became the first Black Woman to lead the Milwaukee County House of Correction.
Anthony Cooper, Sr. ("Coop") uses his life experiences to help men in the Madison community. A devoted husband and father of two sons, he dedicates his time to ensure that men leaving prison are re-acclimated to society. Anthony brings 10 years of job development and mentoring experience to this role. He has served as a placement specialist, corporate recruiter, Fatherhood Program facilitator at the Urban League of Greater Madison and as Owner/Director of Opportunity Tree, Inc.
As the Director of Reentry Services, Anthony is responsible for networking with employers, partnering with community organizations and the Dept. of Corrections, mentoring and establishing mentor relationships, and operating the Nehemiah House and Dignity House. Anthony has a strong passion for changing the view of incarcerated individuals in society so they no longer feel imprisoned when released
Royce da 5’9”
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Royce da 5'9", is from The City of Detroit and is one of the dopest lyricist. Royce is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, and is one half of the hip hop duo PRhyme with producer DJ Premier. He was also one quarter of the hip hop group Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked. Alongside his recording career, Montgomery served as a ghostwriter for the likes of Puff Daddy and Dr. Dre.
Royce is co-host of The Lupe & Royce Show, with fellow rapper Lupe Fiasco and Tom Frank. a weekly podcast that covers everything from social justice to design and of course, music! Royce’s latest album is The Allegory, released on Febaruy 21, 2020.
Design Day 1
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Participants will begin to customize their chairs to represent their “Seat At The Table”. Each participant will receive two Herman Miller Molded Plastic Side Chairs valued at $395.00 each. The Hip Hop Architect will provide design strategies for transforming the chair into something unique which represents each student’s aspirations!
Design Day 2
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Participants will begin to customize their chairs to represent their “Seat At The Table”. Each participant will receive two Herman Miller Molded Plastic Side Chairs valued at $395.00 each. The Hip Hop Architect will provide design strategies for transforming the chair into something unique which represents each student’s aspirations!
Program Celebration
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
4:00pm - 5:30pm
All student projects will be showcased in a short film. And top student concepts will receive a special gift from The Hip Hop Architecture Camp!
