Jazzmyn RED Speaking Topics

• Hip Hop is Genius: Reimagining Cultural Brilliance

  As one of the most influential global movements of the last fifty years, Hip Hop transcends geographic, linguistic, and national boundaries to serve as a masterclass in identity development, creative innovation, and civic engagement. Yet traditional education often overlooks this culture as a valid academic asset.

  This highly interactive professional development session reclaims Hip Hop not as music instruction, but as a rigorous pedagogical framework. Educators across all disciplines will learn how to leverage Hip Hop’s foundational pillars to dismantle learning barriers, cultivate deep student belonging, and drive inclusive excellence.

  Participants Explore:

  • Bridging students' cultural networks with global learning.
  • Using Hip Hop's pillars as DEIB pedagogical tools.
  • Reimagining cultural brilliance as academic genius.
  • Modeling shared leadership via cyphers and lyric analysis.

  Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyze Hip Hop as a vehicle for civic engagement.
  • Apply the GENIUS framework to leverage student cultural wealth.
  • Utilize music-based practices to strengthen critical thinking.
  • Develop actionable strategies for inclusive, cross-disciplinary curricula.

  Impact Areas:

  • Belonging & Retention
  • Student Voice & Civic Engagement
  • Pedagogical Innovation
  • Institutional Equity

• Music of The Movement: Hip Hop, Protest, and Social Change

  An interactive workshop exploring how music has documented social movements, shaped cultural identity, and amplified the voices of marginalized communities from the Civil Rights Movement to present-day Hip Hop.

  Participants engage with music as a form of storytelling, resistance, emotional expression, and sociopolitical commentary while drawing connections between historical and contemporary issues.

  Participants Explore:

  • Music as a tool for social change
  • Identity and representation
  • Storytelling and cultural expression
  • Media literacy and critical analysis
  • The relationship between culture and belonging

  Learning Outcomes:

  • Strengthen critical thinking and dialogue skills
  • Develop deeper understanding of identity and representation
  • Build connections between historical and modern social movements
  • Reflect on how music shapes community and belonging
  • Strengthen cultural awareness and empathy

  Impact Areas:

  • Belonging
  • Retention and engagement
  • Identity development
  • Community dialogue
  • Civic engagement

• The Elements of Hip Hop: Understanding Hip Hop Beyond Music

  A dynamic exploration of Hip Hop culture as a global movement rooted in creativity, resilience, innovation, and community. Participants learn the foundations and elements of Hip Hop while examining how culture shapes identity, connection, and self-expression.

  This workshop challenges stereotypes and reframes Hip Hop as a powerful cultural and educational force.

  Participants Explore:

  • Hip Hop history and cultural foundations
  • Creativity as resistance and innovation
  • Cultural identity and self-expression
  • Community building through art and culture
  • Belonging and representation

  Learning Outcomes:

  • Develop understanding of Hip Hop’s cultural significance
  • Examine how culture shapes identity and belonging
  • Strengthen appreciation for diverse forms of expression
  • Challenge misconceptions surrounding Hip Hop culture
  • Explore creativity as leadership and empowerment

  Impact Areas:

  • Belonging
  • Community building
  • Identity affirmation
  • Leadership development
  • Inclusive engagement

• How to Rap: The Cypher, Storytelling, and Self-Expression

  A hands-on creative workshop where participants learn the foundations of rap writing and performance through the tradition of the cypher. Participants engage in collaborative storytelling, reflection, and creative expression while building confidence and authentic connection.

  The cypher becomes a space for vulnerability, empowerment, leadership, and community.

  Participants Explore:

  • Storytelling through lyric writing
  • Emotional expression and vulnerability
  • Confidence and communication
  • Identity and personal narrative
  • Voice, authenticity, and belonging

  Learning Outcomes:

  • Strengthen confidence and communication skills
  • Practice creative self-expression
  • Build authentic peer connection and community
  • Explore identity through personal narrative
  • Strengthen emotional awareness and vulnerability

  Impact Areas:

  • Voice
  • Self-expression
  • Belonging and retention
  • Leadership development
  • Social-emotional learning

• Bars on Bias: Using Hip Hop to Uncover Bias

  This interactive workshop explores the different forms of bias and how they show up in everyday language, behavior, and institutional culture through the lens of Hip Hop music and lyric analysis. Participants examine and interpret lyrics from well-known songs to surface themes of identity, perception, and bias in real time. Through guided reflection and dialogue, attendees are challenged to interrogate their own assumptions and expand their understanding of how bias operates both personally and systemically. The session culminates in participants creating an actionable plan to recognize and interrupt bias in their daily practice.

  Attendee Results:

  • Identify different types of bias and how they manifest in everyday interactions
  • Analyze Hip Hop lyrics to understand perspective, identity, and lived experience
  • Reflect on personal assumptions and challenge internalized bias
  • Develop a practical action plan to recognize and interrupt bias in real-world settings
  • Strengthen capacity for more equitable, reflective decision-making

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