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There is a DJ booth in the back of the room, and hip-hop is flowing from the speakers. In the front row are rows of educators, K-12 students, and community members dancing. Dancers come from Vernon Malone College, Career Academy, Right Moves Dance, and are sometimes joined by others in the room who want to get up and move their feet to the music.
The music and dance are all part of the Mental Health Advocacy and STEAM Through Hip-Hop (SMASH) Summit hosted by the non-profit Empower All Inc. With a focus on educational equity in teacher education and learning sciences, along with Amanda West and Emily Wade, she co-founded and serves as CEO of Empower All Inc.
When Hicks-Harris dreamed of the summit, it was her priority to provide opportunities to discuss mental health, especially as it relates to K-12 students of color. But she wondered if that would be enough for people to show up. Hicks-Harris decided to add a STEAM component and create a hip hop her summit with as many panels as her dance parties. There were at least 100 attendees of her on the day of the summit.
“Who doesn’t like hip-hop?” Hicks Harris said. “Is there anyone who doesn’t like music?”
Keynote speaker was Dudley Flood, a former educator who led desegregation efforts in North Carolina schools. Producer, Director and Performing Her Artist Hilda Willis. Donovan Livingston, senior director of the Emily Krzewski Center, Hicks Harris and her co-founders of Empower All Inc., are working with students of color to address the issues that affect them. The event was held to inspire the
“It can be heavy when you hear panelists talking about mental health. “So it was really, really amazing.”
Held in November at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, part of the College of Education, the SMASH Summit was one of the largest events hosted by Empower All Inc. A course taught by Assistant Professor Crystal Chen Lee on the works of Paola Freire, Bell Hook and James Baldwin. Hicks-Harris said she was able to put into words for the first time what she had experienced in her life and decided to take action.
“I can’t wait to get out of the program and start this job four years from now,” said Hicks-Harris. “I can’t wait four more hours, four more minutes. I have to put my boots on the ground and do something within my reach. That’s how Empower All was born.” ”
Her goal in starting the nonprofit was to bridge the gap between homes, schools and communities. To do that, she decided to use her experience leading her STEAM programs at Hollygrove and White Oak Elementary Schools.
“Our mission is a holistic one that includes cultural affirmation and belonging, an emphasis on STEAM, social and emotional learning (SEL), and the parts of mental health that we know are more important. Through a philosophical approach, it’s about enabling everyone to be fully human…more than ever before,” said Hicks-Harris.
In fact, we support teachers through classes at elementary schools in Wake County, partner with Biogen to create STEAM kits, partner with A Place At the Table to distribute kits, and even provide meals and coffee.
Empower All Inc. includes a Youth Council made up of Hicks-Harris and her two co-founders, as well as high and middle school students and Interns from the College of Education’s Student Advocacy Students (SAY) Village. increase. Working together to make an impact in the community.
“Teaching college pushed me to action,” said Harris-Hicks. “You are limited in what you can do within the constraints of the classroom.
Hicks-Harris plans to host another SMASH summit next year and is already thinking of expanding it further.
“I might go on tour. Smash Raleigh, smash Durham, smash Charlotte,” she said.
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