The Mindful Messages Mentoring Program (MMMP), was created out of a desire to empower young people to achieve their greatest potential through self knowledge and the celebration of their culture. It offers an innovative Health Education, Culture and Life Skills program for urban youth ages 11- 18. It utilizes spoken word (poetry) curriculum and the concept of mindfulness to change at risk behavior. Some of the topics and themes covered in the curriculum have an Africentric focus, others have a more universal appeal and include, Abstinence, Safe Sex, HIV/AIDS, STD's, Drugs, Relationships, Peer Pressure, Education, Family and Violence Prevention.
The MMMP curriculum evolved from the Mindful Messages book and quickly developed into an effective full fledged program. It can be delivered at home, in the classroom and or after school. Youth who have completed the curriculum have expressed an increase in HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention, as well as an increase in self awareness, self esteem, cultural awareness, decision making and language skills.
"Mindful Messages is Spoken Word and more”
Spoken Word is a new format that parents and educators can use to reach and teach their youth. Spoken word is poetry and so is Hip Hop. Actually spoken word is almost as ancient as the sun and the stars. Our great ancestors depended upon the village griots (oral historians) to keep the history, traditions and values of their people alive through spoken word. They passed this knowledge and wisdom onto their youth so they would have specific "self knowledge" and or a blueprint for continuing the culture.
Hip Hop music and culture expresses the thoughts and feelings of many of today's urban young people. Just as Jazz and Rhythm & Blues rocked the world of their parents and grandparents generation. However, today everyone is bombarded with negative messages from the media (film, TV, radio) etc. With unconscious Hip Hop music, some of the beats are catchy and the lyrics are really cool, but too often the messages promote exploitative sex, drugs, violence and "at risk" behavior. While overhead, looms the threat of HIV/AIDS, an incurable disease that is on the increase especially among African American youth.
What is needed is “mindful intervention” that imparts “self knowledge”. What we can empower our youth with is Mindful Messages, a specialized curriculum that blends spoken word and mindfulness to open the hearts and creative minds of our young people and remind them of their power, purpose and possibilities.
"Mindful Messages Spoken Word Curriculum … Empowers, Educates, Entertains and Enlightens."
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