Early April Updates

It's about to be a beautiful and busy week as we continue our countdown to Rise & Decolonize Part 2, May Day General Strike on Tuesday May 1st. Our calendar this week is FULL of amazing women-centered Hip Hop events including a show, a Zulu Jam, Ladies' First, and a special debut screening of Cuanda Una Mujer Avanza. For more info on these events, check the calendar below. Due to the packed nature of the week, we will not be having a meeting, but there will be a banner-making party TONIGHT @ the Wildcat at 8:30pm (1105 23rd Ave) for the Trayvon Martin Rally tomorrow, so drop through to connect with folks. Announcements are as follows:

1) We have almost solidified a mighty exciting lineup for our 4 hour May Day showcase, so if you want to perform, speak, dance, or create, be sure to reach out soon. There will be cypher spaces and open mics, but space is filling up fast.

2) To further support community self-determination and solidarity, Hip Hop Occupies to Decolonize has partnered up with new allies at Seattle Solidarity Network. As our first joint campaign together, we are demanding just compensation and reconciliation for the mistreatment and unfounded dismissal of our sister Jai Bird Washington by her former employer, who has a long history of shady business practices and worker abuse. Jai is a beloved artist, independent journalist, and member of 206 Zulu, as well as the single mother of an amazing 6 year old. We are asking that you save the date April 14th to stand behind her. Stay tuned for updates on this fight, and reach out if you could use advocacy around an issue of injustice in your day to day life.

3) Hip Hop Occupies is supporting Occupy Seattle and other communities allies in the announcement of a new "Food for Everyone" project, which will offer free Sunday lunches to various Seattle neighborhoods. Beginning April 8th, there are five free lunch events in the works in Rainier Valley, CD, Cap Hill, Downtown, and the Beacon area. If you live in these areas and want to support this effort through cooking, serving, performing, or just coming to eat and kick it, just email hiphopoccupies@gmail.com and we'll get you added to the Food For Everyone! list.

Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you will join us in your support for one or all of the projects above and the events below. As the movement evolves, our individual relationships, communities, and networks only serve to strengthen each other in the creation and exercise of collective power.


Wednesday, March 28th 4-7pm Seattle Unite 1000 Hoodies for Trayvon Rally @ Westlake Park Come down to make a statement against hate and injustice. Come march, create, and express in remembrance of Trayvon Martin, John T. Williams, Shaima Alawadi, and all innocent people whose lives have been viciously taken as a results of systemic and internalized white supremacy.

Wednesday, March 28th 9-2am Ladies Rock the House @ Waids. Urban Sea presents live performances by Rose Bent, Julie C, Nichole Halleen, Terabyte&The battery eaters, MOET. With Djz: Zeta Barber, Ganjaology crew, & DJ SeaBefore & Live Painting by Maria Guillen. $5-21 and over.

Friday, March 30th 7-11:30pm Zulu Jam @ Washington Hall- Zulu Jam: Malika Edition! In honor of Women's Herstory Month, with DJ Mixxtress. Zulu Kids Showcase, Northwest B-Girls Showcase, Beloved, Julie C, Sista Hailstorm, & Spyc-E Hosted by Sista Hailstorm & BeLoved w/ art by JaiBird.. Cypher with black books, chess, photography by Ms. Music Girl. Free - All Ages

Tuesday, April 3rd 9-11pm - Cuando Uno Mujer Avanza @ Washington Hall- Hip Hop Occupies, Ladies First, & 206 Zulu present film screening and discussion with film maker, Simón Sedillo. This documentary film is about "Mare" a female hip hop artist from Oaxaca, Mexico. Mare is medicine for the devaluating experiences of many young women of color today. As a young native Zapotec female MC born in Oaxaca City, her unique life experience is a rarely heard perspective on life and community liberation. As an up and coming MC in a state know for popular and indigenous rebellion, Mare's life and experience has been channeled into very power full and conscious rapping and singing. Suggested donation of $5 to support Rise & Decolonize May Day! All ages.

Saturday, April 7th-8-11pm Ladies' First Presents Stephany Hazelrigg's EP Release @ Life Enrichment Bookstore. An engaging and empowering facilitator, cultural worker, and social artist living deeply & directly from her belief in the power of art to create space, healing, and change.her disciplines and mediums are as multiple and mixed as her identities, stephany lives the poetry of her existence out loud; outside genres, disciplines, and binaries. stephany has been making poems, prayers, paintings, plays, drawings, dances, journals, stories, songs, beats, movement, rituals, and ceremonies along shorelines and mountaintops all throughout her lifetimes. she is grateful to be here. Sliding scale donation, all ages.

COUNTDOWN TO MAY 1st! Rise & Decolonize @ Westlake Park 11am-4pm