Texas State to host Hip-Hop, Health And Global Justice Week

Gann is the executive director of Today’s Future Sound (TFS) in Bay Area schools. He also works across the globe using hip-hop beat making and culture as a mental health, educational…

Texas State University will host Hip-Hop, Health and Global Justice Week Nov. 5-8 in San Marcos.

Sponsored by the School of Social Work, the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, and the Department of Criminal Justice, Hip-Hop, Health and Global Justice Week is intended to raise awareness about the innovative and meaningful ways that hip-hop culture contributes internationally to health, education and justice.

Elliot Gann and Alex Crooke will serve as keynote speakers.

Gann is the executive director of Today’s Future Sound (TFS) in Bay Area schools. He also works across the globe using hip-hop beat making and culture as a mental health, educational, social justice and cross-cultural intervention. He is currently creating the Therapeutic Beat Making Model.

Crooke is a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Melbourne’s Conservatorium of Music where he investigates wellbeing, cultural responsiveness and sustainability in school-based art projects. He now teaches the first hip-hop and beat making skills program in the Oceania region.

The events are as followed:

Nov. 5

Using Hip-Hop to Address Trauma, Resilience, and Mental Health

Elliot Gann with guest Michael Viega

12-2 p.m., Evans Liberal Arts, Room 114

Nov. 6

Hip-Hop, Global Justice & Work with Hard to Reach Populations

Elliot Gann with guest Charles Norton

12-2 p.m., Academic Services Building North, Room 150

Nov. 7

Hip-Hop, Community & Belonging: Connecting Youth, Connecting Community

Elliot Gann and Alex Crooke with guest Nathan Geering

12-2 p.m., Freeman Aquatic Building, Room 102

Nov. 7

Hip-Hop and Technology: Past and Present Uses of Music Technology*

Elliot Gann and Alex Crooke

5-6:30 p.m., Family and Consumer Sciences, Room 158

*Reception and Meet the Speakers

Nov. 8

Sustainability of School Based Arts Programs and Intersections Between Education,

Mental Health and Social Justice

Alex Crooke

12-2 p.m., Academic Services Building North, Room 150

The free event is open to all Texas State students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact Raphael Travis, associate professor in the School of Social Work, at rtravis@txstate.edu.