Focused on bringing hip hop into the classroom as a teachable tool, the Hip Hop Headucatorz are a collective of DJs, producers, emcees, breakers and graffiti artists who develop ready-to-use resources for teachers. As professional educators themselves, they know how hip hop reaches and inspires students. Programmed as part of the NAC’s inaugural Hip Hop Theatre Festival in February 2024, this panel discussion explores how hip hop’s 50-year history and ever-shifting culture can connect with, inspire, and motivate students of all ages.
Jon Corbin is an artist, spoken word poet, speaker, band leader, writer and DJ based in Milton, Ontario. Jon blesses stages with a dynamic show that stays true to the basic tenets of hip hop: peace, love, unity and having fun!
Jon Corbin est un artiste, un poète de l’oralité, un conférencier, un chef d’orchestre, un écrivain et un DJ basé à Milton, en Ontario. Il illumine les scènes avec un spectacle dynamique qui reste fidèle aux principes fondamentaux du hip-hop : la paix, l’amour, l’unité et le plaisir!
Chase March is an educator with over 20 years experience in the classroom. He is also a librarian, writer, DJ, and radio host. He has a Masters of Library and Information Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree. He is an open-format DJ who loves to provide music for weddings and special events. He can be heard on the radio every week with his show Word is Bond Rap Radio, which just aired its 600th episode. It airs Thursday nights on 94.9 fm Radio Western and is podcasted at chasemarch.com. For Chase, DJing is not simply pressing buttons or playing the latest music from a chart or playlist; it’s about bringing a crowd of people together to enjoy a night out with music that appeals to a wide variety of tastes and ages. Chase March is currently a member of Hip Hop Headucatorz, a group of Ontario Teachers who believe in the use of Hip Hop culture to inspire and engage students.
Chase March enseigne depuis 2003 et a travaillé dans des écoles privées, des conseils publics et diverses communautés des Premières Nations. À la fois DJ, MC, enseignant et bibliothécaire, il est aussi l’animateur de l’émission Word Is Bond Rap Radio diffusée chaque semaine sur les ondes de la station 94.9 FM Radio Western à London, en Ontario.
Helen Mina aka the apologette is a seasoned high school teacher, mother, spoken word artist and emcee whose life experience and passion for performance pours out on the mic. She hopes to raise awareness of gender based and domestic violence, anti-racism and equity for all by using her voice through poetry, social media and in the classroom.
Helen Mina alias the apologette est une enseignante expérimentée du secondaire, une mère, une slameuse et une animatrice dont l’expérience de vie et la passion pour la performance rayonnent à travers le micro. Elle souhaite sensibiliser le public à la violence familiale et fondée sur le genre, à la lutte contre le racisme et à l’équité en utilisant la poésie, les médias sociaux et la salle de classe.
Michael “MikeAll” Grandsoult is a Scarborough, Ontarian and Hip Hop educator. He began writing poems in the primary years of elementary school and started rapping in the junior grades. He has released three solo albums; "Mike Check" (2008), "Mike Support" (2015) and "Mike All" (2018). In 2012, Michael became a published author for the first time via the anthology, “Basodee.” Michael is currently an elementary school teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He uses rap/poetry as a bridge for learning and strives to promote passion for literacy. He credits his love of literature to his Guyanese- born parents, Cheryl and David Grandsoult, who read to him as a child and encouraged him to read and write. MikeAll’s goal is to put the poet back into Rhythm And Poetry.
Originaire de Scarborough, en Ontario, MikeAll est éducateur au Toronto District Catholic School Board. Son objectif est de remettre la poésie de l’avant dans Rhythm And Poetry.
Adrienne Coddett is a Black community advocate and high school educator. Her organization, 3Dreads and a Baldhead/BeMoreCommUNITY (founded in 2000), provides opportunities for people in Black communities to transform their lives by maximizing their physical, mental, spiritual, and economic potential.
Adrienne is also well known in Ottawa for her work with Black Youth through the OCDSB’s Black Youth Forum (BYF) course and as one of the five co-hosts of Black on Black, Ottawa's weekly connection to African and Caribbean communities, which broadcasts every Saturday morning 11am - noon on the University of Ottawa’s radio station, CHUO 89.1 FM.
#BeMoreCommUNITY
Adrienne Coddett est une militante de la communauté noire et une enseignante au secondaire. Son organisation, 3Dreads and a Baldhead/BeMoreCommUNITY (fondée en 2000), offre aux membres des communautés noires la possibilité de transformer leur vie en maximisant leurs capacités physiques, mentales, spirituelles et économiques.
Adrienne est également bien connue à Ottawa pour son travail auprès des jeunes des communautés noires dans le cadre du cours Black Youth Forum (BYF) du conseil scolaire d’Ottawa-Carleton (OCDSB), et en tant que coanimatrice de Black on Black, la connexion hebdomadaire d’Ottawa avec les communautés africaines et caribéennes, qui est diffusée tous les samedis matin de 11 h à midi sur la station de radio de l’Université d’Ottawa, CHUO 89,1 FM.
#BeMoreCommUNITY