Russell Simmons and the Hip Hop Summit was in Baltimore this past week. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a Republican, took part in the all day series of events at Morgan State University.
This is one of the reasons why I say that Steele is a man to watch and why I have respect for the man. Steele is a Black Republican who spends time going to Black groups in the state and making his case.
Russell Simmons urges 'empowerment' at summitRap mogul, other music executives join Ehrlich, Steele at Morgan State University to encourage youth to 'take responsibility' for financial future
Old-school hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh's signature song, "The Show," was blasting through the speakers as he shouted: "If you're making money in the 2006, say, make money money, make money money money!"
Audience members nodded to the beat and screamed back the response in true hip-hop concert form. But they didn't pack the Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University Thursday solely to be entertained. They were there, as the rapper reminded them, to learn the financial tools to "get their money right."
Sponsored by Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, the event consisted of such seminars as repairing damaged credit and buying a first home. It wrapped up with a town hall meeting that was part concert, part financial-literacy conference with panelists such as Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and the R&B group 112.
The Baltimore summit was the second of nine planned in cities nationwide, designed to harness the raw energy of hip-hop to teach young fans to build wealth.
"We're pushing to encourage young people to think broader about their future and take responsibility for their lives," said Simmons in an interview. "One way to do that is: Be financially literate."
A staff member at the summit helped Cassandra Hall, 39, of Baltimore obtain her credit score and create a plan to help her buy a first home.
"I'm really trying to open a business -- buying homes and fixing them up for low-income people," she said.