deejayscootz: Beatz 2 Da Streetz: A Farewell & Retrospective

From my memory:

Additional people and organizations that were instrumental in starting Beatz 2 Da Streetz and deserve recognition praise and gratitude are:

"Big" Rob 

Ashley Hennesy 

beatzMASSIVE*

C.N. Porter

Chris Hercules 

Colvin Johnson 

Dr. H. Moller  

Gary "Gazza" Taylor

Green Hayes

Gwyn Wansbrough

James Smith

Jason Kenemy

Joe Arnup 

Joseph Samai AK the African Kid 

Kris Williams

Marlon van Zyl

Michael Frank 

Neil "deejayscootz" Livingston 

Paula Fletcher (Councillor - City of Toronto Ward 30)

Samantha the Dancer

Sonic Shane “Frenzy”  Murphy 

TDSB 

The Staff and Students of the Marshall McLuhan Secondary School 2006 

Todd Minerson

Tricia Ann Harrison

 + All those who walked in dropped a rhyme and then hit the streets again.

Heartfelt Congratulations to all whose lives are forever enlightened by their involvement.

Peace,

Neil

Beatz 2 Da Streetz Blog

News from the Executive Director:

Dearest Community,

We are very excited to send you this Final Reminder about the B2ds Farewell Showcase being held Nov 29th 2011 at Lambadina Lounge (875 Bloor St. West) Here are a few of the great things you can expect.

We will be giving away free copies of our final album "Latest Sounds from the Underground Vol. 4"which our sound engineer has deemed "The best B2ds album yet" and of which he has said "This can't be the last B2ds project, it's too good!"

There will be a speaker's corner where you can give a little bit of feedback concerning how B2ds has affected you through out the years. We will have some great topics to speak on, or you can just freestyle it :)

There will be a photo boothe so come dressed to impress as CJ Cromwell and his Praxis Unlimited company will be covering the night in grand fashion.

I can't give it all away, so I'll wait for you to arrive to see some of the other great experiences that we have in store. Arrive early (7pm) to schmooze and network and stay until the end to help us celebrate a legacy of self empowerment and truth through music.

See you there

Excited!

Mario

The Very First B2ds Videos:

Current Video:

 B2ds Farewell Showcase 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 

7:00pm until 11:00pm

 Lambadina Resto-Lounge,

875 Bloor Street W, Toronto

View Larger Map

Dear B2ds Family,

As you many of you know first hand, Beatz is more than a music-based youth-led program that aims to empower youth in Toronto. It’s a family.

We started the program in 2005 in response the extremely limited supply of programs in Toronto that were hip hop music and culture based while at the same time provided supports to connect those who needed it with housing, employment and educational opportunities.

It is with mixed emotions that we write this letter to inform you that after 6 years we have decided to wind down the program.

We faced a number of challenges that has led to this decision.

We wanted B2ds to be a youth-led program – where participants could play an active role in shaping the program. We learned that this kind of program needs a strong organization behind it to make it work over the long term.

As the program started to grow we struggled to find the right organizational model to support it. We went from being a program of touchstone youth centre, to being an independently run organization then to becoming part of the community movement strategies of Schools Without Borders. None of these provided us with the right answer.

Despite the organizational struggles B2ds had many successes.

We still produced amazing original music, performed at community events and even provided the program to schools and other organizations, a venture that a lot of you were part of. Many of you even garnered employment opportunities from your connection with B2ds, proving that this was a strong and needed network. We want to thank each and every one of you for making the program what it was.

On the strength of how beloved the program was before we wrap up, we would like to invite you to join us at the B2ds Farewell Showcase that will be held on November [29]th 2011, 7pm at Lambadina Resto-Lounge (875 Bloor Street. W). This will provide us with an opportunity to bring the B2DS community together again and to express our deepest thanks to all of the individuals and organizations that contributed to its success.

You will receive an exclusive B2ds Farewell Cd containing many of our previously unreleased tracks, an official B2ds T and there will be ample opportunity for those willing and excited to perform. (Call me to confirm your spot) There will also be a few industry guest performers whom I’m sure you’ll love. B2ds changed my life and I am still in touch with many of the people I met there, let us do each other a great justice and go out with a bang!

Lastly it would be absolutely amazing if those of you who are inspired to do so can leave a wall post on our facebook page (http://on.fb.me/b2dsfacebook) talking about your favourite memory or some insight into your experience at B2ds. This can serve as a great reminder of the times we had.

If you have any questions that you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact me before November 15, 2011 at therealvoyce@gmail.com or phone 4165202473.

With joy, sincerity and deep gratitude,
Mario Murray
Executive Director
Beatz to da Streetz

deejayscootz B2DS Memories