Urban Literacies Institute for Transformative Teaching 

ULITT, an annual event designed to support teachers, educators, youth organizers, community leaders and activists in cultivating social justice and hip-hop pedagogy, embraces the Freirian student-centered model and aims to explore critical issues affecting today's youth. Using the power of spoken word poetry and hip-hop as the lens to explore language and privilege, participants will learn best practices from professionals in key fields of urban education, youth development, and community activism. 

ULITT 2013: February 22-24, Michigan State University

Schedule

It’s that time again, ULITT 2013 is just around the corner!  The Urban Literacies Institute for Transformative Teaching is being held at Michigan State University once again.  Designed to explore critical issues that affect today’s youth, ULITT strives to support teachers, educators, youth organizers, community leaders and activists to not only engage but cultivate best practices for working with our students both within and outside of the classroom.  ULITT 2012 featured breakout sessions and performances from Dr. Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Toni Blackman, Michael Cirelli, Adam Falkner, Jamila Lysicott, Ishmael “Ish” Islam, Hired Gun, Eagle Nebula, Intikana, MC K-Swift, and Invincible.  The opening night address set the tone for the week, with separate days designed for community members, teachers, and youth – although the overlap between them allowed for free flowing ideas and contributions between the days and their participants.  The conference culminated in a concert during which both local and teaching artists shared the stage.  This year ULITT will feature many of the same amazing teaching artists and presenters as last year as well as Dr. Christopher Emdin, Jessica Care Moore, Sean “Mega” DesVignes, and Issac Miller.  A partnership between MSU’s CAITLAH, NYC’s Urban Word, and the MSU Writing Center, this year’s conference will also include a spoken word performance forum for conference participants and local youth.   

ULITT 2012: June 18-21, Michigan State University

ULITT 2012 featured transformative sessions from Dr. Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Toni Blackman, Michael Cirelli, Adam Falkner, and Jamila Lyiscott, and workshops and performances from Ishmael "Ish" Islam, Hired Gun, Eagle Nebula, Intikana, MC K~Swift, and Detroit's own Invincible. MSU's State News reported on ULITT 2012 here.