Generation Y's New Age Hustle, Part 2

"Every month, [Carolyn Malachi] and her Smart Chicks--a mix of young, like-minded female artists--gather in D.C. for brunch and a little business. Theirs is a growing network of individuals teaching the new ABC's--"Ambition. Brains. Candor." The members of the nonprofit collective collaborate to increase the presence of women in the arts. ''We hire each other. We barter services. We talk about our boyfriends and girlfriends. We volunteer in each others' communities and support each other as independent artists,'' ......

More from Saaret Yoseph on Generation Y's New Age Hustle...

Bum Rush The Boards 5th Annual Hip Hop Chess Tournament

Chess + S.T.E.M. + Hip-Hop = Bum Rush the Boards

"They might think they've got a pretty good jump shot or a pretty good flow, but our kids can't all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil' Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers." 

President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, at the 100-year anniversary of the NAACP.

On Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Words Beats & Life (WBL) in partnership with the Historical Society of Washington and the Columbia Heights Youth Club will host the fifth annual Bum Rush the Boards Hip-Hop Chess Tournament. The tournament will take place at the Historical Society of Washington located at 801 K St. NW at Mount Vernon Square Washington, DC 20001.  Bum Rush the Boards was created by WBL in 2005 to promote strategic thought and actions within the hip-hop community. The name of the event was inspired by Public Enemy's album, "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" released in October 1987.

This year, Bum Rush the Boards will consist of three rounds of team-based tournament play for youth, ages 5-23. There will also be three rounds of individual competition for adults. Between rounds, a series of hip-hop based interactive workshops will be conducted. These workshops give chess players the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences based on the core elements of hip-hop culture.  Participants will also participate in a series of S.T.E.M. -based workshops called "Engineering a Culture."

Beginning with our 2010 tournament, there will be a specific focus on career exploration in S.T.E.M.A. We know that S.T.E.M.A. is important because together, these areas of study and employment constitute key components of the creative economy, one of the largest employment sectors in the United States.

Going to South Africa w/ fabulous artists like Terrence Cunningham

Meet Terrence Cunningham. He is one of the independent artists with whom I will be traveling to South Africa tomorrow. Asheru, Jabari Exum, and Biscuit, drummer extraordinaire comprise the rest of the group. This exchange is brought to you, the Revenge of the Smart Chicks Movement, by brother Jabba, aka, Hip Hop Pantsula. You'll learn more about him later. For now, enjoy brother  Terrence and his smoooth grooves. Follow Terrence on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TerrenceC.

From D.C. to SA,

Carolyn Malachi
www.reverbnation.com/cmalachi

You are Invited: Poetry Out Loud State Competition 2010!

SUPPORT DC YOUTH

NEA's                                       POETRY OUT LOUD                             State Recitaiton Contest                                                              ...an evening of poetry

Come to Gala Hispanic Theater to cheer on DC students as they perform to compete  in the NEA's Poetry Out Loud finals.  One student  will be chosen to represent DC on the national stage    Save the Date Monday | March 8, 2010 | 5:30pm     Gala Hispanic Theatre at Tivoli Square  1333 14st., NW, Washington, DC 20010 RSVP by March 3, 2010       For more information,  Contact Ebony.blanks@dc.gov

Join Our Mailing List

MIXTAPE! The Future & Veterans of Soul Vol 8: Rhymes & Basslines

THIS JUST IN:
Check out this mixtape by Dee Jay tha General of HOT 96 in the UK featuring the Grammy Nominated Eric Roberson (whoa!), Kindred (aaaah!), Dwele (omg!), and yours truly! This is an amazing project. Enjoy! Here's a State of the Union from my brother, Dee Jay the General...

"The Future and the Veterans soul Vol 8 Beats Rymes and Basslines: "Ok we Got Adrianne Archie, Steve Wallace, The Diva Nikki Wade, Yolanda Johnson, Eric Roberson, Dezaray Dawn, Lina, Carolyn Malachi, Joy Jones, AB, Daru, Reggie B also Dwele this is a mixtre of crazy vocals crazy music and all compiled by yours truly Tha General so just turn that nob high and meditate on some crazy music and oh yeah spread the love if you love good music like we do and you know artsts like this calibr on the tape send them to djthageneral@hotmail.co.uk remember we been doing this for years......ENJOY!

Twitter me:Tha_General
www.myspace.com/deejaythageneral
www.thageneral.com
skype:thageneral2
www.hot96.co.uk
Monday and Wednesday 4p-7pm drivetime!!!

Keeping real music alive believe me!"

- Dee Jay tha General

U St Comes to Blues Alley: Carolyn Malachi and Friends

U Street Comes To Blues Alley!!
Carolyn Malachi and FriendsMarch 15, 20108PM & 10PM$20Buy your ticket on line www.bluesalley.com
Join us for an evening of Poetry and Jazz, joining Ms. Malachi will be 13 of Nazareth, Two Deep the Poetess, Tiffany Okafor and Messiah Ramkissoon. These local U Street Poets will inspire you!

So You Want to Be A Fly Chick?

The Federal Aviation Association is taking applications for air traffic controller school from people ages 18 to 31 with high school diplomas. You need only a high school diploma to apply and credit is given for college on the exam.  I'd like to see you make a $1000,000+ salary in under three years. 


http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers

Performing at Apache Saturday Night in Atlanta

Queen Sheba hosts the Apache Cafe
Featuring Carolyn Malachi
Doors & Poetry Workshop at 7 pm
Open Mic 8 - 11 pm
Featured artists at 10 pm
Lightning Round - 10:30 pm - midnight

$7 All Night
$3 Drink Specials
Hosted by Queen Sheba and Tunes by DJ E

Get there early for a seat or reserve tables and get tix online www.apachecafe.info

Twitter: @belowtheradar

BLOOMBARS AND SMART CHICKS, INC. TEAM-UP FOR A DAY OF SERVICE ON MLK DAY

info@bloombars.com

For Immediate Release:                    

Contact: Carolyn Malachi Monday, January, 11, 2010                   

CMalachi@SmartChicksInc.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

BLOOMBARS AND SMART CHICKS, INC. TEAM-UP FOR A DAY OF SERVICE ON MLK DAY

Artists Take The Lead: Winter Clothing Drive, Letter Writing Campaign, And Music Video Shoot

WASHINGTON, DC - When the nation celebrates the birthday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on January 18^th, musicians, poets, actors, photographers, and artists of all stripes will lead a community call to action as a part of the “Live. Give. Bloom.” day of service at BloomBars, a Washington DC-based non-profit organization that works to inspire and unite communities through the arts while nurturing artists committed to serving the community. 

The effort is being led by Carolyn Malachi, Artist-in-Bloom Resident Fellow, and founder of Smart Chicks, Inc., a national non-profit arts organization with a mission to advance visibility and leadership for women in the arts.  

What:   Artists rally for day of service to bring winter clothes to needy families and a wheel chair ramp to BloomBars. The efforts of artists and community members will be documented in a music video shoot for ‘Orion’, the first single from her CD, Revenge of the Smart Chicks III: Eclectic Company, coming in July. The video will chronicle the activities taking place during “Live. Give. Bloom.” All are invited to bring warm clothes to donate and a pen or a laptop for a letter writing campaign to bring a wheel chair ramp to BloomBars. 

      When:      Monday, January 18th, 2010. 12:00pm to 4:00pm. 

    Where: BloomBars, 3222 11th Street, N,W. Washington, D.C. (Columbia Heights Metro)

Carolyn Malachi (A Brief Bio)

Hailing from Washington, DC, Carolyn Malachi, great-granddaughter of jazz pianist John Malachi, has created a modern infectious gumbo of jazz, hip-hop, and spoken word music. Revenge of the Smart Chicks III: Eclectic Company (July 2010) is third in a series of stirring, genre-bending CDs, the first of which spawned the Revenge of the Smart Chicks movement and non-profit called Smart Chicks Inc. The organization is dedicated to developing visibility and leadership opportunities for women in the arts. Click HERE to view Carolyn’s press kit.

Back in the Saddle: Simone Jacobson's Happy Feet

Sulu DC is back with another great lineup of artists to ring in the new year.

Doors open at 6:30pm. Show starts at 7:00pm. Dance party at 10:00pm.
$10 general admission / $8 students
(Alcohol will be served at this event. Event is ALL AGES; all under 21 will need supervision after the show.)

*
Hosted by Regie Cabico. Sounds by DJ Mars Noble.

FEATURING:

*KELLY ZEN-YIE TSAI *
www.yellowgurl.com
FB: Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
Twitter: @yellowgurlpoet
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based, Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who has performed her poetry at over 375 venues worldwide including three seasons on "Russell Simmons Presents HBO Def Poetry." Winner of a 2007 New York Foundation for the Arts Urban Artist Initiative Award, she was listed as one of Idealist in NYC's Top 40 New Yorkers Who Make Positive Social Change in 2008 and AngryAsianMan.com’s “30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30” in 2009. She has shared stages with Mos Def, KRS-One, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Amiri Baraka, and many more.

*SIMONE JACOBSON*
www.wblinc.org
Simone Jacobson was born in Phoenix, Arizona where she emerged as a performer under the tutelage of internationally renowned choreographer, Hodgie Jo. While at the University of Maryland, she studied dance and became a member of the professional hip-hop dance company, Culture Shock DC (CSDC), serving as the first director of their junior dance company, Future Shock. Among other venues, she has performed with CSDC in Zurich, Switzerland, at the Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word and Poetry Summit in San Francisco and Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C. Ms. Jacobson was the founder/director of the Urban Poets Society, a traveling collective of spoken word poets in DC, MD, and VA. She also founded/directed UMD's first hip-hop dance company, PHUNKtions, which is still active and hosts an annual hip-hop dance competition. She has trained with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, danced as the opening act for Sister Sledge and for the legendary Roots crew with Footklan.

Today, she is the Cipher Director at Words Beats & Life (WBL), a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming individual lives and whole communities through hip-hop. She is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Management at American University. Over the past two years, she has taught English/hip-hop dance/spoken word poetry in northern France, in a French immersion preschool in San Francisco, visited her mother's homeland (Burma), managed an international arts exchange between Iran and the U.S., and launched/hosted an open mic at the Hillyer Art Space called HOME. In the words of Jeff Chang and the hip-hop community, "can't stop, won't stop."

*THE ELAHATER*
www.hateonme.com

*TAIYI SUN*
Violinist

*MARCO MERCADO*
Marco Mercado is a high energy performer who has amazed audiences up and down the East coast. He has performed at numerous colleges and venues including University of Florida, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Georgetown University. He is a social studies teacher at Independence Middle School in Virginia Beach. Marco Mercado's humble beginnings and word-of-mouth has given him longevity in the community. The performer and teacher is also sponsor for Barrelman Apparel.

with a special guest performance by *HANALEI RAMOS*!

* * *

ABOUT SULU DC
Sulu DC is an underground, grassroots network for Asian American and/or Pacific Islander American (AAPI)* artists, which provides a home for AAPI focused spoken word and multidisciplinary artists in Washington, D.C. Sulu DC fosters relationships with local and national activist organizations, nurtures the artistic development of emerging AAPI artists and builds inter-generational alliances with cities across North America in preparation for the biennial APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit (next summit: 2011 in Twin Cities, MN. Visit www.apiaword.com for more information).

Smart Chicks Celebrate Kwanzaa at Gaylord National

2nd Annual Kwanzaa At Gaylord National Tradition

Join Smart Chicks as we commemorate the festival of Kwanzaa with a day of art, food and events! It’s all part of our holiday Christmas on the Potomac celebration that features spectacular decorations, indoor snowfall, live performances, and even a winter wonderland carved from ice!

Kwanzaa Festival at ICE!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gaylord Pavilion | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Performances and interactive experiences throughout the day help celebrate the holiday, including carving and
painting demonstrations and musical performances (for ticketed ICE! visitors only).

“Harambe” (Welcome) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lower Atrium | Noon
Jabari Exum performs the “Harambe” or “welcome” on the djembe drum.

“The Village” Kwanzaa Art Exhibit
Presented in cooperation with Amber Tree Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lower Atrium | Noon – 5 p.m.
A dynamic, artistic exploration of Kwanzaa, featuring visual artwork of African and African-American contemporary artists from the D.C. region, including live musical performances. Join us for an exclusive meet and greet with the featured artists from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Kwanzaa Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pienza Italian Market | 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Join us at Pienza for a special dinner showcasing the traditional tastes of Kwanzaa, including Kunde (Kenyan Vegetable Stew), Poulet Yassa, and Cape Town Curried Lamb. Afterward, stick around for storytelling in Pienza’s Bella Vista room, presented in the griot-style tradition. And be one of the first 50 families at dinner to receive a copy of the children’s book The Gifts of Kwanzaa by Synthia Saint James.
Adults - $40, children (ages 3-12) – $20; tax and gratuity are included. Availability is very limited.
Reservations strongly recommended. Please call (301) 965-4000.

Sounds of the Season
Featuring The Q Jazz Trio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lower Atrium | 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Overnight rates start at just $139** a night – make it an unforgettable family experience!
For reservations, call (301) 965-4000 or visit online at www.GaylordNational.com/Kwanzaa

Mind Your Business: 'Tis the Season, So Shop Smart Chicks!

Meet Smart Chicks jewelry and purse designers Karen Clark and Jemma Morris. Both approach their art with unique perspectives informed by their extensive education and corporate experiences. The Smart Chicks community applauds Karen and Jemma for minding the business of art. 

Karen Clark
Apexspire Jewelry
www.apexspirecollection.com
(Photo taken at the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington, DC's Chinatown)

After Graduating in 2000, with a BFA in textile design from Moore College of Art and Design in, Karen pursued a career as a jewelry designer for a small trend jewelry design company in New York. The pace was exhilarating, but the process of having her intricate designs mass-produced, left her hungry for limited in house production work. In the spring of 2003, she decided to launch her own jewelry line. At the same time Karen pursued and completed her MFA in mixed media at Howard University in 2005. Apexspire Jewelry represents Karens sense of universal rhythm and beauty while embodying her own contemporary individualized edge.  She integrates metalsmithing techniques including fabrication, roll printing, fine knot work and casting to produce an innovative tactile line of work. As the designer of Apexspire Jewelry, Karen is completely focused on creating jewelry that separates the individual from the masses.

Jemma Morris

Jemma Morris Designs Hand Crafted Purses

www.jemmamorris.com

(Photo taken at the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington, DC's Chinatown)

After completing her education in Fine Arts at Wagner College, Jemma studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Concurrently, she began working as a fashion stylist for a photography studio as well as interning for a bridal designer. Eventually she took a nine to five position in corporate America but my desire to work as a designer full-time was irrepressible. In 2005 Jemma began working on a collection of colorful artisan handbags, she wanted them to be functional but attractive and fun to wear. 

"Working as an artist, designer and stylist, Jemma quickly learned that color is my true medium. I believe color is evocative of emotion. It helps us through our everyday lives, creating moods & ambience and lifting spirits. Colors in a gray rainy morning, the deep red of a rose, or the array of colors in the sky can all evoke emotion. This is why I love color and why I incorporate vivid and strong color combinations into all of my designs. Ultimately, I want my designs to have a spirit of vitality and energy relatable to anyone." 

Jemma spends every spare moment creating new designs and working in multiple artistic mediums, i.e. painting, styling, sketching, and sewing. On the last Saturday of every month, you can find Jemma with some of her newest designs at Eastern Market in Washington, DC.

Jemma Morris' Bangle Clutch™ Collection Funky

Wristlet fold over clutch purse in black and white grosgrain ribbon with color coordinated topstitching. Nickel snap closure. Gold tone metal bangle bracelet attached at side by short ribbon strap. 

Item #: 08.04.05
Description/Colors: Black, white
Dimensions: 12 x 7 inches
Size of Bangle Bracelet: 3 inch opening
Care: Surface clean only

The Shooting of a Wise Guy

Hey, Smart Chicks!

Stephen Elliot is a wonderful photographer. I work with him often, especially on projects with Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Visit this wise guy's website, http://www.stephenelliot.com/.

Project #3: We Want You

Campaign

Select a social issue and create a campaign consisting of three pieces - a poster, a magazine ad, and an advertising postcard- using cause and effect. You are trying to persuade a particular audience to change some behavior with perceived negative or positive consequences. For example, to raise awareness about the dangers of crystal meth, you could show the effects of the drugs on its users by showing how awful they look from years of abuse. The cause/effect relationship does not have to be negative. You can point to the positive effects of weight loss or peace in Darfur.

How about pointing to the positive effects of hiring a full-time artist to provide a services for a professional environment? Or the dangers of waiting for a major record label to sign you and your band to a lucrative deal? Supplying artists of all media with the economic tools to pursue a life-long, sustaining career in their field of choice, is something of a personal priority. And, as a student and creative professional, I have the advantage of practicing on myself. Classes are great for sharpening my personal branding. The corporate environment is full of opportunities to exercise that all-important life skill, execution. Both are great for fostering developing fruitful relationships.
Watch this video of my band and I at Eden's Lounge in Baltimore, MD. "Organic Soul" is the name of both the event and the song. What's more important is that the video depicts indie-artist branding in action.

If You Shoot It, They Will Watch

According to research compiled by RowdyOrbit.com, a web-based medium for culturally relevant, short films, more than 40% of the films viewed online originate from folks like you and me. Was it a stroke of genius that prompted the new company to build its business strategy around consumer-created videos? Watch them grow.

Mr. Potato Head

ASSIGNMENT #1: What Are We Eating?

HEY, SMART CHICKS. HELP ME WITH MY HOMEWORK!

Begins like this: "They were mashed together. Kanye West and Taylor Swift’s worlds collided on a public hot plate. All hopped up on hops, the crispy rapper from chi-town baked insult into the country girl’s home fries. Chipped but not skinned, Taylor owes her rescue to the golden queen of au gratin Pop, Beyonce Knowles. "

And ends like this: "Ignored is America’s salad appeal, this country’s unique way of mixing the ugly, chilling for a while, then serving up beauty. It is the sadistic, selective memory of the American main stream that both scallops wartime bloodshed, and skins pop icons, all in pursuit of dish."

At the moment, I'm losing my footing in the middle, attempting to correlate Kanye's crucifiction over Taylor to Barack Obama's over healthcare. It's a stretch, but do you have any ideas about how to relate the two?

First, a Marriage. Then, an Introduction.

Gather here. Witness the marriage of the business of willful self-definition to the pleasure of self-discovery.

While the latter will surely tickle the imaginations of a few newcomers, card-carrying members of the Revenge of the Smart Chicks (ROTSC) movement know that being a Smart Chick or Clever Dude means making a daily, smart decision to be yourself.

Allow the writer, just for this blog post, to write in first-person perspective. She deserves an introduction any way. My name is Carolyn Malachi. I am a performing artist, graphic designer, communicaions specialist, and event producer. Revenge of the Smart Chicks was just a sassy title I crafted for my first CD which I released in September of 2008. It has since become the global network of artists, educators, and entrepreneurs from which I launched Smart Chicks, Inc., a non-profit organization that sources creative professionals to corporate opportunities. Smart Chicks, Inc., the Smart Chicks network, and the music I create with the Revenge of the Smart Chicks theme comprise the Revenge of the Smart Chicks movement.

For settled members of ROTSC who have been migrated from our previous blog format, allow me room to 'splain. I am in my first year of graduate studies pursuing my MFA in Integrated Design. For my first class, Words & Images, one of my responsibilities is to maintain a professional, course-relevant blog. Our ROTSC community is the right audience.

I look forward to sharing the knowledge and skills that I learn throughout my academic and artistic journey. Know that you can also visit this blog to enjoy social commentary, access my performance schedule and, if you like, cretique my homework assignments. Visit this blog to connect to the rest of the Smart Chcks network as well.

That's enough informality for now. It's time I get to my first assignment:
"We're Eating What?"
Describe a food ingredient. The description should be informed by a definite purpose and shaped by a clear sense of an intended audience.

Hmmm, I think I'll use Kanye West's cheesy antics at the VMA's as inspiration.

Carolyn Malachi
Creative Director
Smart Chicks Inc.
Twitter.com/Carolyn_Malachi
Facebook.com/CMalachi
Myspace.com/MsMalachi

Next Gig:
Carolyn Malachi & A Band Called Q
Tuesday, September 15
Organic Soul at Eden's Lounge
Hosted by Olu Butterfly Woods of Poetry for the People of Baltimore and Blackout Studios
$5 Cover
15 W. Eager St
Baltimore, MD
Set time 9 pm (Well, 9-ish)