Contributed to the Telegram

Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties, in collaboration with the Methodist Home for Children, sponsored the motivational hip-hop seminar "Cit2bit."

The motto for "Cit2bit" is "Saving lives 1 rhyme @ a time." The program is designed to introduce youth to tools that help with life skills and teach them how to create a better self image.

What makes this program unique is that the entire presentation is presented with a hip-hop undertone.

The information is far different than what they will learn from their teachers or parents. It is the creators' thought that youth are more receptive to the information being presented to them if they can relate to it.

During the "Cit2bit" seminar, youth used positive rap lyrics, group exercises, hip-hop celebrities' biographies and personal testimonies to aid in controlling anger, manageing stress and maintaining one's focus.

The seminar included 28 youth between the ages of 12 and 17, along with four parents. The seminar was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties Lucy Ann Boddie Brewer Unit on 405 Raleigh Road.

Also in attendance was a juvenile court counselor and five youth development professionals. At the end of the event, youth were recognized for their outstanding participation during the seminar. The youth recieved trophies, plaques and certificates, as well as cash prizes.

The creator of the "Cit2bit" program is Nubian Scholar, graduate of what he refers to as "The Greatest University on the Planet" which is Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Nubian Scholar believes today's culture is directly influenced by hip-hop. During his presentations he speaks about how the hip-hop culture has affected the way Americans wear cloths, design vehicles, speak in video games, television shows and movies. Nubian Scholar breaks down the elements of hip-hop, and explains to the youth the byproducts of these elements. He then explains how today's youth can cash in on this ever expanding hip-hop culture by staying in school and becoming educated enough to either work for or create their own company or organization.

Methodist Home for Children, in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe, will host another Cit2bit seminar in Edgecombe County. The location and date have not been set.

Churches and other youth groups are invited to bring youth age 12 to 17 to participate in the seminar.

"It's nice to see so many teens working together on a positive project. Some of these youth would be on the street right now, if it were not for this program taking place today. Combining a positive message with hip hop music is something that I hope to see a lot more of in the future, " said Herb Clinton, Director of Special Projects, Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties.

Finally, Nubian Scholar said Cit2Bit Motivational HipHop is the Next Major Movement in HipHop.

It is one of the first HipHop Lifeskills/personal development CDs and live presentations in the market place today. His company will introduce Cit2Bit Motivational HipHop records, film, entertainment, clothing, publishing, models.

For more information or to help with the project, visit www.cit2bit.com online.