Manifesto has 5 core values that we strive to implement in everything we do, they include cultivate, communicate, educate, showcase, connect. With our first annual conference this year we wanted to focus on cultivating the people of the community, especially young people and creating a platform to discuss issues related to hip hop, the various careers in the music industry and our neighbourhoods/communities. One of the key things in any kind of relationship is communication and we encourage discussion and communication whether it is in our neighbourhoods, at our community centres, amongst our peers, on the bus, or on-line!

The "Who You Callin' A B?!" Feminism in Hip Hop Panel went down on September 24th as part of the So Much Things To Say Conference held at the AGO. (Yes, the title was inspired by Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y.") This panel was part 2 to the first one that happened at an earlier event - Wombmanifesto: The Rebirth which featured panelists: Eternia, Kemba King, Natasha Daniel, and Sabra Ripley. Part 2, also had moderator, True Daley and included panelists, Lauren Burrows, DJ Mel Boogie, dream hampton and Lola Plaku. The panelists answered questions surrounding the idea of being a female working in the hip hop industry. Some questions included:

Do men dominate hip hop culture... or is it a perpetuated myth?
Balancing family and career - can we do it all?
Is it easier for white, asian, or latina women to get their foot in the door in the hip hop industry?
You can hear some of the discussions in the vids!

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We had numerous panel discussions that day of great quality including the One Nation panel (hearing from festival leaders from across Canada and the U.S.), panels on Health & Wellness, the Globalization of Hip Hop, Mentorship, and North American Bloggers. Last but not least we featured The Forgiveness Project (F-U Project) at the end of the day.

It was a splendid, long day filled with dream hampton's keynote speech - keeping it real and raw, Donisha Prendergast (Bob Marley's granddaughter) singing "So Much Things To Say" and dope artists and industry folks sharing their experiences and perspectives. Cultivate, communicate, educate, showcase, connect.