The CHARM CITY CYPHER
The Charm City Cypher is a live event created, hosted, and produced by Crystal Francis for Baltimore's International Week of Non-Violence. The event is presented by Black Women for Positive Change and the Positive Change Foundation. For more information about these organizations visit http://www.blackwomenforpositivechange.org.
The Charm City Cypher is an annual rap collaboration that features local artists who use music and spoken word as a platform to advance positive social change in the community. This year 's Cypher was geared toward "changing the culture of violence in urban communities.
The first annual Charm City Cypher took place in Baltimore's famed Graffiti Alley Warehouse off of North Avenue on October 21, 2016. The event was hosted by Crystal Francis (Community Leader) and Huli Shallone (Recording Rap Artist). The cypher features performances by local recording artists ( from Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia , and California). Rapping three rounds to topics on Police Brutality, Us Killing Us, and Stop the Violence were Jizzy, Channing Ali, Unreal, Young K, Maurice Lydell, 5oul 5mooth, Yung Ed, Chuck Macist, and Mally.
What To Do When...Stopped By Police
"What to Do When..." is an educational series that provides tips and best practices on non-violence topics and conflict resolution. In this series Crystal Francis gives you tips on how to respond and maintain composure during a routine traffic stop. The tips in these series are not guaranteed to prevent acts of violence but help to deesculate situations that research has shown can rise toward violence.
The tips in this segment were extracted from best practices created by Baltimore County State's Attorney Office.
The video is created, produced, directed and moderated by Crystal Francis. The segment is brought to you today by the Positive Change Foundation and Black Women for Positive Change organizations.
"On 2nd Thought"--Mini Movie About Violence
"On '2nd Thought" is a youth violence mini-movie based on a true story that happened in Boston, Massachusetts. The story is about three young people caught in a love triangle who act violently based on emotion, immaturity and flawed thinking. We want young people--and violence-prone adults, to THINK and THINK again before committing violent acts. We want everyone to have a "2nd Thought" before they commit acts of violence and ruin their own lives and the lives of children and vulnerable individuals.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: BLACK WOMEN 4 POSITIVE CHANGE
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: HARBOR VIEW FILMWORKS