Congressional Black Caucus Spouses (CBC Spouses)

							April 11, 2007

Dear Reader:

I am pleased to present your sophomore and junior students with an opportunity to participate in one of the
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses’ (CBC Spouses) premiere education programs. Each year, we invite
qualified students from the districts of Congressional Black Caucus Members, to participate in our Essay Contest
and Issue Forum. Students are presented with a topic and asked to write an Essay. The submissions are judged by
a special committee of CBC Spouses. The winners and their families are invited to Washington, DC in the month
of September to present their winning essays during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual
Legislative Conference (CBCF-ALC).

This year, the CBC Spouses have partnered with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network to address a relevant and
exciting topic: Does the “Hip Hop” industry have an obligation to send positive messages, either
through their songs, dress, or public behavior, to the youth who purchase, or listen to their
music?

The guidelines for the contest are as follows:
 Students must be in either their sophomore or junior year of high school to participate in the contest
 Essays should be original compositions; no less than 750 words, or no more than 1000 words long
 Essays must be submitted with the essay contest cover sheet (attached), and signed by both the student and
   his/her guidance counselor
 Essays must be postmarked on or before Monday, April 30, 2007, and should be mailed to: Congressional
   Black Caucus Spouses, Attn: Essay Contest, 1720 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
 The winners will be selected on or before Friday, June 15, 2007, and must be available to read their essays at
   the CBC Spouses Essay Contest and Issues Forum, on September 27, 2007 in Washington, D.C.

This year our winners will receive the following cash prizes: First Place - $1,500.00; Second Place - $1,000.00
Third Place -$750.00. Additionally, all winners will receive airfare and hotel accommodations to Washington
D.C.

The CBC Spouses organization is a component of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), a 501(c)
(3) non-partisan, tax-exempt organization committed to public policy, research, education, and leadership
development. To this end, the spouses of the African-American Members of the Untied States Congress dedicate
their time and talents to creating educational opportunities to prepare our future leaders.

We need your assistance to make this year’s essay contest a success. Please disseminate this information to as
many educators and students as soon as possible.

Sincerely,




Leslie Meek, Chair
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses




                 1720 Massachusetts Avenue NW   Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 263-2840   Fax: (202) 263-0848
                                                      Web: www.cbcfinc.org
                               ESSAY CONTEST COVER SHEET

NAME_______________________________________________________________________
(Please Print Legibly)

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________

CITY___________________________________STATE_____________________ZIP_______

HOME PHONE_________________________________________EMAIL_______________________

HIGH SCHOOL_______________________________________________________________

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________

CITY__________________________________STATE____________ZIP_________________

SCHOOL PHONE _________________________ SCHOOL FAX _______________________

PRINCIPAL__________________________________________________________________

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR_________________________________________________________

I understand that, should my essay be chosen as one of the top three winners, I must be available to
attend the CBC Spouses and Hip Hop Summit Action Network Essay Contest and Issue Forum on
September 27, 2007 at the Washington, DC Convention Center, to read my essay during the issue
forum program. (Travel expenses will be paid by the Issues Forum)

I have read and that I understand the above statement.


STUDENT’S SIGNATURE

I certify that the above-named student is a sophomore or a junior at the above-named high school.


GUIDANCE COUNSELOR’S SIGNATURE                                                 EMAIL ADDRESS

Mail Essays to: Congressional Black Caucus Spouses, Attn: Essay Contest,
                1720 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036




              1720 Massachusetts Avenue NW   Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 263-2840   Fax: (202) 263-0848
                                                   Web: www.cbcfinc.org
                               The Congressional Black Caucus Spouses and
                           The Hip Hop Summit Action Network present it’s annual
                                                   Essay Contest 2007
The Congressional Black Caucus Spouses invite you to tell us what you think, and
                    participate in this year’s Essay Contest.



  This Year’s Topic:

  Does the “Hip Hop” industry have an obligation to send positive
  messages, either through their songs, dress, or public behavior,
  to the youth who purchase, or listen to their music?
  To Enter:
   Students must be in either their sophomore or junior year of high school to participate in
     the contest
   Essays should be original compositions; no less than 750 words, or no more than 1000
     words long
   Essays must be submitted with the essay contest cover sheet (attached), and signed by
     both the student and his/her guidance counselor
   Essays must be postmarked on or before Monday, April 30, 2007, and should be mailed
     to: Congressional Black Caucus Spouses, Attn: Essay Contest, 1720 Massachusetts
     Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
   The winners will be selected on or before Friday, June 15, 2007, and must be available to
     read their essays at the CBC Spouses Essay Contest and Issues Forum, on September 27,
     2007 in Washington, D.C. (Travel expenses will be paid by the Issues Forum)

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses (CBC Spouses)
Since 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses (CBC Spouses) has been comprised of the wives and
husbands of the African American Members of the United States Congress. As a component of the CBC Foundation, the CBC Spouses
organization has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for young people through education and leadership programs. In this
capacity, the spouses have been instrumental in developing and implementing internship, fellowship and education scholarship programs.
Since 1988, the CBC Spouses have awarded more than $8 million dollars in scholarships to deserving students seeking degrees in higher
education.

Hip-Hop Summit Action Network
Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to
serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the empowerment of youth. HSAN is a non-profit,
non-partisan national coalition of Hip-Hop artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents, and youth
leaders united in the belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for social change which must be responsibly and proactively
utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice. The HSAN Board of Directors include: Russell Simmons, Co-Chairman, Rush
Communications; Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Co-Chairman, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network; Kevin Liles, Warner Music Group; Damon
Dash, Dash Music Group; Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment; Jermaine Dupri, Virgin Records; Lyor Cohen, Warner Music
Group; Kedar Massenberg, Kedar Entertainment; Johnny Furr, Anheuser Busch; Kwesi Mfume, Mfume Group; Dr. Manning
Marable, Columbia University; Rich Slomovitz, Treasurer, Rush Communications; Hillary Rosen, Former President, Recording
Industry Association of America.

                    1720 Massachusetts Avenue NW    Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 263-2840      Fax: (202) 263-0848
                                                          Web: www.cbcfinc.org