At its core, kaPow! inc. program contents and methodology work together to encourage both teachers and students to see themselves as critical consumers and creators in a media-driven society. An integral part of every kaPow! program attempts to meet youth "where they are" by encouraging them to strengthen their core understanding of the world around them. Using basic literacy and math concepts, as well as technology-driven art classes, kaPow! assists students to:

• 1. critically examine their ethnic and popular culture and media images;

• 2. express themselves and their emotions through the arts, and

• 3. assess their strengths, weaknesses, and responsibilities as young people.

KaPow! inc. recognizes that traditional forms of connecting youth to home, school, and faith-based organizations are no longer the primary influences on young people's belief structure. Instead, the greatest source of influence has become their peers, the media and the entertainment industry. With this in mind, kaPow! inc. captures student attention by examining evidence from cultural sources students consume the most – hip hop music, film and music videos, television, and advertising.

Focus

kaPow! inc.’s focus is on youth who do not necessarily excel in traditional urban public school environments.
our programs can make a difference at inner city public schools because they engage thematic curricula and provide a highly effective supplement to all core curriculum subjects.
Our programs teach students the fulfillment of accomplishment through focus within an art discipline.
according to one student from a kaPow! inc. classroom, “Adding hip-hop to homework makes learning more fun."

Engagement

kaPow! inc. curricula engages young people in inquiry about historical interpretation and meaning of media messages.

our lesson plans explore diverse African-American and Latino perspectives, groups often neglected in or peripherally treated in traditional mainstream media.

teachers in urban public schools can feel empowered to enrich their curricula with kaPow! inc. supplements, while engaged students make meaningful connections between the media messages and their lives.