Online creative education hub, Skillshare, has teamed up with prolific Hip-Hop photographer, Jonathan Mannion, to help you shoot like a pro. The two have joined forces to come up with a free online course dedicated to showing students how create powerful portraits. And from the looks of it Mr. Mannion is certainly the right man considering his track record of mega-stars like Jay-Z, Eminem, Lil Wayne, etc. Check out his description of the course and feel free to sign up, literally!

The PBS Off Book series explores the world of graphic design. The following episode breaks down how design influences everything from retail sales to public space to book covers. 

What better way to teach the chit'lins about Science than to show them how everyday-objects and things can be turned into experiments? No one's realized this better than the father-son duo known as Kurzwiel & Son. The two make up the Chip Science Institute (Potato Chip Science), a fictional institution that creates real science experiment kits in chip bags for kids. Each kit contains a 96-page instruction book and tons of everyday-items like lids, wires and zinc electrodes. The premise is to get the average child interested in science that he or she can find in and around the home or anywhere they may look. Food for thought! 

With the recent explosion of Native American influence on fashion (patterns, prints, visuals), few have asked about how the real Native American Indian community has benefitted from the "trend." Enter NATIVE(X) a socially-responsible gateway for fashion, accessories and art that gives back to the Indian communities that it has vowed to support. Founded by Mac Bishop, the brand dedicates its proceeds towards funding art classes for children in reservations, supporting native artists that collaborate with them and expanding their cause. They also post up tons of current trends in pop culture on their blog that relate to Native American influence. Finally, some accountability for trends!

What happens when a University of North Carolina beat-making curriculum makes its way across the world to the Democratic Republic of Congo? The Congo Beat-Making Lab is what! It's an initiative dedicated to developing open-source music software and setting up sound labs all over Africa in hopes of cultivating a rich and diverse musical landscape. Check out the following short to see just how the Beat Making Lab partners up with Yole! Africa to do what it does. Let hosts Apple Juice Kid and Pierce Freelon introduce.

Young Urban Moms (YUM), a New York City-based organization rooted in empowering mothers in the city, is hosting its very-first conference this coming Saturday, September 8th. The group will be presenting a series of speakers (Gloria Feldt, Eileen Fuentes, Geneva Sparrow, Riquelmy Sosa)  and workshops centered around topics like: Finding Quality Child Care in NYC, How to Make Working From Home Work for You, Empowerment, Education and Exercise for moms! Attendees can check out the full agenda here.

One of the poorest congressional districts in the country, Bronx County, is receiving a "green" facelift thanks to an eccentric school teacher named Stephen Ritz and an army of amazing students. The Green Bronx Machine is a sustainable urban farming initiative that provides working opportunities for inner-city youth and edible harvests for desiring communities and clients. Check out the following TED Talk to fully understand how Mr. Ritz's enthusiasm, vision and ideas like "edible farming walls" has set forth an unbelievable path of self-sustained wealth for students that have taken control of their urban surroundings instead of just submitting to them.

República supporters, B Condoms, introduces a line of luxury prophylactic that also supports a good cause. Each purchase of their condoms, available in Classic and XL editions, goes towards funding prevention and sexual education programs in at-risk communities.

This year's Social Media Week (September 24th-28th) will play host to the official launch of the School of Emerging Media & Technology. The school is the brainchild of Skillshare--a collective learning and skill-sharing platform dedicated to grassroots teaching/learning from anywhere in the world. Folks can sign up to become teachers or students:

The School, accredited by SMW, will deliver classes and courses, all year long, anywhere in the US via the Skillshare platform. We will launch on September 24 during SMW. Classes can be taught by individuals or organizations, targeting a general or a specific audience.

Our New York City readers interested in supporting arts for the kids (especially now that public education spending for it is in significant decline) should come out and support the following Scribble Art Workshop exhibit taking place this coming Saturday, June 9th at APT 78 (4447 Broadway). The show is brought to you in conjunction with Bread And Yoga and The Sound Of Art.