May 9, 2025 From 5pm-8pm at The Rotunda 4014 Walnut Street Philadelphia PA 19104

Decoding Intellectual Warfare on Our Youth: A Community Call to Action in Philadelphia

Dr. Myava Clark and Chris Clark Jr. recently joined forces with hip-hop artist and cultural advocate Bigga Dre, also known as Amun Sen Hotep Re, to host a powerful educational event in Philadelphia. This dynamic community gathering brought together families, educators, and youth of all ages with a shared goal: to decode the Intellectual Warfare on Our Youth and empower our communities with knowledge, tools, and solutions.

The event featured a diverse lineup of guest speakers, open discussions, and educational resources aimed at exposing the subtle and overt influences that negatively impact the minds of young people. Topics ranged from the impact of drill music and video games (D.M.A.V.G.) to broader cultural narratives affecting identity and mental well-being.

Bigga Dre, a respected hip-hop artist, writer, lyricist, and producer, brought a powerful artistic voice to the event. Dr. Myava Clark and Chris Clark Jr., both passionate online safety advocates, presented their initiative, CASEN (Collaborative Advancement for Social-Emotional Needs), and led a vital session on Keeping Kids Safe Online.

The distinguished panel also included voices like Bro. Shomari, Professor Carl Tone Jones, Levi Joynes, and other community leaders. Each speaker offered a unique perspective, unveiling how today’s youth are targeted through media, music, and technology, often without even realizing it. Together, they challenged the audience to rethink how intellectual warfare is waged on children and emphasized the importance of cultural restoration and community unity.

Dr. Clark and Chris highlighted the urgency of safeguarding children’s online presence. They emphasized how social media can put children at risk—through the unintentional sharing of personal information, exposure to child predators, and the devastating effects of cyberbullying on mental health. They presented CASEN Connect as a proactive solution: a structured, educational platform designed to prepare children ages 9–13 for safe and confident use of social media.

CASEN Connect not only teaches children how to identify bullying and interact respectfully online, but also builds their self-confidence and emotional resilience. It serves as a stepping stone toward more open digital spaces, reinforcing healthy boundaries and strong social-emotional foundations.
At its core, the event was a rallying cry, a unified stand against the forces threatening our youth and a celebration of community strength, cultural pride, and educational empowerment.

Some things that were discussed were:

• A child’s brain is not fully developed until around 25 years old, though different parts mature at different times:
•  Early childhood (0–5 years): Massive brain development occurs—especially in language, emotion regulation, and sensory processing.
• Middle childhood (6–12 years): Cognitive skills like memory, attention, and logic improve steadily.
• Adolescence (13–19 years): The brain undergoes a second growth spurt. The limbic system (emotions and rewards) matures earlier, while the prefrontal cortex (decision-making, impulse control, planning) lags behind.
• Early adulthood (20–25 years): The prefrontal cortex finally finishes developing, which is why judgment, risk assessment, and self-regulation improve.
• So while kids and teens can be very capable, their brains are still wiring up the most complex functions until their mid-20s.

“It’s Better to Build a Child than to Repair an Adult” ~ Bigga Dre