PROVIDENCE, RI - On Friday, October 7, 2011, a mix of of visiting musicians, local artists and grassroots community activists gathered to "empower" Providence and inspire youth as part of a multidimensional cultural celebration, "The Empower Providence Project." Part of a movement to connect the public to artists and musicians who explore community issues in their work, the festivities began with community service and civic engagement projects with Mount Hope Learning Center and RI Jobs With Justice, and culminated with an evening performance in downtown Providence by Washington, DC-based hip hop artist, Head-Roc; NYC-based hip hop artist and "freedom singer," Spiritchild; and RI-based artists from the women’s performance group, Isis Storm. Similar to the Occupy Wall Street direct actions that have sparked similar “occupy” activities in DC, Boston, and here in Providence, The Empower Providence Project is designed to engage and recognize the needs of community members of all ages and backgrounds.
The October 7 series of events would not have been possible without the partners, sponsors and community members who supported and attended. Below is a list of the event's organizers and top supporters, and a blurb about who they are or what they have coming up. For more information about the Empower Providence Project or future events, email singsvenus@gmail.com.
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THANKS TO...
VenusSings.com:
A website/blog run by Reza Corinne Clifton, an award-winning writer, digital storyteller and cultural navigator whose work blends and examines words, music, art, identity and global consciousness. Clifton is a DJ who produces radio with WRIU, 90.3 FM, a community- and student-run radio station based out of the University of Rhode Island, and BSR – Brown Student and Community Radio – a station broadcast from Brown University. VenusSings.com is a blog Clifton uses to document her adventures & interests as a DJ and her collaborations with artists and community.
RI Jobs with Justice:
RI Jobs with Justice is a coalition of labor, community, faith-based, and student groups taking concrete action to level the playing field by building power for poor and working class people. Their aim is to re-establish justice in the workplace, while promoting social, racial and economic justice and demanding an end to corporate greed and economic inequality. Current or recent campaigns include those supporting workers at Verizon and Wal-Mart and those opposing corporate charter schools. For more information, email rijobswithjustice@gmail.com.
Environmental Justice League of RI:
The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJ League) is an alliance of individuals and organizations that work together to promote environmental justice in Rhode Island through advocacy, education, networking, organizing, and research. Check out their next event, on Monday, October 24, 3 PM, Kennedy Plaza / Burnside Park: A Flash MOB for National Food DAY, a chance to dance and celebrate eating healthy and living healthy life styles. Attendees are encouraged to wear tshirts with a veggie or a fruit drawn on it. For more info, contact EJ League at 401-383-7441.
Isis Storm
Isis Storm is a collective of female poets, musicians, artists, writers, educators, and media producers whose mission is to bring forth those voices that are being neglected; to be a vehicle to the generations of women who are fed up with seeing and accepting someone else’s definitions of who they are; and to give attention to the generations of women who are awakening to the realization that they are more than what [our/their] generation sees. Founded by Kalyana Champlain and Reza Clifton, the primary
ways they do their work are through performances, workshops and multimedia programming on radio and on www.isisstorm.com. For more info, email beginthestorm@gmail.com.
Mount Hope Learning Center
Located at 140 Cypress Street in Providence, the mission of the Mt. Hope Learning Center is to provide a safe environment in which the children and adults of the community can learn skills that will enable them to enhance their quality of life and have more productive futures. The Learning Center works with parents, volunteers, community organizations and schools to help neighborhood residents overcome barriers to success. Currently, the Learning Center is recruiting high school-aged girls/young women from the Mount Hope neighborhood and female students at Hope High School for a young women's leadership group. For more information, contact 401-455-8875.
Effortless Laundry
Effortless Laundry & Dry Cleaning is a small business located in Providence, RI that provides customers with custom-designed pick-up and delivery services for all garment cleaning needs. Responding to today's demanding lifestyles, Effortless Laundry equally delivers to residential and office settings, and connects customers right to the managing partner to allow for discussions about rates and satisfaction. For more information, contact 401-203-9844
Larkin & Larkin
Larkin & Larkin is a jewelry, clothing, and accessory line run out of Providence by Larkin Conroy. Conroy specializes in one of a kind or limited edition items made from a menagerie of supplies and influences, including, sticks and stones and broken bones, discarded leather sofas, feathers, vintage everything, recycled textiles, and yarn. For more information, visit www.larkinandlarkin.etsy.com.
rhymeCulture
rhymeCulture is a RI-based movement promoting the original elements of hip hop through live shows, promotions and music. rhymeCulture believes in supporting the original elements of hip hop including dj'ing, mc'ing, b-boy'ing, beat boxing, graffiti as well as spoken word poetry, political and social awareness, and universal peace, love and understanding on the Earth. Check out their next event, on Saturday, October 22, 5 PM, Roots Cultural Center: The Original Skillz B-Boy/B-Girl Jam, an amazing opportunity for RI area dancers of all ages to become a part of a world-wide movement. For more information, visit www.rhymeculture.org.
Sidy Maiga
Sidy Maïga is a master percussionist from Bamako, Mali (West Africa) who specializes in traditional rhythms of Mali, as well as Caribbean and hip-hop rhythms. In May 2011, Maiga released his debut CD, Malidén, an album which he recorded in Bamako Mali with a team that included members of the Afro-Cubism project and Oumou Sangaré's band. Check out his next event, on Saturday, October 22, 8 PM, Rosinhas: The 3rd Annual Afrika Nyaga Drum and Dance Festival featuring Nampé Sadio,Balla Kouyaté, Sory Diabaté, and many more performers. For more information, call 216-502-7940.
WeHeal Sakinah’s Herbs
WE HEAL (Wisdom Empowerment Health Education Advocacy & Liberation) is a health advocacy initiative run by Sakinah Abdur-Rasheed, a Naturo Path. It began as an herbal medicine business in 1992, but today it is also about a personal approach to healing, ie. one on one consultations and individual therapeutics in the form of herbs, & dietary, & lifestyle changes. To learn about having WE HEAL at your event, or to sign up for a consultation, email weheal92@gmail.com.
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