Thursday, April 23, 2009
Boston Unplugged Peace Boston Fundraiser
9:00 PM-2:00 AM
Felt Boston
533 Washington St
Boston, MA
Longtime promoter and event producer Justin Springer brings back his Boston Unplugged Benefit Series on April 23, 2009 at famed Boston nightspot FELT. This fundraiser, for the efforts of youth violence prevention movement Peace Boston, features some of the city‚s best talent!
KISS 108 FM‚s Rich Dimare (credits include Ayla Brown, Joey McIntyre, Billy Costa, and Nick Lachey) kicks off the night with a DJ set, followed by performances by Pop favorite Lisa Bello and acclaimed Rock band Air Traffic Controller plus R&B vocalist Lee Wilson; whose been featured in Vibe magazine, BET's 106 & Park, Fox 25 Morning Show, and had music on MTV's True Life.
Peace Boston is a very active community movement committed to youth violence prevention and family restoration after loss of loved ones. Peace Boston released the Peace in the Streets compilation CD on July 26th, 2008. Many of the artists on the project were personally affected by violence in their families and use their artistry as a direct response. The artists hope the CD will offer healing, inspire healthy community self-esteem, and empower young people to make positive choices in their lives. This double length CD features one full album\'s worth of riveting songs by some of Boston\'s top names in Hip-Hop - who donated their work to the project - paired with interviews by community leaders, Hip-Hop luminaries, and mothers who have survived the loss of their children to homicide. The project helped relieve funeral expenses for some local families.
In correlation with the CD, Peace Boston has held a series of events as part of the Peace in the Streets Tour. The tour features artists from the Compilation in rotation visiting performance venues, community events, churches, and schools in multiple cities. The tour brings an added level of connectivity and inspiration against community violence, and showcases positive alternatives in Hip-Hop and culture.
Peace Boston was created by members of the Hip Hop community, youth workers and youth in December 2005 in Boston, MA. Peace Boston's Founder, Cindy Diggs, a longtime youth counselor, advocate, and Hip-Hop promoter, has been active on the front lines of youth violence prevention. She has received copious local coverage plus national coverage in Music Connection magazine and Time magazine. She is a recipient of The Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center Community Star Award and The Mass Industry Committee Lifetime Achievement Award. She is widely known across the region for her dedication to youth, community esteem, and healing. She is the Boston-area Ambassador for the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Youth, fronted by the mother and brother of the late Jam Master Jay, iconic DJ for Run-DMC.
Boston Unplugged has invited Andrew Kenneally to participate. Mr. Kenneally has served for U.S. Congressman Joe Moakley and for current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. His dossier includes work for The National Democratic Institute, The Boston City Council, as Chief of Staff for Maura Hannigan (Jamaica Plain), and as Director of Policy and Communications for South Boston‚s Michael Flaherty. He founded The West Roxbury Public Safety Coalition to reduce underage drinking. He is a University of Massachusetts, Amherst graduate and earned a Master's Degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University and a Master‚s Degree in International Conflict Studies from Queen's University Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
This multi-genre event will serve to raise awareness for peace in the City of Boston while establishing the Boston Unplugged series as one that celebrates the efforts of the community for betterment. Justin Springer hopes these events will engage people with their neighbors and fuel a spirit of giving and sharing in these changing times.
Boston Unplugged Volume 2, April 23, 2009 at Felt Boston (533 Washington Street) 21+, $10 admission
Event Inquiries:
Justin Springer
down2earthmedia@hotmail.com
Media Inquiries
Darcie-Nicole Wicknick
askdarcie@hotmail.com
857-540-9914
