Social Justice Music Series

why it's important:

Using a social work based theory - we must meet them where they are at. Meeting them where they're at for us means getting them in the door and presenting new ideas. Meeting them where they're at means coming up with fun, interactive ways to educate the population of our campus.

the plan of action:

One of the avenues we take with this is a concert series. Music is something pretty much every college student is in to, and free concerts are pretty hard to pass up when one's days are spent in the dorms. We strive to make all of our events accessible to everyone and therefore do not charge and advertise them in a variety of ways. We bring a variety of styles of music and a variety of musicians to draw in different crowds each time. We've found that we have a lot of repeat visitors, and for some of these people it was a very trans formative event. Two of the people who work on this project now found The Peace Center and the whole realm of social justice work through the concert series. They were attracted by the notion of some free music and walked in the door. Our amazing existing volunteers then talked to them and must have made a good impression!

We're not out to "convert" people, or even necessarily get volunteers. We just want to plant the seed. We want to present new ideas about social justice, prison activism, radical mental health, anti-war and peace, and Darfur. These are all topics our singers and songwriters have touched upon.

Between bands at each event a volunteer speaks about a social justice issue that goes along with the music. This does not last more than three or four minutes, and then we have a staffed table of literature and people to talk to about how to get involved.

Here are a few of our past concerts:
The Never - an environmentalist rock band
Debra Bethell Romer - plays songs about the criminal justice system, as well as others
Spoonboy - general social justice activism
The Megaphones - a great local band that we often pair with out of towners

We have a couple more concerts planned for the next couple months and these include

Activist singer/songwriter Evan Greer
Ghost Mice
Lost in the Trees (another environmentalist rock band)
The Never (again)
Paul Baribeau

Our model empowers and inspires new and existing volunteers to take control of their own project. This is an invaluable experience. Going start to finish - coming up with the idea to clean up of the event - students get to go through the whole process. Volunteers that have been around longer are always available for consultation and help, but the responsibility of leading the event lies on whoever wanted the project. This is amazing leadership training - it teaches facilitation, negotiation, consensus, team building, and delegation skills.

These events, to date, have exposed over 900 people to some new ideas regarding social justice topics. Every event we have so many people come up to us saying "I want to do something, but I don't know how!" or "I've been waiting for this all along!" We then help get them involved in exactly what they want to be doing.

how you can get involved:

Help us book bands! Help set up, take down, and monitor on the night of the event. Show up to the concerts. Organize your own concert!

We urgently need funds. Even though many of the bands do not ask to be payed, we always cover travel expenses and some money for food, as well as a place to stay. Many bands come from far away, as far as North Carolina. Please donate! http://kzoopeacecenter.org