Rock 4 Rights

Vital Stats

W Hartford, CT

people helped1000
People Doing It 15

The Problem

West Hartford is the picture perfect town. Cut straight from a greeting card, the town has stood as a landmark in all of Connecticut for it’s superior school systems, students, and general social service efforts. What most passers-by don’t see however are the secret underground communities, filled with bright and willing creatures, fiery with enthusiasm: students. Our high schools are filled to the brim with over-enthusiastic liberal teenagers. Our halls are packed with Birkenstock-ed feet, wrists and ankles wrapped in braided hemp, and thrice-pierced ears. They walk through the halls and streets with their iPods blasting, ignoring their surroundings while jamming to their music. The only element missing in this near perfect equation are goals, causes. Like most high school students today, the students at Hall High School are misinformed, or simply just don’t know what happens in the world that surrounds them. As a budding not-for-profit, we think it is our responsibility to help show the youth of our town (and nation) what is happening around them so they will be motivated to “be the change” that the world needs them (us) to be. The students who support Rock and Learn feel that music is the way to reach our peers and inspire them. R.E.M., State Radio, U2, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, and The Cure are all recognized bands and artists who promote social change through music, and the response is mind blowing. In the heart of the digital age, music seems to be the only thing that will motivate students to become agents of change; to get out into the world and do something for their community. When State Radio went on tour to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they also announced service projects in each market where they were performing. The response was overwhelming as music enthusiasts put on an activist hat and got involved. With this prize money, Rock and Learn hopes to create a similar phenomenon. We are a community bursting with these mindful, energetic kids; a total of 5,000 teens who can achieve just about anything they are motivated to do – and we want to do it through the airwaves.

Plan of Action

Rock and Learn was started by a young teacher who had connections in the music industry. She invited Among Criminals and State Radio into our high school to speak with students and inspire them to become activists. The bands were so impressed with the students’ questions and enthusiasm, they asked that an organization be formed to help them get into more schools and use music to inspire student activists. Students became so enthralled with the connection between music and activism, they gathered to create “Rock for Rights”, a concert / festival event that would encourage teens and young adults to find options for volunteerism and involvement in our community. Rock for Rights ’07 was a massive success, and the demand for a Rock for Rights 08 was overwhelming. Unfortunately we have no seed money to make R4R happen again (last year we just broke even, and the teacher put in her own personal money to help us). After the success of Rock for Rights, the town approached us about hosting a local access television show to air monthly and give a voice to the youth. We have loved the opportunity to showcase what youth around town are doing to promote peace, activism, volunteerism, and global awareness through creative and performance arts. Since we put up a website (which is being re-designed as we speak!) and created a Facebook account, students from all over Connecticut began contacting us about our events and how they can become involved. While there are a number of dedicated underclassmen who participate in putting all of this into practice, many of the original organizers are graduating, and having a final event as a “capstone” to our music and activism experience is what we are most looking forward to.