After a chance meeting, Penrod and local hip-hop artist Hush came up with the idea of a concert to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Penrod hopes to sell 2,200 tickets to the Feb. 5 show at downtown Detroit’s Fillmore Theatre. In addition to Hush, the benefit will feature rhythm and blues band Hot Sauce and Southern rocker JoCaine.

All the performers collaborated on a new song specifically for Joseph, “Keep on Believing,” that has become the family’s battle cry.

“They and the song are my voice,” Penrod says.

Joseph, 6, is a sweet-natured kid who is learning how to play the electric guitar, and who enjoys playing with his brother, Sam, 9, sister Katie, 12, and Charlie, a huge golden retriever.

Doctors suspected that Joseph had muscular dystrophy when they saw how he pushed on his thighs with his hands to rise from a seated position. It’s a classic manifestation of MD, which impairs the ability of muscles to repair themselves. Blood and genetic tests confirmed that he had a variation of the disease known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“We tell people if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know,” about Joseph’s condition, Penrod says.

“You don’t get to pick what you’re handed, but you do certainly get to choose how you handle it. Everything they handed us was about the history and the past of the disease. We’re going to make Joseph the future of it. We’re going to change the future of what this disease looks like.”

Joseph understands that his muscles don’t work quite the way they should. “We hope to move this along in terms of research and a cure, so he doesn’t really have to know,” Penrod says.

Every night Penrod and husband Jeff guide Joseph through stretches to inhibit scar tissue that could build up in his hip, thighs and calves.

She met Hush at an autism benefit, and was touched by his eagerness to contribute. She marvels that the musicians were willing to sit down with her and help her think big.

“It’s an eye-opener to know that you’re looking at a child, and he’s just a baby, and you know some point in his life, it’s going to get hard,” said Hush, himself the father of three boys.

The benefit is an all-ages show. “We’re encouraging people to bring their kids,” Penrod says. “Everybody wants to be part of something bigger than themselves. This is allowing the best in people to come out.”

Source:
FreeP.com

Pitbull has donated $5,000 worth of toys and is personally collecting new, unwrapped toys at the Wal-Mart in Hialeah Gardens. He’s also signing autographs for fans who donate toys at the toy drive. The overall goal for the toy drive is to supply 1,000 kids with toys this holiday season. All of the toys will be donated to the Amigos for Kids Foundation.  

Power 96’s morning show, DJ Laz in the Morning, has been broadcasting live from the event all morning long. While the presents are collected and wrapped, Florida Marlins cheerleaders and mascots will have contests and giveaways for all the children on hand.

The event is being held at the Wal-Mart on 9300 NW 77th Ave in Hialeah Gardens. The drive kicked off at 6:00 a.m. and will wrap up at noon.

Source:
CBS4

Working closely with human rights advocacy organization, Omeid International, Technique’s performance raises funds earmarked for developing the Amin institute in Kabul – where some of the two million orphaned and 60,000 homeless children of Afghanistan will receive full-scale rehabilitation from the devastating effects of war.  

Besides just doing the benefit show the hip hop artist Immortal Technique is pledging $10,000 of his own money and is traveling to the war torn heartland of Afghanistan to assure the final stages of construction are completed.

Known far beyond the hip hop community for his fiery assaults on corruption, racism, classism and oppression, Immortal Technique has also garnered a reputation for backing his politics with action, historical context and personal responsibility. The Institute, which is set to begin operating in March 2009, will provide safe housing, education, medical and psychological care and some sense of hope to twenty of these displaced children.

“My people this was not brought to you by some corporate sponsor, nor was it manufactured by some organization that takes 60% of the $ donated for “administrative” purposes. I am not a millionaire. I am not a movie star or a charity organization. I am just a man that heard the call and responded,” said Immortal Technique.

Wars and other conflicts, regardless of their political meaning or benefit always leave in their wake a devastating trail of destitution and hopelessness, especially for children. These young survivors have no politics. They have neither desire for property, prestige or domination over others; rather simply they struggle only to see another day.

These orphaned souls face the dangers of hunger and disease along with the constant threats endemic to failed states in the third world, including extremists, human and opium traffickers and other such predators who take advantage of these helpless children.

The Institute will be a beacon of goodwill in a place that has seen so much negativity and pain, giving many a chance at a real future that otherwise would be incredibly bleak. Real lives will be changed as they are shown what the determination and willingness of compassion can accomplish.

If you are in or will be in San Francisco, California on Nov. 20th please check out and support this cause. If you are not able to attend contact Immortal Technique on his myspace page http://www.myspace.com/ImmortalTechnique to see other ways to donate to this important cause.

Source:
Thug Life Army

According to news sources, proceeds will benefit the Purple Rose Campaign against the sex trafficking of Filipina women and children, an international project of GABRIELA Network ( GABNet ), a U.S.-Philippines women’s solidarity organization.

“Organizers of the concert hope to reach out to young audiences and bring awareness of the ways in which young women and children are lured, tricked, or coerced into a life of sexual exploitation,” says UCSD Women’s Center director Emelyn A. dela Pena. She reports that members of GABNet Los Angeles will lead a caravan from Los Angeles to San Diego with five stops serving as “teach-ins” on the issue of trafficking.

“Sex trafficking has achieved global attention as a human rights issue,” says dela Pena. “For many, Hip Hop has become a tool to critique the oppression of the marginalized.”

Headlining acts include, Mystic, Bambu, and OffWhyte of the Galapogos4, all from Los Angeles, and DJ Kuttin’ Kandi and The Heart from New York City. San Diego Hip Hop artists and spoken word poets also will perform.

Hip Hop is a musical genre that emerged in the late 1970s from the urban African American community. The term rap is sometimes used synonymously with hip hop music. Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the performer speaks rhythmically and in rhyme, generally to a beat. One facet of Hip Hop, or rap, is as a tool for young people to reach their communities about social justice and taking action.

Concert admission also may be covered by the donation of a working, used cell phone. For further information on the concert contact the UCSD Women’s Center at ( 858 ) 822-0074.

Source:
Media News Wire

According to news sources, a percentage of the proceeds from “True to the Game” will be donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, which will use the proceeds to help fund a $15 million education and research center within the historical landmark building where the Negro Leagues were established in 1920.

The company also has signed a licensing deal with T-Pain’s Miami-based Nappy Boy Digital label for the project’s first single, “Beam Me Up.” The song, featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross and introducing Nappy Boy artist Tay Dizm, is exclusively available digitally through Nappy Boy Digital.

Track selections also include “Make Your Way to the Dance Floor” (Ziggy Nina featuring Chingy), “Around My Way” (Young Cash featuring Akon), “The Pursuit of Happiness” (GLC featuring West), “Knock It Outa Da Park” (Yung Joc) and “Ghetto Love” (Mario).

Stadium plans to release two more compilations and a best-of CD under its agreement with the 18-year-old museum.

Acknowledging only that the museum will receive “a generous percentage,” Negro Leagues Baseball Museum director of marketing Bob Kendrick said the Stadium affiliation is “just an extension of our existing licensing arm. It’s important for cultural institutions to find nontraditional revenue sources, especially in this difficult economy. But, more important, it’s an opportunity for us to give this vital history a new voice through the power of R&B and hip-hop and enlighten a new generation of youth.”

Source:
Reuters

The turnout was nearly overwhelming. More than 300 children turned out at the Kujimani After School Program at 207 S. Long St. “We ran out of everything,” Coney said. No problem. The band members, including Coney, Domonek Wilder, Steve Frost, Terrence Gooden and Lamont Tucker, made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and reloaded.

The extra trip to stock up slightly delayed the start of the give-away at the Salisbury Civic Center. But hundreds of children and their mothers took seats and waited patiently for Coney and his group to fill the bags. “It’s a chance to give back … to help the children,” Coney said.

The group didn’t seek any donations, opting to use their own money. “We’ve sold plenty of CDs. We want to give what we can.”

“We want the children to get an education,” Coney said, looking at the hundreds of children waiting for the supplies. “We’re giving away school supplies for two reasons. One, to show our kids here in Salisbury how important an education is. And two, that there are still some African-American men out here who are concerned about and active in the life and growth of our community.”

Michelle Gaston of Salisbury was one of the mothers waiting for supplies. Gaston, who served in the U.S. Army and went to Kuwait with the 846th Transportation Unit, saw the notice about free supplies in the paper.

Gaston recently started a job at the Hefner VA Medical Center. She has an 11-year-old son and a daughter entering pre-school. She hoped to get a lot of the generic school supplies at the give-away, adding that there will be other things she’ll have to buy.

Gaston expressed her appreciation, saying its a good way to give back to the community.

Source:
Salisbury Post

Plies, the Ft. Myers, Florida-bred, Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording hip hop MC, continues to ride the wave of success proven by his sophomore hip hop / rap release, “DEFINITION OF REAL,” which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling 215,000 copies in its first week. In fact, the album’s first week sales gave Plies the highest selling first-week numbers in the history of Miami-based Slip-N-Slide Records.

Keeping in the tradition of Plies’ philanthropy, Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions will provide funding for legal representation and aid to needy individuals, specifically those who are incarcerated, with the goal of promoting a more functional, productive, and just community. The organization will also provide educational forums, classes, workshops, trainings, opportunities, and other charitable activities aimed at individuals in the community, in particular focusing on rehabilitation.

In addition, Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions will focus on promoting activities for youth and minorities, including education, mentorship, cultural experiences, and preventative measures aimed at combating incarceration in the Tampa and Ft. Myers, Florida areas.

The organization’s first effort will be the “Somebody Loves You” Scholarship Fund 2008 (named after the song “Somebody (Loves You) “from his current album), which is designed specifically for students attending an accredited college or university, who have a parent(s) that is presently incarcerated and who is financially disadvantaged. The scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled or who will be entering school this fall. Two scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female in the amount of $5000 each.

According to a published Senate report in September of 2000, as many as 70 percent of children of incarcerated parents will become involved with the criminal justice system unless effective intervention strategies are set in place. Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions, Inc. hopes to inspire and encourage these at-risk youth to break the cycle of incarceration. Co-founder Plies comments, “We want to provide those who have been and continue to be affected by the negative impacts of the prison system with a sense of hope, and to let them know that they are not forgotten. No matter what adversities one may face in life, one thing remains true – and that is that somebody loves you.”

For more information on the organization and scholarship, as well as scholarship application details, visit www.pliesworld.com/somebodylovesyou.

Source:
Thug Life Army

The Blue Scholars, a socially conscious hip-hop duo from Seattle, will headline the concert to be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Indie bands YACHT, the Shaky Hands and Typhoon will join local student-led hip-hop groups Gray Matters and State of Mind Crew, as well as OnlyOne and Immaculate, members of internationally recognized Sandpeople group.

Last year, former Lincoln senior Dash Robb, now a freshman at Oberlin College in Ohio, spearheaded the first benefit concert with several other students. Held at Cleveland High School with an audience of over 500, these students raised over $7,000, which was evenly distributed throughout the district’s high-school music programs.

With a stellar alternative and hip-hop lineup, these students hope to raise over $18,000 by drawing in an audience of over 1,500 students and music fans from around the city.

“Due to budget cuts over the past few years, PPS’s music programs have gradually been disappearing and as students of this district we are passionate, determined and feel very strongly about keeping music and the arts in our schools,” said current organizer, senior Galia Slayen. “If the district won’t ensure that the arts/music are kept in our schools, then we will.”

The concert is also intended as community builder and community event. Students from Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland, Wilson and Roosevelt are all sponsoring the event and working together to make this happen, thinking it would be a great way to conclude the school year. Next year they intend on turning Music in the Schools into a nonprofit organization.

Tickets will be available for purchase online at Pdxmusicintheschools.com, before the concert or at the door on the day of the concert. Tickets are $12 for students with ID, and general admission is $17.

For information, please contact gslayen@hotmail.com or call 503-756-7461.

Source:
Portland Observer

Haitian-born hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has launched a campaign to help his impoverished native country cope with a food crisis that sparked deadly riots last month. Jean’s Together for Haiti campaign, launched Tuesday in cooperation with the UN World Food Program and the Pan American Development Foundation, seeks to raise funds, distribute food aid, create jobs and support local agriculture.

“There have been riots in Haiti, and more can occur,” the former member of hip-hop group The Fugees said at a news conference alongside renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and special adviser to UN chief Ban Ki-moon. “And yet there are solutions,” he said. “What is essential is not only to distribute food, but to grow more food, to help the farmers who want to work, to create micro-enterprises”.

Jean, the founder of the Yele Haiti charity, which supports development projects in the Caribbean nation, said he hoped to rapidly raise 48 million dollars.

Soaring food prices in Haiti sparked riots in April that left six people dead and 200 more injured, leading to the ouster of prime minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis.

Source:
Associated Press

While there were many deserving honorees from all aspects of American culture, this year’s award show had a strong focus on both music and politics … and rightfully so.

Music
The beautiful art of music was represented throughout the evening – from the performers to the presenters to the recipients. Kirk Franklin and one of his impressive entourages opened up the show with a spiritual performance to set the stage. Later in the program, Grammy Award winning group Sounds of Blackness and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks honored this year’s NAACP Vanguard Award recipient with a tribute medley performance. This year’s NAACP Chairman’s Award recipient, the renowned actress Ruby Dee, was honored with a dedicated song and performance from freedom fighter Angélique Kidjo, who was accompanied on stage by Ziggy Marley.

There was a strong musical presence seen in the list of presenters as well. Many musical genres were represented, as some of the presenters included artists such as Master P and Romeo, India Arie, Herbie Hancock and Janet Jackson. In addition to being a presenter, Janet Jackson won an NAACP Image Award, but not for music. Rather, Janet won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her work in the film, “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?”.

However, two of the greatest honors of the night came from two of the most coveted Image Awards the NAACP hands out – and both went to musicians. The aforementioned NAACP Vanguard Award recipient was none other than the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and the NAACP Hall of Fame Award recipient went to the legendary musical genius, Stevie Wonder.

Politics
Although music, and the musicians themselves, had a great impact on this year’s Image Awards, the NAACP also had strong focus on the current political and social issues of the day. D.L. Hughley, the host of the show, opened up with some funny commentary on the presidential race, taking light-hearted jabs at Obama, Clinton and McCain. But the comedian’s largest applause came after a sincere statement when he said, “This is an amazing time in American history. I don’t have to tell you, we are this close to having a black president for the first time in history.”

Most noticeable, the NAACP did not shy away from the fact that it is an election year by any means. An NAACP press release announced that the theme of this year’s award show was Stand Up & Be Counted, and this was reflected in the 2008 logo. The focus of the organization’s message was to encourage everybody to be socially conscious during this vital political season and to stand up in support of fundamental human and civil rights. This message was clearly delivered throughout the broadcast, including both planned segments as well as impromptu speeches from award recipients.

In addition, the NAACP took some positive environmental steps in regards to the production of this year’s Image Awards. The organization’s press release stated they recognize that “today’s environmental crisis will become tomorrow’s civil rights issues” and in response, the NAACP reduced the ceremony’s carbon footprint and impact on the climate by incorporating eco-friendly initiatives. Simply put, the NAACP Image Awards has gone green.

Music & Politics
What was most fascinating about the evening was not necessarily the specific honoring of the art of music, nor the awareness of the political and social issues of the day. Rather, it was the combination of the two and the presentation of how interdependent these two powerful forces are and can be when given the platform. This was best exemplified by this year’s NAACP Vanguard Award and NAACP Hall of Fame Award recipients.

The legendary Aretha Franklin took home the prestigious NAACP Vanguard Award, which is presented to individuals whose “groundbreaking work increases our understanding and awareness of racial and social issues.” An extremely rare award for the NAACP, the honor has only been designated to just three people in the award show’s history – Prince, Stanley Kramer and Steven Spielberg.

In addition to the musical tribute honoring the Queen of Soul, a video montage was shown which documented her career of touching millions of people around the world with her voice, including the songs which inspired our nation during the Civil Rights era. Aretha Franklin was commemorated for her music, her philanthropy and her support of civil rights throughout her life. During her acceptance speech, Aretha recalled the first ever Image Awards and praised the NAACP for their progress and evolution into a production that is “second to none,” as well as their unwavering support of human and civil rights.

At the end of the show, the Genius, Stevie Wonder, was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame – an honor awarded to individuals who are pioneers in their respective field and “whose influence will shape the profession for generations to come” as a result of their global impact through “high artistic achievement, professionalism and public service.” Stevie Wonder is just the seventeenth individual to be inducted, joining Sammy Davis Jr., Etta James, Sidney Poitier, Ray Charles, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby.

Stevie Wonder was honored with Wayne Brady leading a sing-along of the legend’s own songs by the audience in attendance, and then was presented the award with kind words from Janet Jackson. The Genius was commemorated for his lifetime of music that has crossed all cultural lines and influenced people to come together, for his humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, and for his desire to stand up against injustice. The NAACP celebrated the decades of music that Stevie Wonder has inspired us with, as well as his wide-ranging social achievements, such as his relentless fight to make Martin Luther King Day a national holiday, his involvement with “We Are the World” to end hunger in Africa, and the legend’s role in the fight to end apartheid in South Africa.

Before closing down the show at his piano with an unforgettable performance, Stevie Wonder accepted the NAACP Hall of Fame Award with some moving and inspirational words. His acceptance speech was clearly on message with the theme for this year’s Image Awards and in a fitting conclusion to a wonderful night for the NAACP, Stevie Wonder undoubtedly demonstrated the power and harmony of music and politics. In his own words …

“There is, there is so little time to say so much, but I would like to begin by saying, better give all praise and thanks to God for this honor. [applause] I’m very excited to thank all my family, loved ones and friends for their encouraging me, my fans. It is an amazing thing to be honored like this tonight from, by an organization that has consistently, for 99 years, committed themselves to standing up for and fighting for the economic, social and civil rights of a people of color.

And as much as it is that I am excited about this honor, I am more excited about knowing that next year will be their 100th celebration and their commitment [applause] and their commitment, because it was through this organization that we now have two candidates – one, a female, the other, an African American. [applause] I say let them both win so that we can have a strong united people of the United States. [applause]

But I am very, very excited about the possibility. I say to those of you who are young, who feel alone and lost, and without purpose, that first of all you must commit yourself to the process by registering so that you can vote, and then voting [applause] and not using an excuse like ‘Well, I don’t think my vote matters.’ You see, everything that we do matters.

And I also want to say to all of you, that for those of you that are men who feel that we can do it, there’s a man named Barack Obama, [applause] who shows you that there’s no reason for you to have to be a gang member or do drugs or whatever that is. And there’s a woman named Hillary Clinton, who clearly, [applause] should say to every single woman there’s no need for abuse by any man to any woman in the world and you don’t, you don’t have to accept that.

I say [applause] I say to all of you, without question, it is time for change, and we cannot only change history but we can help to determine everyone’s destiny to the good. I say to all of you – yes, we most definitely can. Thank you. [standing ovation]”

- Rapáil Eamon