Fundraiser Links Hip Hop and Youth Advocacy to Solving Global Issues

A night of live performances featuring independent artists, Amanda Diva & The Brothers, Hasan Salaam, HiCoup, Akil Dasan, Gordon Chambers, LF & DJ Laylo and by event emcee, La Bruja. DJ Beverly Bond and Dread will provide music at the after party.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 18, 2006 -- On June 22, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., The Friends of The Brotherhood/ Sister Sol will host, Oi Basíl: Diaspora Dance 2006, at M1-5, 52 Walker Street in New York City, to support the International Study Program of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol. The night of live performances include featured independent artists, Amanda Diva & The Brothers, Hasan Salaam, HiCoup, Akil Dasan, Gordon Chambers, LF & DJ Laylo and by event emcee, La Bruja. DJ Beverly Bond and Dread will provide music at the after party.

All of the artists performing, hosting or providing music were selected because of their dedication to youth in their musical careers and personal lives. Amanda Diva, DJ on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Hip-Hop Nation and formerly of MTV2, uses the media of hip hop and spoken work to address the issues of politics and everyday issues people deal with. Independent artist, Hasan Salaam uses his music as a springboard for social change and has opened for legendary performers such as Kool Herc, Africa Bambaata, Curtis Blow, Wyclef, Common and dead prez while HiCoup’s brand of delivery is described as Fela Kuti meets Jay Z.

Akil Dasan was featured in magazines such as Billboard has work with top producer Mark Ronson and shared the stage with major acts such as The Roots and Black Eyes Peas. Grammy Award winning song-writer, Gordon Chambers, who composed songs for the likes of Queen Latifah, The Isley Brothers, Usher and Whitney Houston will perform tracks from his own album. LF & DJ Laylo will perform Brazilian Hip Hop, embodying the sprit of the global span of Hip Hop. The event’s emcee, La Bruja, is a dynamic, gifted performer who infuses hip-hop and reggaeton with the spirit of resistance, revolution, and pride.

Model-turned DJ Beverly Bond, founder of Black Girls Rock, Inc., will begin Oi BRasíl’s after party with a blend of the latest music. Bond has deejayed events for P. Diddy and Chanel; and serves as a tour DJ for Erykah Badu and Amerie.

This fundraiser was coordinated by The Friends of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, a group of young professionals who coordinate events to raise awareness and funding for the programs of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol. One such program is The International Study Program, which hosts 15-20 youth each year to locations in Africa and Latin America offering a hands-on, month-long experience learining about the history, culture, geography, environment and socio-political conditions of Africa and Latin America.

For six months, 15 teens were enrolled in an immersion program studying the history, language, culture and social issues of Brazil to prepare for the trip. During the journey, they will learn of youth involvement in social change movements and the phenomena of Hip Hop as a tool for social advocacy in issues including poverty, housing conditions, and racism. They will visit with a number of nongovernmental organizations, youth activists, community leaders and other noted persons. When they return to New York City, they will compile and exhibit multi-media presentations about their experiences abroad.

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving more than 200 Black and Latino New York City youth each year. Based in Harlem and serving youth city-wide, its holistic programming range from educational support, rites of passage, enrichment activities, youth leadership development, community outreach and organizing, career development and international study. The organization was recently awarded The Ford Foundation & Advocacy Institute’s 2005 Leadership for A Changing World Award for it’s dedication to providing positive, supportive programming to underserved youth.

For more information on Oi Brasíl, or The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, contact (212) 283-7044 or www.brotherhood-sistersol.org.

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