AIDS Benefit Concert
Order the AIDS Benefit Concert DVD
May 9th, '07 event held at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt , MD. Many school clubs and individuals come to showcase AIDS awareness through performance and support WAIT's international work of stopping AIDS. (140 minutes. NTSC DVD) |
$20 |
|
Report:
School Supports AIDS with Arts
More than 250 people were on hand to support the fight against AIDS at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD on Wednesday, May 9. Organized by the You Choose Club and WAIT, the AIDS Benefit Concert drew together 8 school clubs, several well-known artists, parents, teachers and administrators to advocate for HIV prevention through creative messaging.
WAIT member, Teresa Ferrete, who also co-chaired the event with Kester Wilkening of the You Choose Club, proposed the event in lieu of the club’s regular “AIDS Awareness Day,” usually held annually during school hours. This evening concert was to raise money for WAIT’s overseas outreach to Africa and the Caribbean.
The program was an exciting mix of song, dance and beats. “Dem Raider Boyz” combined exciting percussion and movement with unison spoken words. Exciting and colorful, the “Flags” presentation used swirling pennants to emphasize the message of the song “Don’t Lie” by Black-eyed Peas. The Eleanor Roosevelt Dance Company did a gospel type dance to “Amazing Grace,” and the Gospel choir “Blessed” sang “I need you to Survive.”
Spoken word artist Komplex shared his unforgettable poem “Heaven In View,” about a woman with HIV who lived to the fullest. WAIT member Ade Giwa stunned the audience with her poem “Guessing Game,” soon to be released on our coming album.
The song “Seasons of Love,” which originated in the rock opera “Rent,” was beautifully rendered by Suspenders, an acappella group from Roosevelt. Anne Arundel dance major Lindsay Howard choreographed and performed an African dance, Koutougi, for the occasion.
The You Choose Club debuted their original skit “Matrix Ultimatum” written by George Burton, a WAIT veteran. It recounted the story of Neo, Trinity, Dr. Morpheus and the Oracle, all involved in a young couple contracting HIV, with lots of spoofing of the Matrix trilogy.
Of course, WAIT performed, doing Breakdance, "Rose," and "Wait For Me" showcasing some of our traditional acts, with the concert culminating in a new version of “Desert Rose” that involved all the WAIT members.
Parents and friends helped out with manning the concession tables and other tasks. It was so amazing to see with how much willingness and heart the entire event took place.
Extremely impressive was the active support of the Principal, Sylvester Conyers, who opened the event with a moving narrative about the genesis of the AIDS problem, and the seeming indifference of the public to what is still an active epidemic. But the hero of the hour was definitely teacher Sean Brady, whose constant effort over the past year not only fostered the You Choose Club’s planning, but enabled the logistical issues to be surmounted. He and his wife are expecting their first child just at this time, so it was a Herculean task to handle all these tasks while expecting labor to begin at any time!
The concert raised about $1,800 for WAIT’s international project travel costs. But more importantly, it raised public awareness and commitment to stopping this preventable disease.
Many thanks to all those involved. A DVD of the event is being produced and will be available to those wishing to see how they might replicate such an event in their local area.
--Reported by Kate Tsubata
Order the AIDS Benefit Concert DVD
May 9th, '07 event held at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt , MD. Many school clubs and individuals come to showcase AIDS awareness through performance and support WAIT's international work of stopping AIDS. (140 minutes. NTSC DVD) |
$20 |
|
