Tucson Unity Festival show

The Unity Festival is an annual free, all day hip-hop, urban art and cultural celebration, that will be held at Tucson High Magnet School on April 16th from 12pm-8pm, for youth and families. Listen to performers, both youth and professional; get involved in fun cultural activities with your young ones; participate and show off your graffiti talents with us, and food will be available all day long. Once again, Unity Festival is being held at Tucson High Magnet school on Saturday April 16th 2011 from 12pm-8pm, we hope to see you there!
 

Performances by:
Rebel Diaz (South Bronx)
Cihuatl Ce (LA)
Cozmobrown
Shining Soul (Phx)
Lil Zay

Spoken Word
Graffiti Art showcase
B-Boy/B-Girl expo
Food

www.facebook/tucsonhighunityfestival



Background:
The Unity Festival established in early 2008 by THS MEChA in honor of the 10th Anniversary of TUSD Mexican American/Raza Studies Department. It all started as an all day celebration with music, food, as well as to demonstrate the accomplishment that students and teachers have made though Mexican American/Raza Studies. The inspiration for developing The Unity Festival was Consuelo Aguilar, an academic specialist and student mentor within Raza Studies.

It is our goal to continue Consuelo's dream of providing politically conscious spaces for youth through the arts, and we are dedicated to making the Unity Festival a permanent fixture in the Tucson community.

PHOENIX FOR JAPAN Benefit

Show Info:

:Homegrown Downtown Phoenix Benefit for Japan~
Proceeds going to Japanese Red Cross and Save the Children Org.

5$ Cover, No-One Turned Away for lack of funds-
donate what you like!

Accepting Donations Of Art or anything you think will work well for Raffle>

Musicians/Dj's Playing,Outside,Firestage:::

Performing:
Shining Souls with Darrell D.
Complainiacs

Dj's:
Smite

Ms Robs

Tara Lopez

Djentrification

Art and Gifts for Raffle So far::
Pablo Luna
Lalo Cota
El Mac
Thomas Breeze Marcus
Geoffrey Gardner
Hugo Medina
"Jeff Slim"
Paul Jones
Thuong Nguyen
Ernie Scott
Amy Fender

Revolver Records::10$ Gift Certificate
Tickets to Great Arizona Puppet theater
Free Haircut with Carissa Dominguez at "Secrets A Boutique Salon"
Two Haircuts from Heather Galwey @ "Steven Paul Salon"

Also to the highest bidder!>>>Recording Session with jalipaz of audioconfusion!
https://www.facebook.com/audioconfusion?ref=ts


-vegetarian Burritos for sale
with proceeds going to above-


This event is earlier in the evening and four hours long so as to avoid the endlessly long "benefit party syndrome"

and all support and feedback is welcome!
Mssg Djentrification for artist donations etc>

Also if you cant make it and want to help,
you can do it right here:>>>>
Japanese Red Cross:::http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html

Save the Children :::http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

If you want to help at the door or in any other way mssg me as well

Thank You Everyone!
-Djentrification-
Feel Free to contact/mssg me here on Facebook
or At Alexvotichenko@gmail.com-- to help donate etc>>

ALL OUT AGAINST BORDERS TOUR

Back from a short reprieve.... we give you an update of the “All Out Against Borders” mini tour. This was a first for us, playing four shows within five days, in four different regions of Southern Arizona. This tour took us as far south as Pasqua Yaqui territory(SW of Tuscon), all the way north to the Salt River Communtiy (Phx,AZ). We had the honor of rockin' it with some awesome talent all along the way; blessing stages with Dj's, Hip-Hop and Punk Rock artists, spoken word poets, and grassroots activists. First stop was Tuscon, AZ @ Dry River Collective. A diverse crowd gathered to see performers and hear testimony from youth and elders whom experience first hand the imposition of borders on there communities.

                                                                                        Elder  Ofelia Rivas                                 Photo Courtesy of Dry River

Founders of Elementary Hip-Hop Skool, DJ Alias and MC Progreso kicked off the BP6 benefit show with some ill tunes. Between tracks MC Progresso shared his personal thoughts and experiences of separation and displacement with the existence of the current US-Mexico border wall and elaborated on how we need to unite in opposition to it.

                                                                       DJ ALIAS AND MC PROGRESO                                 Photo by Chris Summitt

This act was followed up by another mainstay out of Tuscon, DJ Lingos and Cozmo Brown. They put down a unique set that contained varying soundscapes, funky grooves, and thought provoking word play.

                                                                         DJ LINGO AND COZMO BROWN                              Photos by Chris Summitt

Next was us. We were real eager to play because a lot of our new material was fleshed out just days prior and we wanted to test it out. Folks dug the new tracks. Much to our delight, DJ Alias made an impromptu appearance with us, cutting it up as we performed our “Battle Phoenix” joint. During our set we made it a point to addressed the issues around the militarization of the border and the necessity to work together to build and maintain resistance against entities that dominate through fear and violence.

                                                                     S H I N I N G   S O U L                                    Photos by Westli Castro

 Last but not least the headliner of the night, BLACKFIRE (Flagstaff, AZ) opened up their set sharing some traditional songs using a hand drum and voice. They transitioned to a booming and energetic set that prompted many of the youth to form a mosh pit, Oh Yeah!!! In similar fashion, BLACKFIRE, throughout there set addressed the urgency that we as a people need to be taking direct action toward the abolition of all borders.

                                                                          B  L  A  C  K  F  I  R  E                                           Photo by Shelby Ray

This gathering made for an awesome night.Thanks to all the elders, organizers, participants, and supporters for making this benefit a success!  

**All Out Against Borders Always!**

The culmination of our travels brought us to the 4^th annual O'odham Unity Run Benefit hosted by the Salt River Community. This was an all day event held to raise funds and spread awareness about the week long trek that started in Salt River and finish in an O'odham village in mexico. 

The first half of the day jumped off with a coinciding skateboard demo by Apache Skateboards and a live paint exhibition by graffiti artists from Salt River, Phoenix Valley, Gila River, Tucson, Tohono O’odham, San Carlos and New Mexico. Also, there were food booths with individuals cooking up some popover goodness!** For more footage of the art and skate demo check this blog: Brez One

The second half of the night featured merchandise from local indpendent vendors and performances by DJ Element (Salt River), Blackfire (Flagstaff), Definition Rare (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Shining Soul and Darrell D (Phoenix/Tohono O’odham Nation), Cozmobrown and DJ Lingos w/QKNR (Tucson/Phoenix) and DJentrification (Phoenix). Here is some footage of the music......

We were very fortunate to have been part of this year's benefit.  Lots of positive energy was emanated and a lot of proceeds were raised . Big up to those that traveled far and wide to be part of the event. Til next year! Special thanks to all the community members, elders, participants, supporters, and organizers.

Vegas Travels

We hit the road this weekend taking our beats and rhymes out of the state lines to Las Vegas! We got the invite to do our thing @ the Living Without Borders Conference, hosted by the U.C.I.R of UNLV.

The jam was held at a really funky venue right across from campus called Yayo Tacos. An eclectic crowd gathered to see some dope dj's, spoken word artists, emcees, and yours truly. It was inspiring to see that the majority of the bill was headed by womyn of color. NICE! The function was a major success! Also, the following day, Liaizon and a comrade from Phoenix conducted a workshop at the conference breaking down the issues affecting Arizona. They gave light to the current struggles migrant/indigenous peoples are facing and how cultures of resistance have started to emerge to combat the current wave of hate that exits in the state. WORD! Shout out to all the organizers and performers of the conference! Til next year's... -peace.

4th Annual O'odham Unity Run Benefit

COME OUT AND SUPPORT

Skate Expo + Live Art 10am-5pm

Live Show Begins At 6pm

Come help raise funds and food donations for our O'odham runners from Salt River, Gila River, Ak- Chin, Tohono O'odham and O'odham in Mexico as they make their journey from the Salt River Indian Community to Poso Verde, Mexico.
...
We, members of all O'odham communities, will be hosting this benefit to help raise donations.

FEATURING MUSIC PERFORMERS FROM:

DJ Element (Salt River)
Blackfire (Flagstaff)
Definition Rare (Albuquerque, NM)
Shining Soul& Darrell D (Phx/T.O.)
Cozmobrown& DJ Lingos w/QKNR (Tucson/Phx)
DJentrification (Phx)

LIVE ART BY:
Brez (Salt River)
Tha Nox (T.O.)
Dwayno Insano (Salt River)
Closer
Dose
Such Styles & Champ
Sent Rock
Lalo Cota
Joreal Elliot

SKATE EXPO BY:
Apache Skateboards

TRADITIONAL O'ODHAM SONGS AND DANCE AT SUNSET

TABLES AND BOOTHS PRESENT:
G Jewelry
Forever Rising
Taala Hooghan Infoshop (Flagstaff)
Southwest Zulas

B-BOY + B-GIRL ROUND UP

$5 DONATION OR $3 W/food donations [prefered:rice, beans, flour, water, gatorade]

DRUG/ALCOHOL FREE EVENT If you like to donate, help with food, table, media or help in general,

contact us at:
602-881-6027 or oodhamjeved@gmail.com

This year will be the 16th Annual O'odham Unity Run. The run will be March 13-19, 2011
-----------------------------------------------

Brief History of Unity Run:

The Akimel O'odham, Hia-Ced O'odham and the Tohono O'odham have long been known for their expertise in long distance running in the desert regions of what is now southwestern United States and Mexico. For over 150 years the O'odham Nations have dealt with separation by the U.S./Mexico Borders. We do not acknowledge this separation within our culture; we encourage our unity to continue.
The Unity Run was founded in 1995, by a small group of grassroots people from both sides of Mexico and the United States, consisting of Tohono O'odham and Akimel O'odham. The group's main goal is to bring awareness to the youth and adults the legacy that our ancestors gave to us centuries ago. The coordinators are actively working to perpetuate that which we inherited and for this to continue for the generations yet to come. Reinstating the tradition of running and the spirituality that comes with running is a challenge to help unite, preserve, heal and respect our history, language and culture. The Unity Run is highly recognized as a drug free, alcohol free and gang free cultural event.

ALL OUT AGAINST BORDERS! Statewide Events Against Border Militarization---Hip Hop in Tucson, AZ

What up yall. Shining Soul will be part of this event down in Occupied Scukson. Please spread the word.

ALL OUT AGAINST BORDERS Statewide Events Against Border Militarization

 

Events are planned in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson.

In Flagstaff:
Feb 22 - Taala Hooghan Infoshop - No Borders Discussion at 6PM

In Phoenix:
Feb 25 - No Borders! Word Up "Dance Party", Farmer + University, Tempe (3rd + Mill light-rail stop) at 9PM - "Dance party" at the Compound @ 11PM

In Tucson:
February 22nd
7:30 Food – 8:00 Show
All Ages – $5 Donation

At Dry River Radical Resource Center
740 N. Main Ave
Tucson, AZ

With:
Blackfire
Shining Soul
DJ Alias and MC Progreso
DJ Lingos and Timoteo
Speaker: Ofelia Rivas of O;odham Voice Against the Wall

Background:
On February 23, at 2pm at Tucson City Court, six protestors who locked-down and occupied the US Border Patrol (BP) Tucson Headquarters no May 21, 2010 are going to trial.

The action was taken, in part, to demand that BP, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), their parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Obama administration end militarization of the border, end the criminalization of immigrant communities, and end their campaign of terror which rips families apart through increasing numbers of raids and deportations.

Alex Soto, one of the arrestees and member of O’odham Solidarity Across Borders states, “As we did not enter the BP headquarters alone but with prayers of O’odham elders and community supporters, we are asking for support once again for our continued stand against border militarization. Our messaging is the reality for everyone that is forced to feel the pain that borders inflict upon us in our daily lives.
The Border Patrol is not the only agency responsible for the militarization of the border – and it’s subsequent destruction of Indigenous and migrant communities – or the only benefactors of border militarization.” Soto states.

MORE INFO AND ACTION:
http://www.oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com
http://www.survivalsolidarity.wordpress.com
http://www.borderopposition.blogspot.com

www.oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com