A.A.C. Shutdown

Visions of MLK Celebration

2012-01-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

During MLK Weekend 2012 A.A.C. had the opportunity to visit the Visions of MLK celebration at the Lyndon House Arts Center in Athens, GA. The event was coordinated by Montu Miller of Athens,GA and the line-up featured an amazing line-up of gospel singers, hip-hop artists, dancers, and poets.

A.A.C. made the trip to Athens because one of Paul Ayo’s poems is being featured in the Visions of MLK Art Exhibit. The work is titled “Melanin in the Sun and the graphic design was handled by Natalie Sharp. We were proud that one of our pieces made it into the exhibit.

Artist Statements

The visual arts piece “Melanin in the Sun” is a collaboration between my colleague Paul Ayo and me—he wrote the poem contained therein, and I created the image. I wanted to evoke in viewers some of the same emotions that I’ve felt watching him perform the piece—hope, a sense of urgency, and most importantly, a desire for social change. I employ the visual idea of the mountain as an allusion not only to some of Dr. King’s own imagery, but also to suggest that humans of all walks of life can surmount adversity with an arsenal of words, of knowledge, of determination to never “choose sleep over action.”

-Natalie Sharp

When I work with poetry I am reminded that the remarkable parts of our lives manifest in moments that desire to pass unnoticed. Oftentimes, we easily forget the importance of our skin or the air, but if someone takes a moment to emphasize what we take for granted, we find glory in the mundane and obscure. I wrote "Melanin in the Sun" at a time when I was reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I mixed the poem with a little Hughes, Hansbury, and Hip-Hop and arrived at a crossroads, a challenge.

-Paul Ayo

During the event children and adults were encouraged to work on a collaborative arts piece where each individual designed a single letter of the words community, service, and peace. After all the letters were designed the words were displayed as the backdrop for the performers. This project really spoke to us, and we hope to host a similar collaborative project in the future. You can take a look at the video below to get a full explanation.

The finished product.

There was good energy and great vibes at the event, and we hope to visit Athens in the future. Keep Shuttin’ it Down in your Communities

A.A.C. End of the Year Review (2011 Edition)

2011-12-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

SHUT IT DOWN!!!

It’s the final few days of December, and the end of the year signifies a time for family, friends, and yields an opportunity to examine where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going.

This past year, A.A.C. has continued to build upon its list of accomplishments and further its mission to empower those with a passion for the Arts and Social Justice. We’ve also noticed that everyone seems post a list of remarkable accomplishments from the past year, and A.A.C. would like to share a few of ours.

7. Bad Mamma Jamma Slam

A.A.C. has hosted a series of Poetry Jamz at Blackbird Coffee for the past 3 years. This year we added a little extra spice with the Bad Mamma Jam Slam, A.A.C’s first legit Poetry Slam. It was legit, because it was the first time we used National Slam Rules with a few modifications. The B.L.A.C.K. Poets from Macon, GA. graced the stage, as well as GCSU Poets, April Bivins, Jordan Budnick, and Sal Taluto. This crew along with A.A.C.'s finest Natalie Sharp and Jerome German delivered an amazing evening of Voice and Art to A.A.C./Blackbird’s audience.

The Bad Mamma Jamma Slam also marked the first evening of Haiku Slam for Milledgeville GA., as Tommy Hughey and Deandre Beck lit the crowd with a few clever and witty scribbles from their inner comedic psyches. The evening culminated with the crowning of Natalie Sharp as the champion of the Bad Mamma Jamma Slam, Jerome German earned 2^nd place and, Virge Owens placed third. A.A.C. will definitely bring this Bad Mamma Jamma back to Milledgeville in 2012.

6. The Shutdown Magazine Debuts

The Shutdown Magazine is the first in a series of Magz that A.A.C. will publish annually. The goal of the magazine is to tell the story of writers, artists, musicians, and other individuals who are making strides for social justice in small communities and may not see coverage from large news networks or in national print media. A.A.C. has never been interested in waiting for someone else to tell the our story movement, so we’re always on the lookout for your stories of triumph, as we move art to the center of the movement to create a better world.

5. A.A.C. Youth Poetry Collectives

This past fall, A.A.C. has created two brand, spanking, new Youth Poetry Collectives (YPCs) in Middle, Ga. For folks who are from rural communities, they know opportunities with the arts are sometimes few and far in between, but with advocates who aim to provide opportunities and exposure to ground-breaking movements like the Slam Poetry Movement in local high schools, we grow ever closer to filling the gaps in education and connecting our youth to positive life changing programs that cultivate stronger readers, speakers, and thinkers.

4. A.A.C. Orgz

This program has been a long time in the making, but finally it’s off the ground and coming to a community near you. A.A.C. has sought the ideal way to empower others to create solution based programming through the arts in their communities, and A.A.C. Orgz is the vehicle that gives any grass-roots, arts organizer effective strategies to implement any arts based program in their community. With our new A.A.C. Orgz Program, we will lay the framework and help support you on your journey to creating a positive social impact in your community.

3. The D.N.S.T.P. (Do Not Stop the Progress) A.A.C. Org

Our first Affiliate Org is up and running at Georgia College and State University. The founding members, Deandre Beck, Tommy Hughey, Natalie Sharp, and Simone Williams have made significant strides in continuing the A.A.C. tradition at Georgia College. As our very first Org, they’ve met a significant challenge and A.A.C. is proud to have this young and energetic team furthering the mission to educate, inspire, and entertain.

2. A.A.C. Shutdown.org goes live!

Well… what can we say? After a year in the making, we finally got a website. You can check it out at right HERE!

1. YOU!

It’s been an amazing year, for A.A.C., and we’d like to hear your stories about social uplift through the Arts. Tell us a little about your story in the comment section below. We’re always on the lookout for artist using their talents to better the world.

P.SSSST! We like to write articles about other people using art for social justice. Post your story and if it sounds compelling, more than likely, we'll contact you for an interview. We're revamping our blog and the addition of your stories will make things infinitely more interesting. Have a stellar New Year and keep SHUTTIN' IT DOWN!

GoodSearch for A.A.C.

2011-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Art as an Agent for Change recently entered a partnership with GoodSearch.com. Goodsearch is a Yahoo powered search engine that provides money saving coupons to GoodSearch users and donates half of its advertising revenue, to the charitable organization of your choice.

Just download the GoodSearch – Art as an Agent for Change toolbar HERE.

Each time you search the web with GoodSearch's Yahoo-powered search engine, about a penny will go to the charity you designate.

Also, every time you shop online at 2,000 participating stores including Target, Apple, Staples, Expedia, etc., a percentage of your purchase will be donated for free! The site also has thousands of money-saving coupons!

GoodSearch and GoodShop on ABC News

Now, you can help A.A.C. by logging onto the web and searching for your favorite sites.

There are also a few added perks for GoodSearching the net. When you download the GoodSearch Toolbar you also have the option to Goodshop.

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Target, Gap, Best Buy, Macy's and Amazon have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.

We’ll admit, we were looking for the “catch” when we began to research becoming a GoodSearch charity. We discovered that GoodSearch and GoodShop are free services and there are no gimmicks.

You can start GoodSearching for A.A.C. by visiting this LINK and downloading the GoodSearch toolbar. It works just like all other toolbars, except this time, you get great discounts at your favorite retailers and you can help charitable organizations like, Art as an Agent for Change.

Happy Searching!

P.S. Save the Date. A.A.C. GoodShop Weekend is August 5-7.

A.A.C. Visits the Living Walls Carnival

2011-07-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

A.A.C. is always on the lookout for artists seeking to deepen the impact that art provides for our world. This past weekend A.A.C Founder/Director Paul Ayo had the opportunity to meet-up with a group of Atlanta artists from Dodekapus and Living Walls. The meeting took place at a Carnival that served as a benefit for the upcoming Living Walls Conference on Street Art and Urbanism.

We had the pleasure of speaking to Monica Campana, Coordinator of Atlanta’s Living Walls Conference. We also had the chance to speak with a founding member of Dodekapus, Melanka Joy. You can check out their vid below.

(Photo: Monica Campana, Living Walls Organizer)

Living Walls brings artists from all over the world to Atlanta to create Street Art and host discussions on the impact of public art and how it’s reshaping urban space. This year’s Living Walls Conference is scheduled to take place August 12-14 in Atlanta, Ga. You can check out the Living Walls website HERE if you’d like to learn more about the conference.

It was awesome to see two arts organizations collaborating to build a strong community centered effort in Atlanta, GA. Emily Fisher, Living Walls and Dodekapus supporter said, “Living Walls highlights arts in the city, building more respect for street art.” She also mentioned, “Dodekapus has been extra supportive… without them, it [Living Walls] wouldn’t happen.”

(Photo: Melanka Joy, Founding Member Dodekapus and Paul Ayo, Exec Director A.A.C.)

In addition to posing in a really cool wig, I also had the opportunity to bump into some really cool people. I’ll let them tell you a little about themselves and the Carnival.

Collaboration is one of the pillars of A.A.C. and we couldn’t resist the urge to agree to volunteer for the Living Walls Conference this August 12-14. ATL, get ready for a Shutdown!

Grand Openinig: aacshutdown.org

2011-07-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

A.A.C. proudly presents AACshutown.org. This brand new website has everything you’ll need to stay up to date on A.A.C., and most importantly, get involved in the Art as an Agent for Change movement.

Our awesome website was designed by the great folks at the Goebel Media Group. Nick and Lauren Goebel are a husband and wife team that take your website ideas and create great-looking, professionally-made, websites that will meet the needs of any organization. You can check out more of their designs HERE.

AACshutdown.org will feature stories from A.A.C. Members and other artists using their artistic passion to reshape the world. You can also find out how to bring A.A.C. to your community with our new A.A.C. Orgz program. The program aims to build a network of artists and activists who embody the mission of A.A.C. and provide services to communities without an A.A.C. Affiliate Organization. You can find out how to get involved HERE. You can also find out the secret to the Shutdown HERE!

We have a firm belief that lasting human connections are the pathway to a better world. With our collective voices, we'll reshape the world with art and action that truly make a difference.

Leave a comment below, we'd love to hear from you.

Your Passion Linked to Purpose: A Call for Submissions

2011-05-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Art as an Agent for Change is shuttin' it down with another edition of the Shutdown Magazine. In order to make this issue a success, we need your photos, still images of your visual art, poetry, short stories, and testimonies about your efforts to make a difference using your artistic passion.

Submit your unpublished work to us at aacshutdown@gmail.com. The submission deadline is May 31, 2011.

We'll update you when we receive your work and let you know if you made it into the mag.

The Shutdown is A.A.C.'s arts and activism magazine that exists to:
1. Encourage adolescent and adult literacy.
2. Connect our contributors to the literary wealth of the world.
3. Advocate social uplift through education and the arts.

Your contribution to the magazine will help us tell the story of the collective movement to reshape the world through our artistic collaboration and connections.

You can check out our first issue here: Shutdown Magazine Spring 2011
Like our Facebook page here: Shut it Down!
Subscribe or leave a comment below!

4th Annual Poetic Notions Poetry Fest

2011-04-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

In an effort to provide more cutting edge engagement through the arts, Art as an Agent for Change hosts the 4th Annual Poetic Notions Poetry Festival, which takes place at 8pm April 9th at the Georgia College Blackbox Theater.

Slam Poetry, Performance Poetry or Spoken Word, as it’s called by many, is an edgy art form inspired by the age old traditions of story-telling and oral history. Poetry has experienced revolutionary changes throughout history and due to a recent shift in the way poetry is consumed; books are no longer the only way poetry reaches the masses. Poets can now be viewed performing their pieces out-loud and in person via television, social networking sites, slam poetry contests, and open-mics. As a result, the art of poetry is gaining new popularity amongst the public and Art as an Agent for Change offers its annual Poetic Notions Poetry Festival to bring the dynamic styling’s of spoken word to Milledgeville, Ga.

This year’s event features the Java Monkey Slam Team from Atlanta, GA.,. Java Monkey is currently ranked in 5th in the nation in Slam and they will take center stage at this year’s poetry festival. The event will be hosted by one of Macon’s finest poets and Mercer University Grad Student Mike Scott. The line-up is also filled with the phenomenally talented student poets of Georgia College and musicians from Blackbird Coffee’s Acoustic Night. The event is sponsored by the Georgia College Student Government Association and the GCSU M.A.L.E. Connection. Paul Grigsby, the Founder and Director of Art as an Agent for Change mentioned, “I am pleased to have these wonderful sponsors and talented artists on board for the show. Their support brought the show together, and we are looking to make this one of the most memorable Poetic Notions Poetry Festivals on record.”

Poetic Notions was started when Grigsby saw that Milledgeville lacked a large poetry festival during the month of April, which is National Poetry Month. Grigsby along with several other Georgia College students hosted the inaugural event in 2008 and has since developed the program into a statewide festival that brings in some of Georgia’s most talented slam and performance poets.

Art as an Agent for Change is a 501 c 3 tax-exempt organization that was found in 2006 by three college students that wanted to provide entertainment and arts education that truly educated, inspired, and entertained. Art as an Agent for Change has since adapted a mission that promotes artistic collaboration, community engagement, and working towards social change through arts education.

The Shutdown Magazine: Spring 2011

2011-02-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Art as an Agent for Change proudly presents the Shutdown Magazine. The Shutdown is A.A.C.'s literary, arts, and activism magazine that exists to encourage adolescent and adult literacy, connect our contributor's community to the literary wealth of the world, and promote social uplift in our community and communities abroad.

Our first edition features an eye-opening interview with Alysia Harris. She has been featured on HBO's hit documentary BNV. We also feature poetry from Belizean Poet Jose V. Guerr a and poetry from the youth of Milledgeville, Ga. and college students from Georgia College and State University.

There are also a few articles that showcase the profound effect of connecting activism and the arts to build beneficial outcomes in the world. This edition of The Shutdown is guaranteed to be a provocative read. It will stimulate the parts of your brain that influence inspiration and the drive to make a difference. Check it out and Shut it DOWN!

Open publication - Free publishing - More aac

We've Got the Peace! We've Got the Justice!

2011-01-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2011, A.A.C. took to the streets of downtown Augusta to participate in the Augusta chapter of the NAACP MLK Parade. This year’s theme was “Stop the Killing.” Recently, there have been a slew of tragic murders in Augusta, and the local chapter of the NAACP thought it was wise to use this parade to promote the message of peace in their community.

A.A.C.'s trip to Augusta was coordinated by the “Amazing” Ayman Fadel of the CSRA Peace Alliance. During our trip we ran into David Matos and Matt Smith who helped out with the parade activities. The parade was filled with bands from local high schools, groups of dancers, churches, car clubs, and local businesses who joined us to share in the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Most of the parade led us down two-lane streets, and as we passed the spectators we handed out boxes of raisins attached to small handbills with the message “Raisin’ our voices for peace and justice!”

As we marched we chanted, “We got that PEACE! (Pause) We got that JUSTICE!" Lots of spectators joined in, and the call for peace and justice was as tangible as the chilly winter air. At one point on the parade route, we even got a few of the sheriff’s deputies involved in the chant, which was a huge triumph for the day considering the stoic image the law enforcement officers were trying to maintain.

Our mission for the day was spreading the message of peace and justice and reinvigorating our world with the drive and inspiration to create the better world that Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed about and worked to create. We are the peace, we are the justice, we are the hands and hearts that will make a difference.

A.A.C. Poetry Jamz @ Blackbird Coffee Jan. 2011

2011-01-04T11:06:00.001-08:00

A.A.C. loves giving new artist the spotlight and stage-time to take our audiences to new levels of thought, laughter, and love. This January, Cabrik Harrison, GCSU student and Poetry Jamz enthusiast will take the Blackbird Coffee stage Wed. Jan 19th @ 8:30pm to deliver soulful flavors unlike any we've seen in Milledgeville.

Cabrik Harrison is a Senior Marketing Major at Georgia College and State University from Moultrie Georgia. Cabrik Always enjoyed writing, but did not fully experiment with poetry until about 8th grade. Poetry became Cabrik’s guide throughout her teenage years and began with a few words in a typical teenagers journal . Cabrik later learned that poetry was not that simple, in fact it could be quite complex, and that sometimes the best poetry is the most complex. After Meeting with some students involved in A.A.C. at GCSU her freshman year, Cabrik decided to write more and try to get into different areas of spoken word. Poetry became a release not only for herself but others , her way to express the feelings of, and give hope to a community of people that she grew up around and interacted with from home and in college, particularly women. Even though to this day she still doesn’t consider herself a “poet”, she has learned that you don’t make yourself a poet, sometimes you just are , and that’s not a bad thing… that is a blessing.

Start the year off right with a healthy dose of good vibes and good people at A.A.C.'s Poetry Jamz @ Blackbird Coffee. Show date/time: Wednesday Jan 19, 8:30 p.m. Blackbird Coffee.
Free Admission
Seating is limited

A Big THANK YOU!!!

2011-01-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, A.A.C. applied for a Pepsi Refresh Grant through Pepsi, Co.’s Pepsi Refresh Project. That was a lot of Pepsi... The 31 day journey was filled with excitement as we met new people and garnered support for our project. During our campaign we learned about a lot of stipulations regarding passing out literature in public places and dealt with a few intimidating authority figures, but best of all we established new connections with our community.

Throughout the campaign, we had fun crafting videos (like these) and met lots of folks pursuing their daily goals. The most profound portion of our journey involved sharing info about the programs we’ll be implementing in Milledgeville in the coming year. And just to let you know, we’ll still be JUMPSTARTING our programs despite the voting results.

In closing, we’d like to thank you for support, time, and text messages during the campaign. You made everything worth it. Thanks! And be on the lookout for our upcoming projects in 2011.

Yours Always,

A.A.C.

A.A.C.'s Pepsi Refresh Project

2010-12-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

We wanted to take a minute to explain what’s actually in

A.A.C.’s Pepsi Refresh Grant Proposal.

We know you’re out there voting everyday and we wanted to make sure you know what you are voting for. In a nutshell, A.A.C. is planning to expand its operation by building the capacity and sustainability of 5 arts based programs in Milledgeville, Ga.

Milledgeville is a town with a large underserved community and A.A.C. operates in this locale to bridge the gap between the community and the wealth of cultural capital that is said to be present at our institutions of higher learning.

By providing solution based programs through the arts, Milledgeville’s citizens, businesses, students, and most importantly its community gain an exchange of expression that will enrich lives across the spectrum by supporting the local economy and linking a focus on the arts to measurable educational outcomes.

Here is a brief overview of the five programs we are planning to JUMPSTART with the help of those voting daily for our Pepsi Refresh Grant. Our award winning programs utilize the arts to facilitate self-advocacy and civic engagement in underserved communities.

Poetic Notions Poetry Fest:

Provides a forum of cultural expression to initiate dialogue on community needs and solutions

The Shutdown Magazine:

Provides a forum to encourage literacy and allow local youth and adults to contribute to the literary history of their community

A.A.C. in the Classroom:

Performance Poetry workshops for middle/high school students to enhance creative writing and public speaking skills

A.A.C. Media Engineering and Mentorship Program:

Provides at-risk youth with exposure to higher education opportunities and mentorship/instruction in scriptwriting, film, and music recording

A.A.C. Internship Program:

Trains arts advocates on community organizing and movement building

We believe that talents, ideas, and aspiration really start to matter when you put thoughts into action and make your ideas your reality. Your daily votes for A.A.C.’s Pepsi Refresh Grant help speed up the day when we will see our collective energies form the better world we all believe is possible when we seek a better world for all people.

To vote for A.A.C.’s Pepsi Refresh Grant text 104540 to 73774 or visit http://pep.si/h2PCwT. You can vote once per day everyday, and daily votes are the best way to ensure success. Every vote counts!

Always,

A.A.C.

A.A.C. in the Running for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant

2010-11-28T15:56:00.001-08:00

For a long time, A.A.C. has been working with its local community and supporters to put together programs on a shoestring budget. We’ve financed multi-city tours, poetry festivals, and provided seminars and workshops throughout the State of Georgia.

To expand our programming, we started thinking of ways to increase our capacity to provide services to our host community and to spread the valuable message that connects Art with Activism.

We could’ve set up a slew of fundraisers, but we really wanted to work together with our friends, folks, and fans to Jumpstart the budget of our Organization in an extremely effective manner. With that said, pending a Dec 1st approval, A.A.C. is proud to announce we’ll be in the running for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant during the month of December.

Obtaining the grant will be impossible without your support and we’ll need you to vote as often as possible via text message or by logging onto the Pepsi Refresh site and casting your vote. Voting starts December 1, 2010 @ 12am and ends December 31, 2010 at 11:59pm. You should vote once per day for A.A.C. and browse for other ideas on the site you may deem worthy of your vote. We’ll post more details about voting on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot as we receive more info from the Pepsi Refresh Site. So stay tuned and get ready to text your votes.

#bethechangetour

2010-10-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

A.A.C. has embarked upon on a state tour called Be the Change. It’s a live spoken word tour sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition. The tour is being featured in five cities around the state of Georgia. So far we’ve stopped at two colleges Dalton State and Kennesaw State and the response has been immaculate.

During the discussions following the performance we’ve had students to commit to programs and reshape their ideas about collaborating and building collective movements.

We’ll be performing in Athens tonight (Wednesday), Milledgeville and Statesboro Thursday. We’re also planning a live broadcast of the performance from Georgia State University.

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to become a part of the discussion on twitter. The key to progression is action #bethechangetour.

Poetic Notions Volume 2

2010-09-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

A.A.C. takes poetry to new heights with it's second edition of Poetic Notions. This DVD is jam-packed with the essential elements of life: love, culture, honesty, and expression. This DVD offering is guaranteed to please and it can be yours today.

Trailer

Proceeds from the DVD help support Art as an Agent for Change, Inc. and its arts education programs. With your help, our mission to create a better world through education and artistic engagement draws ever closer.

Shut It Down SIDEWAYS!!!

2010-07-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

As founder and Artistic Director of the non-profit organization SIDEWAYS, Charlotte Foster never ceases to facilitate performances that express the need for social and political change.

“The creative process for SIDEWAYS begins with extensive research on the topic to be addressed,” said Foster. “The annual repertory concert usually revolves around one central theme.”

In July, SIDEWAYS performed POP! a pop culture themed dance concert. For the concert the group researched ways in which the media and advertisement industries have shaped our lives, addressing social problems including body image issues, gender stereotypes, sexual exploitation, and lack of originality.

“We never present a piece of choreography without performing this research and the research heavily influences the movement produced,” said Foster.

SIDEWAYS’ thoughtful choreography has not gone unnoticed. Nationally acclaimed dance choreographers have complimented Foster’s method, including Alvin Ailey’s Steve Rooks and Mia Michaels from So You Think You Can Dance.

“The concerts, unlike traditional dance concerts, do not include any black-outs,” said Foster. “The concert includes transitions that make one piece flow to the next and thus presents a cohesive idea.” The cohesive idea of this summer’s performance of POP! brings attention to society’s obsession with fame, power, and greed.

The company of SIDEWAYS does not work solely toward performance to bring about social change. They donate their time and talent to organizations in the community to back up their no-apology message of social change.

SIDEWAYS partners with the Foster-Schmidt Dance Academy to present weekly dance classes to the Down Syndrome community. “The classes include motor coordination exercises, balance exercises, and dance technique,” said Foster.
“The dancers learn a piece and perform it in the Annual recital of Atlanta Dance Central.”

This year, SIDEWAYS also partnered with Wholistic Stress Control Institute and helped inner-city children choreograph two pieces for an abstinence skit to present to peers within the community.

You can donate time or money to help SIDEWAYS in the media and marketing department, as well as fundraising and development. Additionally, you can support SIDEWAYS by becoming a sponsor of a dancer or a sponsor of a program or concert.

We wish SIDEWAYS much luck and applaud them for continuing to SHUT IT DOWN. www.sidewaysdance.org

Written by
Chrissy Begemann www.chrissybegemann.com
A.A.C. Staff Writer

Edited by
Paul Ayo

A.A.C. @ The SIP Coffee House, ATL

2010-06-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

A huge part of our mission to Educate, Inspire, and Entertain involves performance poetry. We encourage and embrace all forms of the Arts, but Spoken Word is our biggest vehicle to deliver our message of inspiration to our audience. In the next two videos, Antonio Davis and Paul Ayo present their proclamations for the betterment of the world. Enjoy!

From Antonio Davis
"Getting people out of the red and onto the positive side of life, by changing the way we think, and making sure everyone listens and hears the message, no matter their way of thinking is the purpose of this piece. My inspirational moment came while I was at work looking at all of the people around me and I looked at my pen. It was literally a red ink pen, and it just flowed from there. I try to write about all view points to help people relate better. I try to see what I can do to change the negative things in the world. Therefore, I start with my self as the test subject for positive change. " -Antonio Davis

From Paul Ayo
"When I wrote this piece, I was thinking about my approach to living and how I can serve as a testament to a purposeful life. I always lead by example, and if my example isn't a good one, I like to rehash it and think of a better way to fulfill my mission or goal. I'm not going to lie and say purpose is easy to find or it's easy to pursue. It's often easier to aim low or not challenge yourself to fulfill the dreams you have in mind for yourself. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to go out on a limb and do something purposefully incredible." - Paul Ayo

A.A.C. @ A-Town Day

2010-06-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 25, 2010 A.A.C. visited A-Town Day, Atlanta's largest Health Care Festival, Concert, and Day of Awareness. We met some talented artists and delivered a spirited performance.

During the day we set up a table and rapped with folks who visited our table.

We couldn't miss the chance to build and connect with new artists. Meet our new poet friend, Chris-Free-Will from Richmond, VA. He had a dope set, as well.

Tameka sharing info about A.A.C.

Paul Ayo couldn't resist the urge to get out a Shut it Down 3000 and... SHUT IT DOWN!!!

A-Town Day was a day filled with connecting, building, and Shutting Down to the A-Town. Stay tuned; there are more exciting developments to come as we continue to educate, inspire, and entertain.

Posted by
Paul Ayo

Poet Connects Art, Artists, and the Industry: Straight, No Chaser

2010-06-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

Born and raised in Pine Bluff, AR, Christopher K.P. Brown entered his first poetry contest as a freshmen in high school after winning a Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest and $50. His teacher asked him to enter both contests.

“I’d never written any poetry before, hadn’t been exposed to that much poetry,” he says. “I entered the contest, wrote a poem called Teenage, Not Danger, and it won first place. That was my first poetry contest, and [I’ve] been writing since then.”

When he was around 16, Brown compiled 100 of his poems in a book and ended up selling around 200 copies. Making money from poetry and writing caused him to take his craft even more seriously.

Although he attended Mercer University in Macon, GA, he really didn’t want to go. He knew he wanted to do poetry full-time since he was 14.
“My only reason for going to college was so that I could leave Arkansas. I left [there and] went to college primarily to get to an open mic scene,” Brown says.
After his first semester, he did consider dropping out. But he released a CD his freshmen year and ended up selling around 150 copies in just a couple of months. The feedback he received from his fellow students made him want to stay.

“The people at school supported my poetry at that time,” he says. “Because I was away from home, I didn’t know that many people so the fact that people embraced the poetry and bought it was one of the things that actually kept me at Mercer.”

Brown wrote poetry and participated in open mics throughout college. And in 2003, he and his brother created 2 Pens & Lint so friends and family could get any work he released. The Company is now an LLC with the primary goal of printing chap books for other poets and selling and promoting them through the website.

The first Straight No Chaser Mixtape was created in 2008 after the 2007 killing of 23-year-old Sean Bell in New York.

“I took that personally, being a young, black male; I felt like it needed to be addressed,” Brown says. “It was 2008, and people wanted to talk about change, how far we’ve come, but any day you could get killed, and nobody would get punished for it.”

“Because it impacted me, it impacted my poetry, too….Straight, No Chaser is just really raw poetry. It’s not holding anything back. I felt like that was the only way you could really respond to something like Sean Bell’s killing-- to be completely truthful, raw, say what you need to say no matter what because we’re being killed no matter what, so it’s like an equal response.”

The name Straight, No Chaser was inspired by one of his favorite artists, Thelonious Monk, who had a song with the same moniker. He also gave it the name because he says the poet has to be completely truthful.
Brown began working on the album after Haiti’s earthquake, and it addresses issues he feels needs to dealt with. One reason Brown put a second Straight, No Chaser out because of things going on after President Obama was elected.

“Everybody was like, ‘Ok, we’re really moving in the right direction.’ People were talking about the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. being accomplished. It was like, ‘No, these things are still happening…,” he says. “Yes, we have a black president, and I’m glad we do, but at the same time, we can’t sleep, we can’t act like America is completely changed, that it’s a utopia now.”

The album has 10 tracks which covers a few different subjects. One piece, New Day Nefertiti, concerns purchasing, respecting and preserving the black arts culture. The album also features several hip-hop beats and most were chosen for a specific reason.

Because Brown listens to a lot of hip-hop, choosing the songs basically came down to beats that match the speed of the poem. For example, New Day Nefertiti is about Brown actually buying Erykah Badu’s latest album as opposed to burning it.

“I knew with that poem, since it was about Erykah Badu, I wanted to use [one of her] beats,” he says. “I ended up using Danger from Worldwide Underground.”

“Most of the other beats were just [from] artists that I like. You have a Common beat on there, one Wu-Tang beat, two Outkast beasts, one Nas. So the artists that I respect, those are the beats I use.”

When it comes to Straight No Chaser Volume 2, Brown really just wants people to enjoy it.

“I want them to enjoy the CD, play it, and put it into their normal rotation of music just like they would play any other CD. Secondly, I just want them to take the individual messages of each song…take it in and try to use it in their life somehow…I want them to at least think about the subjects that I’m talking about, really, critically think about [them] and try to apply that to what they see in society.”

When it comes to the social change 2 Pens & Lint makes, Brown says he ultimately wants to build an institution inside the community than can depend on them.

“If you don’t have the institution, if you don’t have any kind of organization then we can’t get anything done, we can’t make these other small changes that need to me made,” he says. “Yeah, we have a president that’s making changes, but we also have to have people in the community…that’s organized and can take action, also. That’s my thing-- being community-oriented and being organized enough where we can move and make these small changes that still need to be made.”

If you’re a poet interested in publishing a book or just want more info, visit the 2 Pens & Lint website.

Download Straight No Chaser, Volume 2 for FREE: http://christopherkp.bandcamp.com/

Edited by Paul Ayo
Written by Jamie Fleming (www.mochawriter.com)

Art Activism Goes Global with La Poderosa III

2010-06-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

As a child growing up in Belize, Jose Victor Guerra-Awe struggled to find avenues to express his unique talents and abilities.

“I held my own, but in private,” he says. “Our society can be a bit stifling at times when it comes to the arts.”

He enjoyed theater and was asked by teachers to participate in skits and plays because of his talent. But beyond primary school and outside of the school system, he didn’t find many options to continue pursuing his passions.

“So, I picked up writing, singing and jewelry making, [and] my creative talents soared to new heights, but… the options for improvement were rather limited and very inadequate,” he recalls.

Eventually Guerra-Awe attended a community college and received an associates degree in environmental science in San Ignacio, Belize. Upon graduating, he spent three years working as a research assistant on biological and archaeological projects in the Belizean jungles.

In 2006, he enrolled at Georgia College & State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental sciences in May 2009.

His travel and college experiences initiated Guerra-Awe’s interest in social change.

“After having moved away to study, I started conjuring and devising ways to help create avenues of self-expression for the young people in my community, primarily, but also for the entire community in general,” he says. “I brainstormed long and hard and came up with the idea of starting a grass roots movement using art as an agent for social change. I dubbed it La Poderosa III.”

The name comes from the following:

In 1952, a Norton Motorbike, dubbed La Poderosa II, was driven to its death by two young Argentine medical students as they explored South America. Along their journey, they witnessed many things, some impacting them enough to change their lives completely. One of these young men went on to become one of the world’s most controversial revolutionary figures. La Poderosa II was the wheels of a revolutionary.

“La Poderosa III is a concept group born from this idea and from the necessity for leadership and direction for young people in Belize,” Guerra-Awe says.

“La Poderosa will strive to be a major catalyst of change by inspiring through radical rhetoric, art and civil action. It will challenge young Belizeans to be the change they wish to see in their communities using their talents, strengths and passion as the primary tool for inspiring hope in revolutionary ways.

“La Poderosa III will be the wheels of a revolution, an Intellectual Belizean Revolution.”

By creating this movement, Guerra-Awe has presented an avenue for people to express themselves positively using art, and he has given himself a way to further develop his talents and explore new ones.

However, due to lack of funding, the organization has only been able to initiate a few programs: salsa dancing lessons, open-mics and poetry slams. Ultimately, he wants to do a cultural exchange with a university in Cuba and publish a small collection of his prose and short stories.

Guerra-Awe believes art is a major catalyst for change whether it’s providing recreation, expression or used as an educational tool.

“Art is one of the most effective ways of inspiring radical social change because of its ability to capture people’s attention,” he says. “The projects that I’ve undertaken or gearing to undertake all involve some form of art and are geared at portraying some message in order to spark social change.”

He also thinks that every community needs progress and needs to evolve mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

“In Belize specifically, we are at a point where people, young and old, have very few outlets or avenues to grow and/or develop their talents. Belize has a plethora of talent,“ he says. “Being an underdeveloped country, there is a great deal of social change that needs to be undergone in order for progress to occur.”

When it comes to future plans with La Poderosa III, Guerra-Awe intends to further develop projects and concepts to apply in his community. This includes developing and organizing an art-based cultural exchange program and assisting with developing projects so Belizeans can visit other countries and learn about art movements or attend workshops to develop their own skills and talents.

“[We also want ] to develop a fellowship of Belizean artists and perhaps even construct and manage a nonprofit studio where Belizean artists of all genres can display, record, created, compose and develop their art.”

Guerra-Awe says his greatest inspiration is his late grandmother, Elena Awe Galvez,.

“She never sat still until the day she was dead. She worked tirelessly as a steward of our community, and I can only dream of being like her.”

Nowadays, he finds motivation from various things.

“At this point in time, my muse is the vast talent that exists in my beautiful country. My muse is the knowledge that my country has such great potential to produce great writers, dancers, musicians, actors, artisans, athletes but above all, great leaders.”

“I believe that a great leader makes leaders of her/his followers. I strive to be a great leader.”

Some things La Poderosa III is in need of an acoustic-electric guitar, a small amp, a mic, camcorder, projector, a laptop computer equipped with audio and video recording, editing software and Photoshop and an SLR digital camera.

The drive to Shut IT DOWN goes global with the efforts of Jose Guerra-Awe and others. The solution is in our hands.

Written by Jamie Fleming (http://mochawriter.com/)

Edited by Paul Ayo

Be the Change Youth Convergence 2010

2010-05-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

This year’s trip to the Be the Change Youth Convergence at Koinonia farms was an exciting endeavor. The event is sponsored by the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition and each year we choose an issue or cause and unite in a joint state action to make a difference. This year’s (2010) topic centered on Public Education. From budget cuts to the simple right to be educated, Georgia’s Peace and Justice Coalition has united with A.A.C. and others to tackle the cause and make a difference.

Art as an Agent for Change will be in charge of the Art portion of the campaign and we are ready to get the ball rolling. But most importantly, we hope you’re ready to join the campaign and Shut it Down! Stay tuned to find out how you can get involved and what you can do to make a difference.

Always Shuttin’ it Down,

A.A.C. Out!

Mural Heals the Scars of a Mass Murder

2010-05-04T12:48:00.001-07:00

True art speaks to your heart, and it inspires you to make a change in your community.

A GCSU associate professor of art, Valerie Aranda, and a few of her dedicated students have used art as an agent for change. As a part of the Bridges Peacejam Youth Conference, Memphis youth together with GCSU students created a mural that helped sow the seeds of change for one Memphis Community.

The Mural project was inspired by a tragedy that occurred in the Memphis Community of Lester, when a young man named, Jessie Dotson allegedly went on a shooting rampage. The results of the incident had only yielded six counts of first degree murder until the Memphis Youth and GCSU students took the initiative to heal the scars of this tragedy.

Under Aranda’s leadership, GCSU students, Jessica Peet, Tempestt Jackson, Anne Humphreys, Gabby Caraballo, Karla Leggat and Julia Allen assisted a group of Memphis youth in creating at 60 feet long and 11 feet high mural that stands proudly in the cafeteria of Lester Elementary School.

Aranda comments, “This mass murder left a heavy scar on the Lester Middle School community, and it seems that the creation of this mural has restored the morale of the community,”

The Peacejam youth have taken action against violence, and they used art as their vehicle for change. While this was a life changing, emotional experience, the journey was not complete for Aranda, her students, and the Memphis Youth. Aranda and her students returned to Memphis March 19 – 24, to assist the Peacejam youth in completing their artistic call to action.

As the Peacejam youth’s murals serves as a reminder to break the cycle of violence, we at A.A.C. encourage you to get involved in your community. There is no time like the present to SHUT IT DOWN!

Article Written by
Rochelle Smalls
Edited by Paul Ayo

A.A.C.'s Poetry Jams at Blackbird Coffee Featuring: Life

2010-02-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Once a month A.A.C. hosts a poetry jam at Blackbird coffee in Milledgeville, Ga. Our most recent feature poet was Life, a dynamic poet from Athens, GA. by way of Brooklyn NY. Check out his poem "Numerical Prison." For more info about Life visit http://www.myspace.com/lionslifecom

2010-02-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

A.A.C.'s Founder Paul Ayo performs his new piece "Melanin in the Sun" at Magnifying the Moment in Milledgeville, GA. Check this one out.

A.A.C. Poetry Jams

2010-02-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

A.A.C. is continuing its mission to educate, inspire, and entertain, by bringing a series of poetic talent to Milledgeville, Ga. unlike any that has graced the town before. In the following interview, we have Al Corum after his feature set at Blackbird Coffee. He has some important words of wisdom for up and coming poets or anyone with a dream.