Press release:
In the heart of Dayton’s Courthouse Square, cultures converge on September 11th to share in the process of creativity, collaboration, and community service. The Declaration of Interdependence is a celebratory event that hopes to inspire participants and attendees to strive for the long-term health and vitality of their communities. Those present will be offered the chance to meet with each other, celebrate in their differences, and discover new ways of contributing to those around them.
The Declaration of Interdependence happens September 11, 2010 in Courthouse Square at the corner of Third and Main Streets in Downtown Dayton. The celebration begins at 4pm and ends at dusk. Admission is free and participation is highly encouraged.
The gathering is a sharing of music, dance, and values in the ancient tradition of cultural commerce. Throughout the evening, artists from varied walks of life divulge their inner truths through performance; community service organizations share their resources and visions for healing the wounds of their communities; and vendors offer sustenance to all in the form of edible delights. The event culminates in a drum and dance circle as a ritual to raise voices, bodies, and rhythms in harmony.
Included on the bill are Baoku B4Peace, a multicultural African folk ensemble rooted in unity; Josh Slade “The Mystifier”, an up-and-coming purveyor of magic and mystery; Gift for the People, a vocal, dance, and percussion ensemble that practices heart-based activism; the SCLC Drill Team, a group of 60 inner-city youth dedicated to the empowerment and development of the individual; and Wahli & The Family Band, a father and his sons demonstrating their togetherness onstage with percussion and dance.
Gift for the People recognizes the interdependence of all human beings and emphasizes a holistic way of life rooted in compassion and inspiration. The Declaration of Interdependence acknowledges that all individual parts of a community affect the greater whole. Everyone has something to offer. When we give of our own unique gifts, we inspire others, and when others are inspired, they in turn share their talents with the community. This momentum of giving sparks throughout a community, strengthening and enabling it to better support the individuals within it.
Community service organizations involved with Declaration of Interdependence
Missing Peace Art Space –
http://www.missingpeaceart.org/
“You are the Artist, your life is the brush. Paint the world with Peace.”
Mission:
provide an artistic forum for exploring issues of peace and violence in a tolerant, non-commercial environment.
Tree of Life Community (TLC) –
http://www.treeoflifedayton.com
“for Evolutionary Spirituality”
TLC is a spiritual community where questions are welcomed, diversity is valued,
creativity is nurtured, peace is cultivated, and life is renewed
Hands Art Work –
A group of 3 Rwandan women who create and sell necklaces, earrings, gift cards, and other trinkets, to provide a better life for themselves in the united states. These same women will perform in the Songambere Youth Choir, performing inspirited choral music rooted in their native lands and culture.
Black Brothers Involvement / Black Sisters Involvement Inc. –
http://marlonshackelford.com/
Mission:
To help community members achieve their true potential and become assets in their communities by providing outreach and the opportunity to learn social skills that increase protective factors while enriching the lives of people who are at risk of being disconnected from family and dis-empowered in regard to community support services.
Home Full (formerly The Other Place) –
http://www.theotherplace.org/
Vision:
A community where there is no homelessness.
Mission:
To work to end homelessness by providing housing, services, advocacy and education.
The Adam Project –
http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/community/dayton-residents-party-for-peace
Mission:
The Adam Project, Inc. is a faith based organization dedicated to helping males of all ages avoid a life of crime, while assisting the ex- offender returning to Montgomery County to connect with the necessary tools for success, thus reducing greatly the rate of recidivism and increasing through training & education the notion of successful reentry for the formal offender.
The performance schedule is as follows:
4:00-4:30 Wahli & The Family Band
4:45-5:00 SCLC Drill Team
5:00-5:15 Community Sharing – – Open Mic
5:30-5:40 Songambere Youth Choir
5:45-6:00 Community Sharing – – Service Organizations
6:30-7:30 Baoku B4Peace
7:45-7:55 Ga-li
8:00-8:30 Community Drum & Dance Circle
*Josh Slade “The Mystifier” will be performing in the crowd during change of acts on the stage
Adam Elfers from GIFT FOR THE PEOPLE at thepeoplesmusic88@gmail.com or 937.776.3436
