See Pictures from the Turf Unity 4 show! The Black Carpet Affair
See pictures from the Black Carpet Photo Booth!
Special Thanks to Charise Martin, Amaka Agbo & Xiomara Castro, UPM photographers!!
TURF UNITY IV
UNITING RIVAL ‘HOODS’ WITH THE POWER OF MUSIC
The Turf Unity Music Project is a National Movement bringing together artists from rival neighborhoods to create music with a positive message – a message to “Silence The Violence” in urban communities. Turf Unity gives young artists a platform to showcase their talent and the skills to lead a movement for Urban Peace!! On June 5-6th, young people together with artists from turfs all over the Bay Area united to create a weekend of uplifting music for the streets. Check out the video for a sneak peak into this amazing weekend and project.
On July 23rd, a day before the National Day of Action to Silence The Violence, these same young artists will be performing at the Turf Unity IV showcase in Oakland, CA. Stay tuned for venue information and more details of how you can support Turf Unity.
Turf Unity Project Components:
- Bay-Area Weekend Recording Session
- Youth-produced “Turf Unity” CD
- Youth Leadership Training Track
- National Day-Of-Action
- TurfUnity.com, music and video website
Violence and homicide continue to plague urban communities throughout the country. In 2008 in Oakland, California, there were over 120 homicides. African Americans made up 80% of the total number of homicide victims while only comprising about 30% of the total population of the city. Turf Unity sends a resounding call for peace from young people who are loosing loved ones to street violence.
Accomplishments To Date:
- Turf Unity-1, sold over 1500 copies throughout the Bay Area
- Turf Unity-2, sold 3,000 copies in two months and won an SF Bay Guardian’s “Best Of The Bay” Award.
- Turf Unity-3, featured rappers Mistah FAB and Zion I. Incorporated a “Healing Retreat” for youth leaders of the project to learn resiliency tools to address trauma from violence.
Over 75 rappers participated in the last cycle of Turf Unity, and hundreds upon hundreds of young people have been exposed to the “Silence The Violence” message and engaged with performance showcases.
Turf Unity 4, 2010: A National Movement for Urban Peace
For the past three cycles Turf Unity was hosted by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. This year, with the grand opening of the Oakland Green Youth Arts & Media Center (GYAMC), Turf Unity 4 will be hosted at the GYAMC. In Oakland, Turf Unity plans to reach out to more rappers than ever and hone the sound and message of this 4th album.
The 2010 cycle of Turf Unity is also opening up to the national scene and is seeking partnerships with rappers and community-based organizations working on violence prevention in cities such as Los Angeles, Baltimore, Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, Miami . . . Rappers and organizations can partner by submitting music and videos to the Turf Unity 4 project. Please see submission guidelines for more information.
The crisis of urban violence is widespread and requires a national, high-profile, movement to turn the situation around. In 2006 over 18,000 people lost their lives to homicide across the United States. Turf Unity is a solution that can connect artists from across cities to create a movement for peace on our streets. It is time for bold action which builds from the success of the work thus far.
Straight From The Turf: What Turf Unity Leaders Have to Say. . .
“Turf Unity is about taking kids off the streets and teaching them a new way to be positive, we all don’t have to be gangster rappers.” –Rapper, Tekknique
“I represent Turf Unity and what Turf Unity means to me is: I’m from the turf and my turf being unified means we have power, there’s power in numbers, this is a powerful situation. I love it, I’m glad I could be a part of it, I’m proud of everyone who is a part of it.” – Rapper, San Quinn
Turf Unity is a collaborative project between the Oakland Green Youth Arts and Media Center and Urban Peace Movement.
To contact us about Turf Unity please send us an email with ‘Turf Unity’ in the subject line at info@urbanpeacemovement.org
or call (510) 444-5400.
For more information about the Oakland Green Youth Arts and Media Center, please visit: www.greenyoutharts.org
