The African Arts In Action Initiative

SKIP THE LINE…SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY!

Now in its 18th year, the Festival has grown into one of the largest, most comprehensive festivals of African/Afro-centric culture in the United States. As we continue to grow, AIH would like to further its support of African and African- American art, communities and culture through the creation of our first ever African Arts in Action Initiative (AAIA). The African Arts in Action Initiative has been created to provide recognition and financial support to organizations that share in our mission, where six recipient organizations will share in 20 percent of all pre-festival ticket sales revenue. The purpose in creating this initiative is to strengthen our community by encouraging partnerships and the development of shared resources.

Community residents are encouraged to purchase their tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/18135 between now and August 30, 2007. 20% of the pre-festival ticket sales will be shared with the following recipient organizations: the Black Star Project, ETA Creative Arts, MAGIC, Muntu Dance Theatre, the National Museum of Mexican Art and RainbowPUSH. A more detailed description of the recipient organizations follows.

Recipient Organizations:

Black Star Project (http://www.blackstarproject.org/home/)

The Black Star Project is committed to improving the quality of life in Black and Latino communities of Chicago and nationwide by eliminating the racial academic achievement gap. Our mission is to provide educational services that help pre-school through college students succeed academically and become knowledgeable and productive citizens with the support of their parents, families, schools and communities.

Additionally, we help students aspire to post-secondary educational opportunities and training while exploring careers that will be emotionally, intellectually and financially rewarding. Our services are available to all students, particularly low-income Black and Latino students who attend low-achieving schools in disadvantaged communities. In order to achieve our goal of eliminating the racial academic achievement gap, we concentrate on three main areas of initiative: student engagement, parental development and advocacy. The Black Star Project conducts its programming and varied approaches to closing the racial academic achievement gap primarily through parent and student leadership development and advocacy. Black Star programs include: The Toyota/Black Star Parent University, The Student Motivation Program, The Silas B. Purnell Destination College Program, The Fathers Club, The Black Star Project, 100 Concerned Women in Action, Educate or Die, and The Million Father March.

ETA Creative Arts (http://www.etacreativearts.org/)

ETA Creative Arts Foundation was incorporated in 1971 as a non-profit, tax exempt organization to provide training and performance opportunities for youth and adults. In the past 35 years, ETA has evolved to become a recognized cultural treasure not only in the city of Chicago, but nationally and internationally. The organization has a commitment to the production of new works-to tell our story in the first voice- and to the development of individual artists.

In the 35 years of its history, ETA has produced over 200 product ETA programs. In any given season, ETA contracts with over 190 performers and technical personnel in its mainstage, daytime shows and arts in education programs. Since 2000 over 100,000 have people participated in ETA programs.

Muntu Dance Theatre (http://www.muntu.com/)

In the Bantu language, "muntu" means "the essence of humanity." It's what the Company seeks to express in their work and to touch in their audiences. Through its performances, Muntu strives to create an atmosphere of communal participation, encouraging and inspiring audiences and participants to join in the celebration! The company has achieved an acclaimed reputation locally, nationally and internationally for making consistent artistic statements of cultural and historical significance.

A colorful and invigorating professional company, Muntu has brought its audiences into the aisles with its unique synthesis of dance, rhythm, and song.

We carefully research the cultural and historical significance of the dances and the societies from which they originate. As a result, Muntu is more than just a performing company; we're also a company of teachers - an essential element to the perpetuation of our art form and its accurate transmittal to our audiences.

MAGIC (Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization, Inc.) (http://magicchicago.org/)

MAGIC works primarily with youth from Woodlawn, but also serves youth from Washington Park, Kenwood, Oakland and Englewood. These are some of Chicago's most severely under-resourced neighborhoods.

We have chosen to work with this demographic because this is our community, and many
organizations do not serve this demographic without associated stigmas. We will work with youth who are not in school, homeless or fresh out of jail, if they show a desire to attain self-sufficiency. For many, MAGIC is the only place that is willing to offer them an opportunity to grow and achieve their potential. MAGIC youth are the ones who will be able to conceptualize a vision of change for they are the ones who have lived through all that needs to be changed. We are proud to provide that opportunity to these strong, young people who truly do have the power within them to envision and create a more just society.

For many, MAGIC is the only place that is willing to offer them an opportunity to grow and achieve their potential. MAGIC youth are the ones who will be able to conceptualize a vision of change for they are the ones who have lived through all that needs to be changed. We are proud to provide that opportunity to these strong, young people who truly do have the power within them to envision and create a more just society. These youth participate in art-mural programs, violin programs, a teen-talk show, social activism, USOC (United Sisters of Civilization) which trains and develops teen girls into model and productive resources for their community.

National Museum of Mexican Art (http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/)

The mission of the National Museum of Mexican Art is to stimulate and preserve knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture through sponsoring events and exhibitions that exemplify the rich variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture; to develop a significant permanent collection of Mexican art; to encourage the professional development of Mexican artists; and to offer arts education programs. The National Museum of Mexican Art is the nation's largest Latino arts institution and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums.

RainbowPUSH Coalition (http://www.rainbowpush.org/)

The RPC is a progressive organization fighting for social change. As a mighty coalition of conscience; workers, women and people of color have the power to make the American Dream a Reality!

"The American Dream is one big tent of many cultures, races and religions. Under that tent, everybody is assured equal protection under the law, equal opportunity, equal access and a fair share. Our, struggle demands that we open closed doors, extend the tent and even the playing field."

In addition to being an advocate for the African American community, RPC programs include an AIDS Initiative, the International Trade Bureau, a Seniors Program, a Prison Outpost, Kids Care, Food Giveaway, World Peace and Voter Information. Affiliate RPC programs include 1,000 Churches Connected, Hurricane Katrina Relief, and PUSH Excel.