Today, to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s lifelong commitment to nonviolence, The Sweet Auburn Experience Announces their 24-Hour Party for Peace, in association with the International Core DJs, Hoodrich DJs, Sirius/XM – Hip Hop Nation, Dead End Hip Hop and more at the Historic Royal Peacock on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta GA. This event will be held during Black History Month – February 27-February 28th 2014 with a full schedule of entertainment aimed at bringing unity within the fight against violence in the African-American community and promoting the prevention of homicides against young African American males in this country.
Monthly Archives: January 2014
The Sweet Auburn Experience to Launch with Human Rights Event
We are Proud to Announce the 1st Event of the Sweet Auburn Experience!
Less than a month ago, a young dynamic group of professionals launched a social media campaign to present a series of events during Black History Month aimed at saving Atlanta’s historic Auburn Avenue. On February 1, 2014, the Sweet Auburn Experience launches with “Justice for Girls: A Sweet Auburn Journey to Prevent Child Sex Trafficking”, an exciting 1-day adventure bringing awareness to this very serious social emergency and providing life changing opportunities for young girls.
A team of concerned community groups including the Sweet Auburn Experience, SCLC’s Justice for Girls initiative, Mamie Till Mobley Foundation and the Apex Museum among others will unite to present girls, ages 10 – 17 and from diverse demographic and geographic backgrounds, to a vast array of historic, cultural, ethnic and social themes as an avenue to help tackle current problems that expose our young girls to child sex trafficking.
Child sex trafficking and exploitation is a major human rights violation affecting more than 100,000 Americans under the age of 18 in the United States. The average teen is lured, coerced, or forced into this billion-dollar sex trade between 12 – 14 years of age. Many victims are runaway girls who have been sexually abused or vulnerable to self-defeating behaviors and environments. Atlanta, Georgia, along with other metropolitan cities, has been identified as a major hub for this underground world, which is responsible for the exploitation, demoralization, and theft of innocence of our young girls.
Components of the Justice for Girls: Sweet Auburn Journey event include walking and guided tours of significant historic locations on Auburn Avenue and surrounding areas, informative discussion sessions, and an engaging lunch session among many other planned activities.
Victoria Pannell, a 15-year-old Emmett Till Ambassador and staunch youth advocate against human trafficking, who is also participating in this event, states, “Trafficking is so lucrative because you can sell a girl over and over again but drugs you can only sell once.” Watch Victoria’s PSA for FairGirls.org
In the coming days, the Sweet Auburn Experience will announce several more events in the areas of Civil and Human Rights, Technology, Business, Education and more and are urging the community to get involved and join in these efforts as they strive to make a difference through their various initiatives.
For more information, to join the Sweet Auburn Experience, and/or to become a sponsor of this event, Please Visit: www.sweetauburnexperience.com or Email: info@sweetauburnexperience.com
10 Day Campaign Countdown: Why It’s Not EASY Giving Back and “Doing Good”
10 Day Countdown: The Good, Bad & Ugly
So, yes I had planned to write to you everyday from the beginning of the Sweet Auburn Experience (SAX) campaign which launched right before Christmas (bad idea)…but there was no time and very little to talk about, almost from the very beginning I found that giving back and “Doing Good” isn’t quite as easy as it sounds.
The GOOD, BAD & UGLY of SAX with 10 Days to Go in the Campaign:
THE GOOD
Well let me start by saying it’s always a GOOD thing to give back no matter the outcome! And many good things have come from launching this campaign. We’ve found ways to incorporate many causes and initiatives within the Sweet Auburn Experience – things that will change and affect the lives of many people and a whole community throughout this campaign and beyond.
I’ve been immensely uplifted by the words of encouragement of my friends and family, people in the community, the many business associates I’ve worked with throughout the years and definitely from everyone on the SAX Team.
What is also GOOD is that I’ve found that ultimately most people enjoy giving back and supporting the thousands of great causes out there – which can be very overwhelming in itself – so we’ve gotten a lot of “We Applaud Your Efforts” – which is nice, but ultimately people simply ACT on causes, ideas and initiatives that MOVE them.
THE BAD
Unfortunately, what moves me to action may not be what moves YOU. I have to admit it is difficult when others don’t share your passion for your cause – and I know, it’s not like people don’t care – they do, but maybe just not enough to be moved to action!
With no action….No matter how much GOOD you want to do the BAD thing is….you will have a big problem! After all, it can be expensive and very time-consuming to do GOOD!
I mean, who pays for the website so people can see the full vision of your passion, who designs your logo and promotional outreach for the folks who don’t know about your website, who pays the many people on your team who share your passion but can’t afford to work for free? For that matter….how do you pay yourself when all of your time is devoted to making something GOOD happen with no guarantee on a return.
It’s also BAD when you work in the entertainment industry and see entertainers (who you know) spend $5,000 on a bottle at a club and shirk when you ask them to spend $200 to help save a community.
(If you’re reading this said “entertainer”… I’m still waiting on the call back!)
I’m gonna leave this alone for now…. it may be worthy of it’s own blog post!
THE UGLY
Trying to make GOOD things happen can sometimes be UGLY.
I’ve lost a friend or two trying to put together the Sweet Auburn Experience Campaign – often times you are at the mercy of those working for your cause since they are working for free or working because they are your friend…and this situation can cause a lot of loud talking, long texts in all caps, and many unanswered phone calls that have yet to be returned to this day!
Misunderstandings and hard decisions about the direction of the campaign were the very first obstacles of launching SAX. But sometimes you must weigh appeasing a friend with fighting a cause…this meant a few sleepless nights for me but ultimately you have to let it go for GOOD of the campaign and hope that your friend(s) will understand.
(Hey”friends”! If you’re out there….I miss you!)
Did I mention sleepless nights – Well, since funding is an issue, staffing is an issue… so much of the work falls on a very few. With 10 days left, I can tell you that we’re NOT SLEEPING – if you were to see me right now…..as I’m writing this…UGLY!!
But I will end this on a GOOD Note: We’d like to welcome and thank our many new partners, friends and associates who have joined the campaign and are helping to make the Sweet Auburn Experience happen despite our obstacles!
Please visit Sweet Auburn Experience to find out what we are doing and if you find yourself “moved” in the next 10 days…Join Us….your small contribution will go a long way towards the many causes we are supporting.
Tomorrow I will tell you guys about a few of our events! Stay Tuned!
[Sad Note: As I’m writing this blog post, I just learned of the passing of my dear friend, business colleague and fellow publicist – Dee Dee Cocheta. I thought about not posting today about the campaign out of respect for Dee Dee, but then I could hear her saying, “Are You Crazy – I taught you better than that!” She was there for me when I moved to Atlanta and launched my youth program but knew no one in the city, she believed in me and she helped me even though she was struggling herself. She never stopped believing in the good of all people and never stopped inspiring people even in the last few weeks of her battle with cancer…..even when it seemed there was no more hope – she remained positive and continued to fight, and today…SHE WON! She is now resting in eternal peace! Thank You Dee Dee I’m so proud to have called you my friend. Keep Shining Mama…I hope one day my light will shine as bright as yours! RIP]
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