Hip Hop 4 Flint, an all ages show, is this Saturday, March 19 from 2-6pm at Avenue Concept, 304 Lockwood Street in Providence. Tickets are available here.
Providence, Rhode Island is one of 42 cities that will participate in a global fundraising initiative bringing together the Hip-Hop community in solidarity and support for the people of Flint and in partnership with the non-profit Price of Peace Missionary Baptist Church. Hip Hop 4 Flint will gather local, national, and international hip-hop artists, journalists, activists, educators and supporters to raise funds to purchase water filtration systems for the homes of the residents of Flint, MI. The lead organizer for Providence is Chenae Bullock. She has built a team of local Providence businesses, organizations, and talent to host an artist showcase that will help to raise $80,000 for the people involved in the Flint water crisis in Flint, MI.
YoNasDa Lonewolf, an emcee, published writer and activist who focuses her work on human rights, indigenous rights, and social justice, is the national leader for Hip-Hop 4 Flint. She was the creator of Hip-Hop 4 Haiti which took place on January 30, 2010 in 32 major cities. The youth and hip hop community hosted events to raise money, relief and awareness for the survivors of the devastating hurricane that hit Haiti in 2010.
Hip Hop 4 Flint will bring together notable Hip Hop artists such as Du “Doital” Kelly of Legendary Lords of the Underground, Hakim Green from Channel Live, Jon Connor of Afterman, Nappy Roots, and local artists from each city to join hearts and hands in support of the people of Flint. To help the cause, we have partnered with emcees OCKZ, SKYZOO, and QUADIR LATEEF who will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from the “Rise Up” iTunes single to #HIPHOP4FLINT. The single sells for $.99 on iTunes.
The overall goal is to raise $80,000 collectively among the 45 cities, about $2,000 from each city. The money will go to purchase water filters that will get the lead & other things out of the water. We are shooting to get two per household, one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom as well as plumbers to install them correctly. Prince of Peace Church is the designated 501c3 organization that will accept the money.
The city of Flint, MI is home to 100,000 residents, of which 40 percent are living in poverty, with an average income of $25,000. In 2014, while the city was under the control of a state appointed emergency manager, the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The city saw a sharp increase in lead levels that were well above the EPA’s standards of safety, exposing the city’s 9,000 children to water with lead levels that are classified as toxic waste and leading to the declaration of a citywide state of emergency. The children of Flint have been hit the hardest, which some experience permanent and devastating health defects from lead poisoning. In addition to lead contamination, there is a larger problem looming in Flint with a recent outbreak of legionella bacteria, which infects the lungs, causing pneumonia, which is then referred to as Legionnaires Disease. To date there have been ten deaths due to Legionnaires Disease.
Providence will be one of the 42 cities organizing and fundraising to purchase home water filtration systems for residents that will filter both lead and bacteria throughout the entire home, making the water safe for both consumption and washing.
Hip Hop 4 Flint Providence will host an artist showcase that will be streamed live on ALLHIPHOP.com and Stagehound TV.
We currently have a Go Fund Me for those that would like to make a donation. All money will go toward the purchase of filters, which will be delivered personally, home by home, to the residents of Flint by the Hip Hop 4 Flint delegation.