*The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) held a benefit concert called “We Are One” featuring performances by students, famous alumni and Grammy winning entertainers. “We Are One” was held at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which is also a presenter of the event. It began with a red carpeted arrival of some of the notable alumni such as Academy Award winning Patricia Arquette (“CSI”) and her brother David Arquette (Scream), actress Mindy Cohn (“Facts of Life”) and actor Richard Lawson (“All My Children”). All were host of the benefit concert.
“I have been giving back ever since I was a kid…I’ve run a drug program for the NBA. My wife (Tina Knowles) and I have our own foundation,” said Lawson (Dirty Harry), a Vietnam veteran, when asked about how he gives back to the community. “I’ve been doing theater in the community all over the country so it’s really been my life’s work.”
The benefit concert had students from different school performed what seemed to be cultural style dances – African, Mexican, Asian, etc… Professional performers included Grammy nominated drummer Sheila E with Grammy winning Pete Escovedo, Grammy winning Judith Hill, known for singing with Michael Jackson on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” single and Grammy winning Siedah Garrett who wrote the MJ hit “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.”
Watching the kids perform so passionately in their cultures’ style was so inspiring to me and I know it was to the audience made up of different races. Judith performed with Los Angeles students backing her which always had my about to cry. Siedah was so funny when telling the details of how and why she wrote the two selections she performed – uplifting us all in love.
The “We Are One” benefit concert funds will go to benefit the Arts Education Branch to expand its arts efforts.
“I’ve struggled with bullying all of my life,” said beautiful Los Angeles Unified District student Nandi Hildebrand. “I feel kids need to be encouraged especially by our fellow classmates. We should be supporting each other; we should be building each other.”
The LAUSD Arts Education Branch sponsors schools, families and community arts-related programs. LAUSD has 900 schools in Southern California. www.Arts.LAUSD.net.
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual “Uplifting Minds II” Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore on Sat April 21st 1 – 4p, at Security Square Mall and Los Angeles on Sat October 20th 1 – 4pm at the Celebrity Centre in Hollywood). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes. www.UpliftingMinds2.com.
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