In
recognition of the 60th anniversary
of the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB), we
are pleased to host an evening with
the Honorable Mayor Cory A. Booker of
Newark, New Jersey and internationally
acclaimed recording artist Samite of
Uganda. A community wide celebration
of the past and future of the Youth
Bureau, the evening’s theme will
be Bridging Racial and Cultural Divides
and the Role that Youth Play. The Ithaca
Youth Bureau and co-sponsors are privileged
to host two dynamic individuals who
are leaders in their respective fields.
Opening the evening’s events will
be the music of Samite. Samite was born
and raised in Uganda, where his grandfather
taught him to play the traditional flute.
When he was twelve, a music teacher
placed a western flute in his hands-setting
him on his way to becoming one of East
Africa’s most acclaimed flutists.
He performed frequently to enthusiastic
audiences throughout Uganda until 1982,
when he was forced to flee to Kenya
as a political refugee. Immigrating
to the United States in 1987, Samite
now makes his home in Ithaca, New York
and has performed in a broad variety
of venues throughout the county. His
smooth vocals accompanied by the kalimba,
marimba, litungu, and various flutes
now mesmerize audiences throughout the
world; Tunula Eno, his sixth CD, reached
number two in the CMJ Music World Chart
within the first month of its release.
In 2002, Samite founded Musicians for
World Harmony an organization dedicated
to enabling musicians throughout the
world to share their music to promote
peace, understanding, and harmony among
peoples. In that capacity he travels
to sing, play music, and exchange stories
with severely disadvantaged children.
He has traveled extensively to worn-torn
countries in Africa to work in refugee
camps, with former child soldiers and
AIDS orphans.
The evening’s keynote speaker
Mayor Cory Booker will directly follow
the music of Samite. Mayor Booker brings
a passion for social change with him
to the podium. The son of Civil Rights
activists, Cory Booker has lead a life
inspired by breaking barriers and working
for change. After serving as staff attorney
for the Urban Justice Center and as
program coordinator for the Newark Youth
Project, he rose to prominence by upsetting
a four-term incumbent to become the
city’s Central Ward Councilman.
He ran for mayor of Newark in 2002,
narrowly losing to the incumbent. In
2006, he ran again, this time winning
the election.
Booker has earned a reputation for living
his politics. In 1999, he went on a
10-day hunger strike in one of the most
drug-infested housing complexes in Newark,
an effort that result in increased police
presence and improved security for residents.
For five months in 2000, he took to
the streets; he lived in a motor home
and parked it on the worst drug corners
in the city, inspiring residents and
businesses to fight against drug dealing
and crime. For this, TIME Magazine called
him “The Savior of Newark.”
Mayor Booker is a part of a new generation
of Black Leaders who bring innovative
ideas and a willingness to take bold
actions in addressing local and national
problems. Sharing stories informed by
real life, he demonstrates the need
for everyone to take responsibility
to help this nation live up to its promise.
He believes that the real solutions
to our problems lie within our communities,
our neighborhoods- we have the power;
we have the capacity, as a nation, but,
more importantly, as individuals and
communities, to do something about the
problems. This is the challenge. Drawing
from a deep belief in service and social
justice, Mayor Booker appeals to peoples'
sense of hope and possibilities to inspire
audiences to greater civic responsibility
and issues a call to action for America.
Please join us for what will be a truly
historic night in Ithaca, New York. |
|
Ithaca Youth Bureau 60th Anniversary Celebration
Featuring
the Honorable Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark,
New Jersey and internationally acclaimed recording
artist Samite of Uganda.
Wed.,
Jan. 28, 2009
7pm
| TICKET
PRICES |
General
Admission
All Seats: $10.00
|
Watch
the YouTube video: Cory Booker: You
Must Stand Up by clicking the image
above
|
