RAP 4 PEACE: A HIP-HOP GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS CONFERENCE ON JUNE 2, NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
Empowering Change with Celebrities Chuck D, DJ Battlecat, Lil Eazy E,
Juana Sperling, Dub C and CJ Mack, Saint Harraway, and Marcus King
Renowned Speakers including Dr. Angelina Ruffin, Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education, Chidi Njoku, Director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Bay, Guy Djoken, Chairman of the US Federation of UNESCO, and H.E. Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Minister, Labour and Skills Development, Ethiopia
Hip Hop 4 Peace, in collaboration with the UNESCO Center For Peace and the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, is set to host "Rap 4 Peace: A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference," on Sunday, June 2, 2024, coinciding with National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Hosted by Christine Devine, anchor at Fox 11, the event will take place at Shutters On The Beach in Santa Monica, California, and aims to address the urgent issue of gun violence through the lens of hip-hop culture. Conference seats can be reserved here.
The conference will commence with registration and check-in starting at 8:00 am PDT, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:00 am PDT. Distinguished speakers scheduled to deliver remarks include Guy Gjoken, Chairman of the US Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations; Rob Bonta, California Attorney General; Katannia Plummer-Mitchell, President, Latin American and the Caribbean, UNESCO; Gabin Ahogbedji Allognon, President, African Federation, UNESCO, and other notable figures from the political, healthcare, and music spheres.
“This event examines the issue of trauma as an underlying cause of gun violence in Black, Hispanic, and vulnerable communities. Hip-hop was born from historic and systemic trauma, and serves as both a mechanism for healing and a catalyst for change. Peace is the foundation of hip-hop culture and should be amplified on National Gun Violence Awareness Day,” stated event creator and executive producer, Tina Marie Tyler. Public Enemy Founder, Chuck D, also calls for peace through hip-hop, “This nation’s normalized behavior of gun violence is not normal. Hip-hop can, and should, lead the way to bring peace into our neighborhoods.”
The UNESCO Center For Peace and the U.S. Federation, UNESCO, will host the lunch session featuring the Minister of Labour and Skills Development, Ethiopia, and former Minister of Peace, Ethiopia, Her Excellency Muferihat Kamil Ahmed.
The conference will also feature a keynote address by Edridge Broussard III, CEO, Eldridge Broussard Enterprises, and inspirational speaker who has transformed his life after gun violence.
• Track #1: Gun Violence | "Hip Hop & Handguns," moderated by Soren Baker, Author & Hip-Hop Journalist, with a special recorded message from Lil Eazy E of Ruthless Records, and panelists DJ Cli N Tel, World Class Wreckin’ Cru, DJ O.G. One, Official DJ of the Portland Trailblazers, Nakiesha “MomaBoo” Scott, Artist, Activist, and CEO, Live Yo Life, Saint Harraway, Music Executive, and Dub C & CJ Mac, Hosts, Dub C and CJ Mac Show.
• Track #2: Mindset & Mental Wellness | Panelists Angelina Ruffin, PhD, Managing Director at Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research & Education, Juana Sperling of J.J. Fad, Eric Brooks, Managing Partner, Help To Love, and Chidi Njoku, director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Bay.
• Track #3: Guns and Vulnerable Communities | "Hip Hop Pride: LGBTQ+, Music, & Mental Wellness," moderated by Cordelia Donovan, Co-Founder of Hip Hop Pride, featuring panelists Daria Dee, Co-founder, Hip Hop Pride, Jon Tilli, Chair, db Pride, Sonya Pruneda from Rite 1 Entertainment, and Queen Chela Demuir, Founder of Unique Women’s Coalition.
Additionally, the conference will showcase a specially curated Entertainment Industry Panel On Gun Violence with recorded remarks from DJ Battlecat, featuring panelists Gary Reeves, Television Executive, renowned hip-hop artist Warren G, and Marcus King, Music and Television Executive, Saint Harraway, Music Executive, and Duane “Da Rock” Ramos, Music Producer & Television Executive, starting at 5:15 pm PDT.
Immediately following the conference, will commence a Gala where the President’s Volunteer Service Award will be presented, to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to volunteerism and peacebuilding. Recipients include Hip-hop artist and cultural advocate Chuck D; Chair, dbPride and Director, Deutsche Bank Jon Tilli; Former President of the National Society of Black Physicists and Professor of Physics at Brown University Dr. Stephon Alexander; Managing Director of Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education, Dr. Angelina Ruffin; and Founder, Hip Hop 4 Peace; President, California Chapter, US Federations, UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, Tina Marie Tyler.
Sponsors of the Rap 4 Peace: A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference include Deutsche Bank and Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Research and Education.
Community and industry partners of Rap 4 Peace: A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference include the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, United Mental Health Promoters, Eradicate The Hate, Rite 1 Entertainment, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and The Orchard.
About Hip Hop 4 Peace
Hip Hop 4 Peace© (HH4PEACE) is a non-partisan, non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting peace through hip-hop music and culture. Our global coalition of individuals, organizations, and companies seeks to: REDUCE gun violence; REMOVE social, economic, and health barriers to peace; and RESTORE peace as the foundation of hip-hop culture. Our programming supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, emphasizing black, brown, indigenous, and African communities. Hip Hop 4 Peace is a proud member of the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations. Our brands include the Seed 2 Cypher Initiative, Peace Not Guns Conference & Concert, Hip Hop 4 Peace - International Day of Peace, and the 4 The Culture Retreat.
About UNESCO Center For Peace, the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, and the California Chapter, U.S. Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations
The United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations serves as the national body that governs the grassroots movement of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the United States of America. The U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations is an ad hoc group under the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO working to coordinate UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations in the United States. The Commission was created in Spring 2011 and Mr. Guy Djoken, Executive Director of the U.S. flagship UNESCO Center for Peace was appointed Chairman of the Commission. UNESCO promotes peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information.
For more information please contact hello@hh4peace.org or visit our website, RAP 4 PEACE.
