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Press Release
Student Union of Naropa Sponsors Benefit to End Worldwide
Slavery
Acclaimed Slam Poet Saul Williams Will Be Featured Performer
Benefit
Scheduled for April 14, 2005, at Boulder Theatre
BOULDER, Colo. (April 5, 2005) - There are currently an estimated 27
million slaves throughout the world who are held against their will and
without pay, forced to work in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, domestic
servitude and prostitution. Millions of these slaves are children. The
Student Union of Naropa University (SUN) has made the abolition of worldwide
slavery a top priority and, as a result, is sponsoring a concert to benefit
the non-profit organization Free the Slaves on April 14, 2005, at 8 p.m.
at the Boulder Theatre. Local radio station KGNU is also a sponsor. The
featured performer at the benefit concert will be nationally acclaimed
poet and activist Saul Williams. Williams, a leader of the spoken word/slam
poetry movement, will headline an evening of poetry, music and informational
presentations about modern global slavery. Denver poet and artist Oracle
Speaks will host the all-ages event. [Full schedule follows.] Tickets
can be purchased from the Naropa University Bookstore (303-546-3544)
for $18 or from the Boulder Theatre Box Office (303-786-7030) for $21.
For more information, the public can call 303-546-3579.
"Slavery exists today! The violent trafficking of
people against their will is a growing problem all over the
world," said Christopher Santee, a Naropa student who,
together with student Fausto Alzati, is heading up the SUN
subcommittee on the benefit. "Recognizing that our personal
decisions have political impacts on the world around us is
vital to working for a more just and equitable system. As
privileged people it is our responsibility and within our
power to effect change in the world. By supporting the work
of organizations such as Free the Slaves we can make a difference
in the lives of enslaved people of the 21st century. Purchasing
a ticket to this show gives the people of Boulder and Denver
a chance to take part in learning about and combatting the
issue of modern global slavery."
"The benefit for Free the Slaves is a perfect example
of compassionate engagement in the world, a value we seek
to transmit to our students throughout the course of a Naropa
education," said Naropa University President Tom Coburn. "This
entire event has been spearheaded and planned by two of our
students who care deeply about the issue of modern slavery.
I am very proud of them and impressed by their hard work
and dedication. The program they put together is truly remarkable."
Free the Slaves is a non-profit organization working to
end slavery worldwide. The group's guiding principles are: "All
people have a right to be free from any form of slavery and
to assert that right, and all people who are or have been
enslaved should have the opportunity to realize their full
potential." Ways in which Free the Slaves works to abolish
slavery include "buying" enslaved people from their
captors; raiding and busting slave rings and factories; and
granting money to local organizations to combat slavery in
various regions of the world. More information about the
Washington D.C.-based organization can be found at www.freetheslaves.net.
The SUN April 14 benefit will begin with performances by
Strangers Die Every Day, a Boulder-based instrumental band;
Excelano Music Project, a visiting band from New York; and
a group of Naropa student musicians. Jacob Patten of Free
the Slaves will speak about the work his organization is
doing and Pulitzer®-prize winning photojournalist Judy
Walgren will present a slide show of her work on the Child
Labor Photography Project. Local poets from Denver and Boulder
will read for one hour prior to Saul Williams' performance.
Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools, Naropa University is a private, non-profit,
non-sectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing
contemplative education. Contemplative education is an approach
to learning that integrates the best of Eastern and Western
educational traditions, helping students know themselves
more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university
comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate
programs in the arts, education, environmental studies, psychology,
religious studies, and creation spirituality. It offers BA,
BFA, MA, MFA, MDiv and MLA degrees, as well as professional
development training and classes for the community. In addition,
the university runs study abroad programs in Sikkim, India
and Prague, Czech Republic.
Photo of Saul Williams available for download at:
http://www.naropa.edu/news/SaulWilliamsPhoto.html
Contact
Jane Rubinstein
Manager, Public Relations
Naropa University
PH 303-245-4643
FAX 303-245-4676
jrubinstein@naropa.edu
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