PARTY FOR THE PEOPLE

WHAT IT IS

Party for the People (PftP) is a celebration of community consciousness. This free and open-to-the-public event is designed to build community awareness and engagement.

WHERE IT'S AT

The first-ever Party for the People occurred on Saturday, Oct 6, 2007 from 1pm-9pm @ The Yard in Gowanus, BK. Over 400 people attended the inaugural Party for the People event on October 6, 2007. There was tabling by 15 local service and activist organizations that shared information about their work & volunteer opportunities. Three workshops were presented, covering various modes of community action facilitated by Agents of Change, Blackout Arts Collective, and Big Apple Playback Theatre. Party for the People also featured a showcase of speeches by prominent community leaders including Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and NYC Council Members Charles Barron & Matthew Eugene as well as performances by many politically and socially conscious musicians and spoken-word artists including M1 of dead prez, Stephanie McKay, Blitz the Ambassador, Judah Tribe, Ra Hendrix, Toyia Taylor, Head-Roc, Abiodun Oyewole, Mental Notes, Stephanie Rooker, ReadNex Poetry Squad, and Desiree Marshall, among others! We’ve received great feedback on this event so far. Party for the People attendees seem deeply moved by the event and expressed that they were motivated to become more involved in community action. Participating organizations, speakers, and performers said they were looking forward to taking part in future Party for the People events.

WHERE IT CAME FROM

In a society where the desires of the individual are often valued above the needs of the people and where the media overwhelms us with global information, it is easy to become removed from our local communities. Many of us may not acknowledge our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, or other social circles we run in as “our communities,” and thus, may seldom take the opportunity to play an active role in improving these environments. The organizers of Party for the People believe that the revival of community values on a local scale sets the stage for greater societal progress. This event offers the opportunity for newcomers to Brooklyn as well as long-time residents to become more socially informed and active in their communities.Party for the People employs a unique approach to community organizing which brings together artists, activists, and organizations from various geographic areas of Brooklyn, as well as different fields of social service, to celebrate in the name of community development and social progress. Workshops provide information about current local issues and initiatives. The showcase of speakers and performers serves to inspire and empower people to become involved. Tabling by local organizations gives people direct access to ongoing volunteer programs. By informing people about local issues as well as providing opportunities for action, Party for the People hopes to be a catalyst for the mobilization of Brooklyn community members.The idea for Party for the People originated after Chief Organizer Stephanie Rooker returned from a trip to New Zealand. Stephanie’s experience of New Zealand’s communally mindful and progressive culture inspired in her a desire to initiate action within her own community of artists and activists in Brooklyn, New York. As she spread the word of her intention, a collective of organizers and activists formed to nurture and cultivate the vision of Party for the People. Together, they crafted this event with the purpose of triggering community acknowledgment and deepening people’s connections with and contributions to one another.The Party for the People Collective hopes to continue building relationships with artists and organizations and to collaboratively produce future events that sustain the progressive spirit of this initial celebration.

HOW TO GET DOWN WITH IT

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