Less than 2 weeks to go before AfroReggae arrive ....
Posted by Community Blogger on 14th Jul 2010 at 17:07 | Community, AfroReggae | 0 comments
A highlight for me last week was the meeting at Anfield Breckfield Community Centre (ABCC) hosted by Ruth Little and co. We started with a very tasty meal which drew in a group of local people of all ages.
I spoke a bit about how AfroReggae started and why Liverpool PCT is supporting the project as part of 2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing.
The numbers of young men who lose their lives through gang violence and gun crime in Rio make this the number one public health issue for the country so the lines between public health and security and public protection are blurred.
In this country main public health issues of poor life expectancy, drugs, alcohol and teenage pregnancy are also linked to peer pressure which leads young people to join gangs but we have a way of dividing our public services into health treatment services and prosecution services which treat the problem rather than offer an aspirational alternative.
I'll never forget seeing the band play at the Barbican with members of the police from Rio and police from the London Met dancing on stage.
They weren't the only ones dancing - the whole audience was on its feet.
Back to Anfield Breckfield, and the response of the group to the extreme police violence of AfroReggae's film Favela Rising leading into their version of John Lennon's Imagine certainly sparked a strong reaction and held the attention of the everyone in the room.
You can see part of this film and more on the AfroReggae story here.
Having the backing of community members is such an important part of this work, especially in areas where we will be working outdoors. This is why we have organised open community sharing events - let's just hope we get some summer sun back for them!
Another highlight was last Thursday when we welcomed some youth workers from different parts of the City to the Everyman's Annexe for a drumming workshop with The Liverpool Carnival Company.
This time the technology got the better of me and I couldn't get the film to work, so it was great that Maeve and Roger were able to be there to give the group a first-hand experience of the drumming. It's the first time I've done it too though I watched a group of Batala members jamming to the World Cup match which Brazil sadly lost. It is infectious and very physical.
Again the Youth Service staff is absolutely key to making this project work in the centres and across the neighbourhoods. AfroReggae have a strong ethos that everyone in the room should take part, so we look forward to beating out many more rhythms with them over the coming weeks!
Polly
Polly Moseley
Liverpool PCT
Strategic Development & Programme
Liverpool's Year of Health & Wellbeing
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