Benefit Concert for Haiti

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Written by Hannah Rosenfeld

Though the suffering in Haiti has largely faded out of the limelight of the American media, Haitians are far from forgetting it themselves. This Friday, the 26^th, the Palo Alto Peace and Justice Center is holding a Benefit Concert for Haiti to raise money for those who lost their homes, possessions, and families, in the earthquake on January 12. Decorated blues master Kenny Neal will be performing alongside Haiti’s own Kelly Clarkson- Rosemond Jolissaint.

Jolissaint won Haiti’s American Idol like competition series Digicel Stars in its premier season in 2007. He rocketed to stardom in Haiti, though still only a teenager, and the chance to see him perform is certainly not one anybody in his home would pass up, why should you? His sound is mellow, acoustic, and, yes, Haitian, but don’t let that dissuade you – emotion transcends language when it is sung. There is no better way to understand life in Haiti, or the people themselves, than listening to a set by Jolissaint. You get a unique mix of culture, suffering and talent and you couldn’t be doing it for a better cause.

As for Kenny Neal, it is a privilege to have the highly esteemed blues singer performing in our neighborhood. Nominated for four Grammys last year, and with the 2009 Blues Music Award Song of the Year under his belt (among other awards), this New Orleans-born artist performs swamp-blues with the best.

The money, rather than being funneled through an American relief effort will go directly to two grassroots movements, S.O.I.L. (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods) and the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund. Unlike foreign organizations, these local affairs can bypass the restrictive bureaucracy of the Haitian government because they are already “embedded in the community, working with local Haitian community leaders to distribute aid directly to the people.”

The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Palo Alto by the Palo Alto Peace and Justice Center (the two groups are unaffiliated, but working together for relief). It starts at 8 pm this Friday and there is a suggested donation of $10.

For more information about:

The Benefit: http://www.peaceandjustice.org/Haiti/

Palo Alto Peace and Justice Center: http://www.peaceandjustice.org/

Rosemond Jolissaint: No official website, but a quick google search should do the trick

Kenny Neil: http://www.kennyneal.net/

S.O.I.L.: http://www.oursoil.org/

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund: http://www.haitiaction.net/

Important information about the Benefit Concert for Haiti-

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto

When: Friday, February 26, 8:00 pm

How much: $10 suggested donation, but other donations also accepted