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Kent Duo Host Benefit for Invisible Children
In 2003, Bobby Bailey, Jason Russell and Laren Poole, college students from San Diego journeyed to Africa with the idea of making a documentary about the horrible living conditions of Ugandans residing in displacement camps.
Their documentary Invisible Children has won international recognition and acclaim. In the film, the American students focused on Uganda's children as they struggle daily with the very real possibility of being kidnapped or killed by rebels in the Lord's Resistance Army. The 60-minute film follows packs of children as they travel on foot at night to nearby hospitals where they spread their blankets in corridors hoping to study before going to sleep. Today, the film is the cornerstone of the Invisible Children's Movement, a non-profit grassroots organization started by Russell and dedicated to raising the world's awareness of the plight of Uganda's children.
Recently, two Kent residents, Andrew Vlad, 20, and Leah Rogers, 19, decided to help the ICM by hosting a benefit rock concert. "It was Andrew's idea," said Rogers, a sophomore studying Costume Design at SUNY Purchase. Rogers has known Vlad since they attended Carmel High School together. She is the Youth Liaison to the Board of Directors of Arts on the Lake.
Rogers said she was not aware of the Invisible Children Movement when Vlad approached her about using the Lake Carmel Cultural Center. "I hadn't heard of it before," Rogers said. "But I am involved with it now because of Andrew and the show."
Raising awareness is precisely what Vlad, a senior Sociology major at SUNY New Paltz, has been trying to do since he first learned about Uganda's invisible children last March. "I wanted to do something about it," he said.
The June 23 rock concert was actually Vlad's second fundraiser. His first was held in a friend's garage where several local bands played. "It was a great show for starters," Vlad said. "But it wasn't enough." Networking with Rogers this time made a big difference. "She handled all the paperwork and got permission from Mr. Shearwood," Vlad said.
James Shearwood is the director of programming at Arts on the Lake. Having the use of the LCCC literally and figuratively opened the doors for Vlad who then posted the event on Facebook, a free-access social networking website.
More than 100 young people attended the concert. Vlad said he was thrilled with the turnout. "We raised $660," he said.
And while Vlad admits that raising money is important, raising awareness of what has been occurring in Uganda since the 1986 is more important.
The documentary reminded me of what I had learned about Darfur in my sophomore or junior year," Vlad said. "It seems everything happens in Africa. It makes you feel so helpless."
For further information on the Invisible Children Movement visit their website at: www.invisiblechildren.com.
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