On Sunday, June 2, 2024, National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Hip Hop 4 Peace, in collaboration with the UNESCO Center For Peace and the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, hosted the impactful event “Rap 4 Peace: A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference.” Held at Shutters On The Beach in Santa Monica and hosted by Fox 11 anchor Christine Devine, the event aimed to address the urgent issue of gun violence through the influential lens of hip-hop culture.
PHOTO: Chuck D, Tina Marie Tyler
Hip Hop 4 Peace© (HH4PEACE) is a non-partisan, non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting peace through hip-hop music and culture. Our global coalition seeks to reduce gun violence, remove social, economic, and health barriers to peace, and restore peace as the foundation of hip-hop culture. Our programming supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, with an emphasis on black, brown, indigenous, and African communities.
Photo: Dr. Stephon Alexander, Chuck D, Dr. Angelina Ruffin, Chauncy Glover, Tina Marie Tyler, Jon Tilli 01
Distinguished Speakers and Sponsors Come Together In Support
The conference featured an array of distinguished speakers, including Guy Djoken, Chairman of the US Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations; California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Katannia Plummer-Mitchell, President of Latin American and the Caribbean, UNESCO; and Gabin Ahogbedji Allognon, President of the African Federation, UNESCO. Her Excellency Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Minister of Peace, Ethiopia, also lent her voice to the cause.
The United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations governs the grassroots movement of UNESCO in the U.S. The Commission works to coordinate UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information.
Sponsors of the Rap 4 Peace include Deutsche Bank and Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Research and Education. Community and industry partners include the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, United Mental Health Promoters, Eradicate The Hate, Rite 1 Entertainment, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and The Orchard.
Moderators and panelists included hip-hop journalist Soren Baker; Lil Eazy E of Ruthless Records; DJ Cli N Tel of World Class Wreckin’ Cru; DJ O.G. One, Official DJ of the Portland Trailblazers; music executive Saint Harraway; Dr. Angelina Ruffin, Managing Director at Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research & Education; Juana Sperling of J.J. Fad; Chidi Njoku, Director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Bay; Sonya Pruneda of Rite 1 Entertainment; Queen Chela Demuir, Founder of Unique Women’s Coalition; and Nakeisha “MomaBoo” Scott, Founder of Live Yo Life.
The conference also showcased a specially curated entertainment industry panel on gun violence featuring Marcus King, Music and Television Executive; Duane “Da Rock” Ramos, Music Producer & Television Executive; and Saint Harraway, Music Executive.
PHOTO: Tina Marie Tyler, Guy Djoken, Katannia Plummer
Peace as the Foundation of Hip-Hop
Tina Marie Tyler, Founder of Hip Hop 4 Peace and the event producer, emphasized the cultural significance of peace within hip-hop: “Peace is the foundation of hip-hop. This event brought together the culture and key changemakers as peacebuilders to ensure positive peace for this and future generations.”
Immediately following the conference, Hip Hop 4 Peace presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award Gala to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to volunteerism and peacebuilding. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a civil award bestowed by the President of the United States. Established by executive order by George W. Bush, the award honors volunteers who give hundreds of hours per year helping others through the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Depending on the amount of service hours completed, individuals can receive the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and/or the President’s Call to Service Award (also referred to as the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award).
The gala, held at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, was hosted by Emmy Award-Winning KCAL News Anchor Chauncy Glover.
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President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients
Recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award included hip-hop artist and cultural advocate Chuck D; Chair of dbPride and Director at Deutsche Bank Jon Tilli; former President of the National Society of Black Physicists and Professor of Physics at Brown University Dr. Stephon Alexander; Managing Director of Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education Dr. Angelina Ruffin; and Founder of Hip Hop 4 Peace and President of the California Chapter, US Federations, UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations, Tina Marie Tyler.
In his acceptance speech, Chuck D addressed the culture and peace: “Everybody’s got an iPhone…so when you write the songs and culture, you have it threaded through the industry and technology, then you have something that is mightier than all of the governments, especially when they’re not being accountable or responsible. So their answers are guns and bullets. And when you’re talking bullets and bombs and bullying and all the -isms, then you ain’t talking peace.”
The event concluded with an exciting performance by R&B artist GoGo Morrow, showcasing the powerful blend of cultural expression and advocacy.
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