The Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Project’s “Call To Action” To End Gun & Gang Violence Is Supported By Power 105.1, “The Shark” Daymond John And President Obama Who Recognized The Group’s Work To End Gun & Gang Violence

 

Over The Last Three Years Power 105.1 Has Gone Beyond The Call Of Duty To End Gun & Gang Violence In Poor And Disadvantaged Communities Through A Rare And Unique Partnership With The Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council (HHSYC)

Back By Popular Demand! Powerhouse 2015 (Thursday, October 22) will again go down in history as a night to remember as several stars rocked the stage to a sold out crowd that was screaming all night. There were performances by: Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Fetty Wap, Future, Meek Mill, Jeremih, Omarion and Jidenna. Nicki Minaj was in the house and there were surprise performances by Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, ASAP Ferg and French Montana. Between acts Power 105.1 DJs played a host of hits and kept the audience dancing in their seats all night long.

At Power 105.1 and iHeartMedia playing music, producing concerts, promoting parties and special events is a job they do very well but there is another side to the Fortune 500 giant. They are also good at corporate social responsibility thanks to Thea Mitchem, who is iHeartMedia’s Regional VP and Power 105.1’s Program Director. She is the “quiet storm” behind the scenes going the extra mile to get things done in the corporate suites and on the neighborhood streets. While the onstage energy was electrifying the crowed, there was something very special going on back stage. Thanks to Thea, for the 3^rd consecutive year the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council’s Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence initiative was able to reach out to artists and on-air personalities to solicit their support to help end gun and gang violence. Watching the show and having a good time is cool, but saving our children, students, youth and young adults is a priority and this is the position that Power 105.1 is committed to.

Corporate Social Responsibility has become a very important part of the internal strategy of corporate marketing campaigns and companies like iHeartMedia do it a lot better than others. Improving the company’s image and building brand loyalty goes a long way towards increasing the value of the company. There is nothing wrong with making mountains of money, it’s the American dream, but addressing gun and gang violence is just as important and the executives at Power 105.1 get it. To be an effective leader you have to understand today’s young consumer because their buying power has a lot of influence on a company’s bottom line.

NATIONAL CRIME SNAPSHOT

Shootings and murders have now become a common occurrence in America as most of us have become desensitized to violence. After a 20 year decline violent crime in several major U.S. cities has spiked in stats during the first half of this year. The increased violence is disproportionately impacting poor Black and Latino neighborhoods. Homicide rates peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s as crack-cocaine wreaked havoc on many urban areas with NYC experiencing more than 2,200 murders in 1993. When it comes to crime in NYC Housing Authority and the rest of NYC Blacks & Latinos make up 96% of all homicide victims and are responsible for 97% of all shootings. Here is a sampling of cities where murders this year are outpacing the same period last year:

HIP-HOP AGAINST GUN & GANG VIOLENCE WEEK

This year’s 4^th annual Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Week celebration (May 15-21, 2015), in which Power 105.1 helped lead the charge, was again a huge success. The HHSYC received a powerful inspirational Presidential Message from Barack Obama in recognition of their tireless work over the years to end gun and gang violence in poor and disadvantaged communities (click to see video of the event http://youtu.be/5pLS9NYqKck). The organization now uses the wisdom radiating from the message as a “Call To Action” for young citizens to join the “Raptivism Movement” to end gun and gang violence.

“After 37 years of community service and working with some of the largest social service and civil rights groups in the country, including helping former President Bill Clinton launch AmeriCorps, I do have a pretty good idea of what giving back is all about. Three years ago at the 2013 Powerhouse Concert I was introduced to Power 105.1 Music Director Gee Spin by my good friend Brad Patrick. Gee informed me that the station really wanted to do something special to address gun and gang violence. He introduced me to his boss Thea Mitchem who said we would get together after the new year to lay out a plan of action. We received similar propositions over the years that went absolutely no where, but for some reason this time felt different. As I look back I’m glad I trusted my instincts because thanks to Power 105.1 we have saved many lives over the last several years and showed the world the positive social side of the Hip-Hop Culture, which was created as a way to use Art as a tool to address bad conditions in poor communities,” stated Charles Fisher, Founder, HHSYC.

Randy Fisher, Executive Director, HHSYC stated, “The 105-day campaign we conducted in 2014 and 2015 showed a level of social responsibility never displayed by a Fortune 500 Company regarding gun and gang violence and I’m excited about the endless opportunities we now have to use Hip-Hop as a legitimate platform to end the violence as well as address a host of other social issues that affect the quality of life in poor crime-infested communities. Over the last 14 years we forged relationships with a host of companies including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Viacom and many other Fortune 500 companies, but none have shown a real long term commitment to stop the senseless killings that continue to affect children and families in America. 86 people (8 children and teens) die daily from gun murders and it’s time for companies to step up their game like the executives at Power 105.1 and become more proactive about the problem because the problem is only going to get worse.”

Continued R. Fisher, “When we launched the campaign last year, we honestly thought that in spite of its success, the station would move on and call it a day. But on the contrary, they stepped up to the plate for another year offering the 2015 campaign even more resources to stop the murders. Most corporations we encounter are known for putting “Profit before People” but I have to applaud Thea, Gee Spin, Joe DeAngelis, the Breakfast Club, Angie Martinez and iHeartMedia for taking the lead in corporate America when it comes to preventing crime and violence. I believe this Public/Private Partnership is the best working concept America has to address the “Root Causes” behind gun and gang violence. It’s our hope that other companies will join the struggle to end mass murders in schools and communities, as well as keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally challenged. This is a unique formula for everyone concerned to follow to make America safer and we have the data to prove it.”

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AT POWER 105.1

At Power 105.1 they figured out a way to kill two birds with one stone; they play the hottest Hip-Hop and R&B music in the country and host the greatest concerts, while finding the time to be socially responsible and address the needs of those living in poor and disadvantaged communities. With government resources always running out in poor communities it’s time for corporate America and the Hip-Hop Community to do more to save our children from all the violence and Power 105.1 with iHeartMedia in partnership with the HHSYC is leading the way.

SUPPORT THE HHSYC’S CRIME FIGHTING INITIATIVES WITH POWER 105.1

The HHSYC and their Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Project, 7 E’s 4 Power Tour, 12 Doors of Life & Death initiative, Students and Parents Information Network (SPIN), and support from Power 105.1 continue their work in schools, Public Housing and the surrounding communities to improve public safety by showing students and young adults how to use literacy, academic success and the arts through the Hip-Hop Culture to end Gun & Gang Violence. To join the “Raptivism Team’s” Dream to end Gun & Gang Violence just hit us up at: RandyKFisher@gmail.com.

ABOUT iHEARTMEDIA

With 245 million monthly listeners in the U.S., iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. The company owns and operates 858 broadcast radio stations, serving more than 150 markets throughout the U.S. Plus, iHeartRadio – a free, industry-leading, digital music service – gives users instant access to more than 2,000 live radio stations and allows them to create custom stations inspired by favorite artists or songs, anywhere they are.

As the leading media company in America, iHeartMedia delivers music, news, talk, sports and other content to diverse audiences across multiple platforms, including: broadcast stations; online, via iHeartRadio and on its stations’ hundreds of websites; HD digital radio channels; satellite; smartphones; iPads and other tablets; in-vehicle entertainment and navigation systems; and via live events.

iHeartMedia leverages its multi-platform assets, as well as its vast infrastructure and relationships, to create one-of-a-kind events like the iHeartRadio Music Festival, innovative national and local promotions, and ground-breaking technology and products. Robert Pittman is the Chairman and CEO of the company.

ABOUT THE HHSYC

The HHSYC was founded by Charles Fisher in July of 2001, who is also the former manager of LL Cool J, the Lost Boyz and co-discovered R. Kelly. The organization was created to help implement commitments made by record companies, artists, community leaders and elected officials at the historic 2001 Hip-Hop Summit in New York City.   Participants are taught how to constructively use their time, talent and the Hip-Hop culture to improve social, political and economic conditions in their school, home and community. Randy Fisher is the organization’s Executive Director. For additional information please visit www.hhsyc.org.

PHOTOS BY MATEO

Posted by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher (Twitter / FB / Instagram @HHSYC).