The art of activism

On Sunday, April 3, 2016 I was honored to receive the Civics Soldier Award from Jersey City based Civics for the Emerging Activist, founded and run by Tai Williams, Jersey City activist, author, poet, entrepreneur and a force to be reckoned with.

Celebrating 4 years of active Civics Activism, the focus was on being a community activist and during this important election year, the ability, right and privilege of voting and having your voice heard were at the forefront of most minds. Having been in the first Civics class that Tai offered four years ago, I was amazed at the growth I saw around me. This is a moment that is very much needed in our community.

There were several awards handed out. Lynda Weinstein recieved the Lifetime Activist Award. Her work dates back to the 1980s in Hoboken. Student of the year was awarded to Jessica Abdelnabbi.

I was honored to be selected for the Civic Soldier Award, along with my fellow honorees Nicholas Ciavatta and Jennifer Watterman.

It was beautiful to see my fellow community activists and artists be acknowledged for all of the hard work, energy, effort and dedication that they each put into uplifting Jersey City's community

This year's graduates are Jessica Abdelnabi and Craig Howard. So you see, the work never ends. Activism never stops. It's in our blood as artists and community leaders. I give thanks for Tai and her determination to help others make a difference.

She asked me to talk about Supporting local artists through grassroots efforts. I must have written and re-written those words a dozen times before I spoke them. I was so inspired by the strength and energy of those around me that I could barely contain myself. Here it goes:

My introduction to Jersey City was through the underground Art scene. The Waterbug Hotel was the epitome of the underground. I fell in love instantly. I wanted to get involved, learn more, become part of the thriving Artist community. And I did. I moved to Jersey City because of it.

I became part of the Renaissance that brought the underground Artists to the center for a cultural love fest. As with everything, change remains constant. Some of those changes turned opportunity into inconvenience, resulting in most of the artistic outlets drying up, in turn creating new opportunities - an evolution in the Artist.

The importance of supporting opportunities for home grown artists cannot be forgotten. The artistic voice cannot be silenced. When one connects with another there will always be a community movement.

Jersey City Artists are resilient and generous. In continuing development through change we build up one another, support the beautiful things life has to offer. All Art is beautiful.

This, right here, is a community of artists. We support a movement by being present, spreading the word, investing in one another.

Beyond these doors support of our community opens opportunity for new voices to be heard, strengthen voices that carry on the messages of Art and Community as pillars of society.

Supporting our Artists makes us each a patron of the Arts, brings out our own artistic endeavors and enhances our community on an economic level.

Each artist is an entrepreneur, an independent business that gives back to the community economically by investing in other artists, venues and local businesses.

As an artist who found my voice in Jersey City, my call to action is to do what I can to strengthen my fellow artists.

As an activist, my call to action is in passing that message on and working with local businesses, create collaborations to keep the movement going an strengthening the pillar that is our Artistic community.

We are the community we create.