By George Gore Browne, Special to the Independent
Just two days after a terrorist massacre in San Bernardino, teens of differing religious faiths assembled for a weekend of discussion, education and songwriting here in Laguna Beach.
Organizer Music in Common, of Sheffield, Mass., uses music as a medium for peace and unity. “There are enough similarities in our humanity, our basic needs and aspirations that creative collaboration in a respectful environment is possible,” explains Jason Feddy, a local musician and radio host who led the workshop.
Todd Mack established the organization in response to the 2002 beheading by the Taliban of his friend Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter, musician and peace activist.
The workshop yielded “Pray for a Cure,” an original composition by the teens. Spaces are still available for another workshop, planned for May 14-15. A video of the teens performing is one of several set for screening at My Hero Fest, Thursday, April 21, at Seven Degrees, 891 Canyon Road. The free annual event invites local creators to celebrate their heroes with multi-media platforms.
The Laguna Beach-based My Hero Project celebrates positive role models. “My Hero began as a failed television pilot in 1994 when OJ Simpson’s trial was taking over the media and we wanted to provide an alternative of positive media,” co-founder Jeanne Myers said. Instead Myers placed the pilot online and invited content on heroes from all over the world.
Today the organization’s website hosts submissions from 194 countries provided by students, artists, activists and educators. The content displayed, “shines a light on those who are trying to do good and make a positive change,” explained Wendy Milette, film festival and media arts education director.
The goal of the annual local event is “to build community around heroes,” she said.
My Hero plans programs for youth beginning at 3:30 p.m. New this year is a free DJ workshop to teach youth how to mix tracks provided by the non-profit Give a Beat. “We organize DJ workshops for youth vulnerable to the school-to-prison pipeline and are developing an entrepreneur mentor program so people can create their own small businesses and support themselves and their families,” said founder and Laguna Beach entrepreneur Lauren Segal.
The youth program also includes a vocal performance and art display.
The 7 p.m. evening program will highlight this year’s chosen heroes, builder Gregg Abel, photographer Patsee Ober and art exhibit organizer Marinta Skupin.
Give a Beat, Music in Common and RYOT Foundation, whose founders Zeda Stone and Bryn Moser have ties to Laguna Beach, will be honored. RYOT creates content for use in virtual reality headsets, which they’ve distributed to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
The My Hero Project also hosts an international film festival in Los Angeles in November.
For Milette, the joy of her work comes from working with children. “I just love to see that light in a kid’s eyes when they’ve done something creative and they’re being acknowledged for it.”
George Gore Browne is a journalism student and Laguna Beach Independent intern.
