Artlightenment Festival Announces Several Seminars to Help Artists this Year

Artlightenment takes place in November at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville and organizers have just announced a seminar line-up to help artists.

The Artlightenment festival is an annual tradition in Music City which combines modern forms of many arts into one explosive event in November. This year will be the seventh year of the festival which continues to grow and change while inviting even greater participation from the area. The 2015 theme is Music City Mystique: Behind the Art.

The festival begins November 7th and ends with an awards ceremony and fashion show on November 14th.  The film festival will be Nov 12-14th, and the complete schedule can be seen at artlightenment.com.

Prior to the festival, organizers have announced a special seminar by successful artist Owen York on “How to Sell Your Art.” York has said, “My dream is to bring art back from the dead, by bringing the artist back to life.” York’s originals, commissions and portraitures have sold nationwide and internationally. He specializes in acrylics & watercolors and his influences include Impressionism, Rock & Roll and commercial Illustration.

The next talk will be on “Music City Mystique” and will be delivered by celebrity photographer Raeanne Rubenstein.

The Artlightenment festival is all about uplifting artists, and according to the Artlightenment website, the festival was created from one artist’s dream to help artists by giving them a festival dedicated to no other cause than the art itself. “This is a festival about them, the artists, and what they have to say,” says Robyn Morshead who founded Artlightenment and continues to organize the show each year.

The Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre Nashville is the festival host each year, in accordance with Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision to help all artists. More information and the complete schedule can be found online at artlightenment.com. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Announces Upcoming Breakfast Meeting

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website. 

In Nashville, the RCC Chapter has shifted the style of meetings to maintain the organization’s historic integrity while adjusting to 21^st century ideals.

In September, the chapter met with open dialogue and communication among members about hot topics and current events. The group discussed exactly how clergy should and should not be involved in political processes, citing the recent editorial in the Tennessean by Rev. John Faison of Watson Grove Missionary Baptist Church where he spoke to how his church is not for sale and how his support for a mayoral candidate is also not for sale.

The next meeting will be on November 10^th at the Islamic Center of Nashville.

According to the President of the Nashville Chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler who also Pastors the Nashville Church of Scientology, the chapter meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every other month during breakfast. “The concept for these meetings is to bring diverse people together to dialogue about hot topics and how we can unite to bring more inspiration and good news to the world,” he said.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Singer Melanie Signs on as President of Tennessee United for Human Rights

Melanie Safka, best known for her musical hits “Brand New Key,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “What Have They Done to My Song Ma,” and her song about performing at the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” has just signed on as President of Tennessee United for Human Rights, the local chapter of the worldwide United for Human Rights initiative.

Melanie has long been an advocate for peace, and recently headlined the Peace Day concert in Nashville, sponsored by Tennessee United for Human Rights (TNUHR). Just before the concert, she accepted the position as president of TNUHR. In her role, she will be an ambassador and spokesperson.

“When I first learned about the Declaration of Human Rights, I thought – ‘well of course!’ the rights all make sense and everyone should be aware of what they are,” she said. “When people realize they can influence government, that’s when by their actions, they can make things happen.”

Melanie became famous during one unforgettable night on stage at Woodstock in 1969. According to her website, during that night at Woodstock, Melanie was a New York kid barely known outside of the coffeehouse circuit in Greenwich Village. Long before it was a trend, while she sang her song "Beautiful People," the audience was inspired to light their candles and raise their lighters. That, in turn, moved the young singer to write ‘Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),’ which sold more than one million copies in 1970 and prompted Billboard, Cashbox, Melody Maker, Record World, and Bravo to anoint her female vocalist of the year.

Melanie appeared before the General Assembly of the United Nations, where she was invited back on many occasions. When she became an official UNICEF ambassador in 1972, she agreed to forego a world tour in favor of raising money for the organization. It was her work for the UN that sparked her unrelenting drive to speak out for peace.

For more information about Melanie, visit her website melaniesafka.com. For more information about United for Human Rights, visit humanrights.com.

International Day of Peace Celebrated in Nashville with Musical Concert

Tennessee United for Human Rights held a Peace Day Concert on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace with many artists and community leaders joining forces to create the event. It was spearheaded by Emmy Award-winning songwriter, Melanie, who recently signed on as President of the Tennessee United for Human Rights chapter.

Peace Day was a half-day festival at the Pavilion East in East Nashville with children’s activities, music and volunteers asking for signatures on a petition to make human rights education mandatory in Tennessee. In total, 185 signatures were garnered that day.

The show began with Nashville-based Americana singer/songwriter Jon Statham and his band. He was followed by Emmy-nominated songwriter Bianca Moon with guitarist Kent Wells.  Joseph Bell of the Who’s Bad Michael Jackson Tribute Tour performed next.  Dove Award nominee and inspirational pop/R&B artist T-Ran Gilbert delivered a powerful show and invited rap artist Canteen to the stage for a surprise performance.

In the evening, there was an all-denominational prayer for peace which involved representatives of several faiths including Sikhism, Hinduism, Scientology, Christianity, and the Nation of Islam. Internationally revered fashion designer Manuel Cuevas attended the event and participated on stage in the prayer for peace.

Melanie concluded the show. Her passion for peace was exemplified as she reminisced about the day she performed at the original Woodstock festival in 1969. She was accompanied by her son and virtuoso Beau Jarred Schekeryk. RoyEl Wooten from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, performed on percussion.  Celebrity accordion player Kristian Rusbjerg from Denmark came to the stage for two songs as a guest performer and Kevin Riley performed on bass.

During her performance, Melanie brought a poster-size version of the petition for human rights on stage, saying, ”I support a movement to make human rights education mandatory in Tennessee,” then signed the petition and asked everyone in the audience to join her.

While she performed her hit song “Lay Down Candles in the Rain,” candles were lit and distributed to the audience as a symbol of a wish for peace.

More than 250 people participated in the celebration concert on Peace Day and plans have already begun for Peace Day 2016. If you would like tickets to Melanie's Peace Day concert 2016, please go to peacedayconcert.org. For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com.

Artlightenment Festival Announces Pre-Show Seminar for Artists

The Artlightenment festival is an annual tradition in Music City which combines all modern forms of the arts into one explosive event in November. 2015 will see the seventh year of the festival which continues to grow and change while inviting even greater participation from the area. The 2015 theme is Music City Mystique: Behind the Art.

The festival takes place beginning on November 7^th through the awards ceremony and fashion show on November 14^th.  The film festival will be Nov 12-14^th, and the complete schedule can be seen at artlightenment.com.

Prior to the festival, organizers have announced a special seminar by successful artist Owen York on “How to Sell Your Art.” York has said, “My dream is to bring art back from the dead, by bringing the artist back to life.”

According to his website, owenyork.com, he has been involved in the arts “literally since Day 1.” As a child, he was recognized for his visual arts abilities, but was also a skilled writer & musician, playing the piano & saxophone and winning contests for young authors. At a young age, he was invited into a special program for the gifted, limited to a handful of those who excelled in the arts. He has also worked as an actor for TV, commercial, film & radio for stations including The History Channel, HSN and The Weather Channel.  Despite these adventures in the various arts, York is a fine artist at heart.

York’s artistic style speaks for itself. His originals, commissions and portraitures have sold nationwide and internationally. He specializes in acrylics & watercolors and his influences include Impressionism, Rock & Roll and commercial Illustration. He has a degree in Illustration from the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

The Artlightenment festival is all about uplifting artists and York’s seminar, although happening pre-show, ties right into this. According to the Artlightenment website, the festival was created from one artist’s dream to help artists by giving them a festival dedicated to no other cause than the art itself. “This is a festival about them, the artists, and what they have to say,” says Robyn Morshead who founded Artlightenment and continues to organize the show each year.

The Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre Nashville is the festival host each year, in accordance with Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision to help all artists. All are invited and more information can be found online at artlightenment.com. 

Drug-Free South Carries the Red Ribbon Forward

To protect youth from the disastrous effects of drugs, the Drug-Free South team is bringing the truth directly to students and the community in honor of Red Ribbon Week.

“Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country,” according to imdrugfree.com, and it occurs during the last week of October each year. This is the best time to educate young people and help prevent drug abuse.

The Red Ribbon Campaign was started to commemorate DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a Drug-Free America, according to redribbon.org.

Drug-Free South has participated in the campaign since 2009 by distributing copies of The Truth About Drugs booklets, which help young people understand what drugs are and how they affect the user, visiting school classrooms to deliver a seminar to students utilizing the documentary The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories, and getting the Drug-Free World public service announcements played on television.

This year Drug-Free South volunteers plan to commemorate Red Ribbon Week through community events. “We will participate in various community events to distribute copies of the booklet, and we are hosting an open house event to shed light on the subject,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for the Drug-Free South.

Drug-Free South has provided seminars to students in over thirty counties in Tennessee. One school teacher expressed his gratitude by writing a letter to the volunteers.  He noted the program “is a highly informative, mind-grasping look at the dangers and horrible realities that addiction creates.”

Drug-Free South is the Tennessee chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international non-profit organization. Its materials demonstrate the dangers of drugs through factual information and interviews with former addicts giving personal perspectives on each of the substances covered.  For more information, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day To Take Place at John Seigenthaler Center

Human Rights Day is a time for activists to come together to celebrate milestones and award heroes who have championed human rights. The gathering which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, is always one which strives to educate the broader community on the importance of knowing one’s human rights as well as bringing together those who work on these issues.

The planning committee is chaired by Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology. Fesler says, “There’s a core group of citizens who know the value of human rights and work on it daily. Our goal is to bring those people together, support their commitment, so in the end we can reach everyone else.”

The gathering celebrates the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations on Dec 10, originally signed in 1948. This year, the event will take place at the First Amendment Center in the John Seigenthaler Center.

“We are excited and proud to be going back to the John Seigenthaler Center,” says Fesler, “Mr. Seigenthaler stood for everything we are working to promote, so this makes it the perfect place to host Human Rights Day.”

The celebration centers around the Human Rights awards.  Last year, awardees in the category for Lifetime Achievement were Father Joseph Breen, formerly of St. Edward Church who is known widely for his work to strike down the 2009 “English Only” proposition in Nashville; and First Baptist Church Capitol Hill which has long served as a beacon for the civil rights movement.

Rising Advocate awards were given to individuals who are relatively new to the field of human rights and show great promise for the future.  They went to Eben Cathey with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and Daynise Joseph, formerly with Organized Neighbors of Edgehill. Outstanding Service awards were bestowed upon Yuri Cunza with the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Avi Poster who has championed immigrant rights, among others, for years.

To learn more about the event or how to get involved, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.