Belmont Youth Band performs at Movement for Change rally

 

Vivian Lamont, who heads up the Belmont Youth Band, will be one of the wonderful women who will be honored with an "Unsung Women in Our Community" award on March 29. Details:

Women's History Month Celebration and Recognition Dinner
"Our History Is Our Strength"
Guest Speaker:  Attorney Alisha McDonald

Tuesday, March 29, 2011  6:30pm
Pensacola Improv Event Center, 375 North Pace Blvd., Pensacola Florida 32501
Sponsored by:  Christian Women Interdenominational Ministries, Epps Christian Center, Inc. and Ecomfort, Inc
Donation:  $10.00 plus One CanFood or Perishable item for the Alan Feinstein Million Dollar Anti-Hunger Campaign.
For Reservations, call 572-5761 or email
Great Women that are impacting our Community will be recognized.  

People take a minute out for lunch served at the Movement for Change rally against violence Saturday afternoon at the Gonzalez Court Apartments on 9th Avenue.

(Looks like Vivian Lamont adding relish to her lunch plate.) Photo by Bruce Graner/PNJ

By Troy Moon
Pensacola News Journal
3/21/2011

Rasheed Dickens stared quietly down at his hands as they moved across the guitar, coaxing a lulling, quiet melody from the instrument he only picked up two years ago.

It was his own composition, one he wrote just hours earlier, and he called it "Absolute Peace.'' It was a perfect title for a performance meant to promote peace and nonviolence.

"In my mind, it's egos stepping on one another that's the major reason for the violence in society,'' the 15-year-old said after his performance at the Movement For Change Rally For Non-Violence on Saturday at Gonzalez Court off Ninth Avenue in Pensacola. "We need to find other outlets.''

Movement for Change, a local civil rights organization, held the all-day rally to urge the neighborhood and the entire Pensacola community to help steer youngsters away from violent activities. Speakers preached about the need for education and training. Police officers urged neighbors to help law enforcement drive criminal and violent elements from neighborhoods. Youth organization leaders tried to show there are positive activities for them in the community that will make them less susceptible to the negative.

Children from the Belmont Youth Band played "Amazing Grace'' on violin and guitar in the Gonzalez Court courtyard, while residents sat on plastic chairs in front of their homes listening as the melody floated through the neighborhood.

"See, things like this are good because the children see that there are adults and organizations that care for them and are looking out for them,'' said Jacqueline Jefferson, president of the Gonzalez Court Tenants Association. "I feel sorry because a lot of children don't have guidance at home. So we're fortunate that groups like Movement for Change are trying to keep them on the right path.''

Grant Spencer, left, holds sheet music for Adam Perez who plays his violin as part of the entertainment the Movement for Change rally against violence event held Saturday at the Gonzalez Court Apartments. Photo by Bruce Graner/PNJ

Grant Spencer holds the sheet music for Kiplin Smith, 9, while Adam Perez handles the microphone for Kiplin as she performs as part of the entertainment at the Movement for Change rally against violence Saturday afternoon at the Gonzalez Court Apartments. Photo by Bruce Graner/PNJ

(l-r)  Members of the Belmont Youth Band, Dutch Allen, 13, Sara Perry, 10, and Grant Spencer, 16, prepare to perform "Amazing Grace" as part of the entertainment at the Movement for Change rally against violence held Saturday at the Gonzalez Court Apartments. Photo by Bruce Graner/PNJ

Audience members attending the Movement for Change rally against violence listen to members of the Belmont Youth Band perform at the gathering Saturday afternoon at the Gonzalez Court Apartments. Photo by Bruce Graner/PNJ