GRATITUDE

All -

I just want to thank all of those who attended, lended talent to, and volunteered for the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project's benefit concert last Saturday afternoon at Busboys and Poets.

We had such an incredible turnout - we packed the house with standing room only. Our performers blew the
roof off with their skill, talent, sincerity and beauty. Thank you Samaa, Laila, Fadi, Naudy, Deb, Treasure, Michelle, Cherie, Alan, Luci, Sage, Princess and Triflava, and all the women both young and old who drummed with the Intergenerational Women's Drum Choir.

Thank you to the PRINCESS OF CONTROVERSY for being our impeccable host!

Thank you to our volunteers - John, Jess, Jeff, Ilana, Margaret, Kevin, Mo, and Henry for stepping up to the plate
again and again when we needed you.

Thanks to our artists and businesses who so graciously donated their work and wares to our wonderfully successful auction
and raffle.

Thanks to the YWDEP interns and staff who's hard work and organizing skills made this fundraiser possible: Alexandra,
Julie, Dre, Dena and Indra.

Thanks to our documentarians - ken and rick - for lending your great skills to the recording of this event, and to Askia
Mohommad, for allowing us to broadcast our event on WPFW, and to Luci Murphy who arranged that broadcast for us.

Thanks to Deborah McKinney and INCITE for gracing the stage with purpose and framing the issue so beautifully and being
there to support us - also Amoretta Morris, Eshauna Smith and Johonna McCants - all of you have been such a great
help - thank you.

Thank you to all of our audience members who participated so wholeheartedly in our efforts to embrace a young women who was wronged in our community.

Finally I want to thank Andy Shallal and busboys and poets for making the space available to us for this and other events,
for donating the food, and for giving us such great support in all we do.

-we exceeded our goals and were able to raise enough money to help our she poet settle a host of unpaid expenses which will allow her and her family to get back on track, and which will also allow her to return to her studies at Prince George's Community College in the fall, where she is an honor student-

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Our community is an absolute blessing.

Peace and Gratitude,
Kristen and the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org