Art, Education and Community: Code Poetry 2010

Sometimes inspiration and motivation comes from unlikely places. For years, I have been inspired by the creativity and leadership of many of my closest friends. Many of them are quite proactive and when they identify a need in the community, they create unique ways to fulfill that need.

Four years ago, my friends Haneefa Wawda and Nathan Richardson began a community project called Code. The idea actually came about quite naturally as they began to realize that they had so many artistically inclined friends. The problem was there were hardly any venues in Southern California that specifically provided a creative space for Muslim artists. Code was born in a tiny coffee shop crammed to the brim with friends and friends of friends. Code annually showcases a variety of Muslim artists – poets, writers, painters, singers, and musicians – with a particular theme or focus to raise awareness of community issues.

The next year, the organizers decided to bring a new dimension to Code. Again they saw the potential of the event and capitalized on its ability to create impact in our community. They began to work with charitable community organizations so that proceeds from the event would be donated to a particular cause. Last year, during one of the most horrific occurrences in Palestine, Code partnered up with Kinder USA to provide more than $2000 in relief aid to the Gaza Strip. The event was held at the IMAN Cultural Center and Code attendance went from 30 to almost 300 in two years. Artists such as Omar Offendum, Manifest One and ProdaGz brought an electric energy to the night as they filled our minds with their thought provoking poems. Other artists such as Elephants with Guns, and Silk Road filled the night with eclectic musical sounds. And of course, various community members brought their best game to the mic as they read from their personal journals and poured their hearts out. Other community organizations were highlighted as well. Gaza Surf Relief presented a small clip about their efforts in providing surf gear for the youth in Palestine. Trey Q, a local apparel designer donated several designer t-shirts for door prizes. On a visual level, painters and medium artists displayed their work around the cultural center. There was a little something for everyone and best of all, the proceeds from the event benefitted members of our community in another region of the world.

This year, Code will be focusing on the idea that “Knowledge is Power.” There is no doubt that education is one of the most effective tools in breaking the cycle of poverty. Education provides a level of empowerment and self sufficiency as well as more opportunities. Another difference this year is that Code will be working closely with Vittana. Vittana follows a similar microfinance model as Kiva. However, Vittana uses the micro lending model to create low interest college loans for students in countries where college loans are nonexistent.

Vittana is by far one of my favorites organization – and not just because I am a teacher. 🙂 My life and my family’s life has been transformed through the power of education. My parents came to the United States with four kids and two standard suitcases total. Not two suitcases each. Two suitcases between the six of us. We lived with my aunt and uncle’s family for months before we could afford a used car and a small two bedroom apartment. My parents had one bedroom and the five children shared one room. My father worked small minimum wage jobs without any health or dental benefits and scraped together rent for each month. Eventually my mom also had to go back to work after she had my youngest brother. Somehow these two amazing individuals put all of us through school. All of us completed a college education or certification. Three of the five of us have completed a Master’s degree. I have no idea how my parents instilled the value of education so deeply within all of us. What I do know is that I saw each of our lives change as we progressed further in our schooling. Our standard of living improved on several levels and I credit our education…and my parents. This is one of the millions of reasons I chose to become a teacher in the South Los Angeles area. It is the reason why I support Code and Vittana.

If you are in the Los Angeles area on July 17th, come by Xai Verandah Lounge and support art, education and community. Everyone is welcome! Book your tickets early (before July 17th) so you can save $5 on the admission price – $15 online and $20 at the door. Because the event is on Sunset Blvd. on a Saturday night parking is always a pain… so we have included the price of valet parking into each ticket…so you don’t have to worry! So really, you are paying $15 for parking, admission and some food…quite a deal in LA if you ask me. The ticket price also includes appetizers and refreshments, compliments of Nadia Fakih, owner of the Xai Lounge. Nadia is so amazing she has also offered to donate a percentage of what you spend on other items on the menu to Vittana! Talk about community collaboration 🙂