One Housing Group organise concert to unite young people and raise awareness of knife and gun crime » Communities » 24dash.com

Press Release: 11 August 2008

The One Mic, One Voice concert will be held on Tuesday 12 August from 7pm at the Shaw Theatre in Euston Road and will feature up and coming young artists, including rapper DJ Ironik. The event will bring together young people from all youth clubs and youth orientated organisations and projects in the Camden area for the first time, in the aim of breaking down the rivalry and territorialism that exists between groups.

Promoted by youth clubs and organisations across the borough, One Mic, One Voice also aims to raise awareness of the increasing issue of gun and knife crime in the borough. Kamilah McCalman, Youth Development Officer at One Housing Group, was inspired to organise the concert following the recent killings of Elliott Guy and Sharmaarke Hassan in the Camden area. Kamilahs works predominantly in four areas of Camden, including Gilbeys Yard, where 17-year old Sharmaarke Hassan was killed two months ago.

Following tomorrows concert, One Housing Group, in partnership with Castlehaven Youth Project, plan to set up an anti-violence forum, with representatives from each of Camdens youth clubs, who would meet monthly to discuss and develop strategies to tackle the issue of knife and gun crime. The forum will help young people who have been stereotyped by their peers by empowering them and deterring them from this kind of negative activity.

Talking about tomorrows concert, Kamilah said: Young people seem to have become very nonchalant about gun and knife crime and other youngsters dying. We hope tomorrows One Mic, One Voice concert will help to unite young people in Camden, breaking down the barriers and territorialism between different groups through dance, music and poetry.

Changing young peoples attitudes is key to combating increasing levels of gun and knife crime and developing strategies for long term change.

For more information visit: www.onehousinggroup.co.uk