(June 29, 2009) San Francisco, CA -- On Saturday, July 18th, the urban green movement takes a conscious step forward into the future with Grind for the Green's Eco-Music conference. This kick-off event for YouthFest 2009, held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at SF State's Downtown campus, is designed to help urban youth in the bay area connect with education, resources and information to begin viable careers while spreading green consciousness. Activities will include interactive climate change and green jobs training workshops, live performance workshops, and a talk by SF State Professor and entertainment business consultant Gian Fiero. In addition, the entire event will be powered entirely by pedal power, courtesy of Rock the Bike.
As G4G co-Founder Ambessa Cantave explains, "The goal of the Eco-Music Conference is to empower the next generation of youth leaders. By including education alongside music alongside green jobs training, urban youth will be directed toward an eco-sustainable life path which will allow them to set their own environmental, educational, musical and cultural agenda for the future."
Since launching in 2008, G4G has furthered its mission of combining youth development with hip-hop culture and the green movement through innovative, multifaceted and multicultural events, workshops, and conferences—not only targeted at today's urban youth, but organized and promoted by the youth themselves. Past G4G events have included the first-ever solar-powered hip-hop concert in 2008, and this year's Youth Unity Eco-Fest on June 6th. Upcoming events include a hip-hop competition and beat battle judged by conscious hip-hop icon Talib Kweli and Vegan soul food chef and author Bryant Terry on August 14th and 15th, culminating in G4G's second annual solar-powered concert on August 30th at Yerba Buena Gardens.
As G4G co-Founder Zakiya Harris says, "We are committed to helping youth empower themselves by emphasizing and embracing the positive aspects of hip-hop. We are equally committed to advancing green concepts such as sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint throughout the urban community. We truly believe that combining hip-hop culture with the green movement is the best way to reach our young folks and teach them how to spread the word about going green."
