Our launch party – June 21st 2014

On 21 June the wonderful Conway Hall was host to our launch – a night of song, dance, poetry, film and speeches celebrating movements for social justice – compered by our Chairman Mark Hutchinson.  There was a  full house and teams of dedicated volunteers prepared delicious food and drink, all donated. The launch was made possible by our funders and the hard work of 40 volunteers and 45 performers. Many in the audience have given to our crowd funding campaign – thank you!

We were delighted to be joined by Alvin Hall whose brilliant programmes about civil rights and African American music – its sounds and politics – inspire and inform us. Speakers included Leyla Hussein, co-founder of Daughters of Eve and campaigner against gender based violence; Sir Geoffrey Bindman  – human rights lawyer and JtoJ steering group member and Brandon Palmer, remembering Bayard Rustin – the phenomenal organiser of the US civil rights movement. Mary Spyrou read Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise and performances included the David Idowu Choir (formed in memory of David, who was a 15 year old victim of knife crime); Tayo Aluko (Call Mr Robeson); Streetz Ahead; UCLU Vocals; Zena Edwards, poet and singer; Jo Clarke singing Nina Simone; Wayne Marshall singing civil rights anthems and Dareece James reading her powerful poem, Who Are We? Who Are They? and Exposure premiered Revolution 2.0 their stunning re-make of Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The evening ended with a tribute to Pete Seeger introduced by Dave Rosenberg of East End Walks and all performers back on stage singing If I Had A Hammer and We Shall Overcome after we cut a magnificent launch cake made by Trisha Kelly under the banner she made. You can see the full evening’s programme here.

We promoted Journey to Justice’s first project: a travelling exhibition about the US civil rights movement and its impact which will tour UK communities starting in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield. As it tours, the exhibition will connect with local UK histories of campaigns for change.  June 21st was the 50th anniversary of the murder of civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman in Mississippi and the launch was dedicated in part to their memory.

Photography courtesy of Aziz Rahman

The feedback has been overwhelming. Here’s a taste of it:

Warmest congratulations and admiration to everyone who was involved on Saturday: what a rich, thought provoking, warm, combative, exciting evening with a real sense both of a community developing and a willingness to struggle. So many wonderful elements to the evening, so varied yet complementary the contributions. The gloriously eclectic and delicious spread of food mirrored the wide ranging glories on stage, too. We’ve so much to do ahead of us that the launch needed to inspire and invigorate us as well as announcing us to the world and bringing in an ever wider network. It did its job so well.

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It was a fabulous evening. The performers were brilliant and delicious food and wine.  I really loved it and was extremely impressed by the fantastic organisation and Mark’s excellent  presentation.

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I had the most brilliant evening; you gathered the most amazing crowd and all of the acts were great. The room was a-buzz and there was a palpable sense of love and excitement in the air. We were both in tears listening to the David Idowu Choir and it made us think about how we should stand up for our rights at work more too.

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The evening was fantastic on so many levels. The message came through so clearly and strongly with every act and the huge variety of performers  all had such terrific energy and infectious enthusiasm.

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What a way to start! Thank you for an inspiring evening – an incredible expression of support and goodwill for an enterprise that surely touches a lot of hearts and minds.  Leyla Hussein’s mission to right one of the most insidious and unbelievably widespread assaults on women is so courageous. Oh, and the food and drink was so delicious and ample….

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It was a wonderful night, it uplifted me and I really needed it.

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A special night…Splendid….FANTASTIC!!….Cracking!

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I was very impressed by the large attendance and the support JtoJ has rallied for a really valuable project. I was thrilled to have been involved.

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The evening is impressed upon our minds. It was a wonderful spread that fed the senses.

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The atmosphere was wonderful, the audience ecstatic and the events electric.

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Superb speeches…All so well executed…Seriously impressive, would love to see how your projects progress.

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Everything was on point, loved the show it was fantastic, loved the way the show started with A Change Is Gonna Come.

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Brilliant show, would love to get involved with you guys.

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Couldn’t stop thinking about the show all the way home.

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More than worth the £10.00 you guys charged!

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You’ve come a hell of a long way in a year!

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Volunteers said they enjoyed a sense of belonging to the JtoJ community, guests emailed to say the show led to discussions on the way home about social change and the lack of diversity in their neighbourhood or friendship groups and why on earth there are 50 million refugees in 2014.

The journey has begun……