MHS Jam for Sudan Nets Donations and Awareness for Darfur

by Evan Wallach; photographs by Fred Levine

(February 15, 2005) “If you want to make this move, you have to make more noise!” shouted the program for the ‘Jam for Sudan’ held at Mamaroneck High School on February 12.The “Jam” was a charity concert organized by MHS Students Take Action Now: Darfur (STAND) that was seeking to raise awareness and money to counter the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. The concert featured 12 bands, ranging from solo acoustic folk-guitar acts to psychedelic funk rock quartets. Hundreds came out for the Friday night affair not only for the music, but also in support of the effort to stop the killing of Sudanese civilians in Darfur.

STAND organized the event over a period of several months. “We are the first high school in America to really organize an event of this magnitude, and I don’t think anyone here could have asked for a better turn out,” said Kathleen Carroll, a co-organizer and STAND leader.

Co-organizer Amy Bisno added, "I hope that students will use this event and what they learned about genocide here in school to take action--it's the only way to make a difference in the world."

Among the student bands were popular high school favorites, such as The Wastebasket Brothers and Oblio, and new bands, such as Famous Amos and The Late Johnson Administration, who were there to raise awareness for the situation in Darfur and to introduce themselves into the MHS band circuit. “I mean, playing a gig is always a lot of fun, but the reason my band really signed on to play here is because we really get the chance to help people and promote awareness of the horrible events that are going on in Darfur right now,” said Charlie Kaplan, co-founder and bassist of The Late Johnson Administration.

The bands and the audience made "more noise" to raise awarness and funds for Darfur. Organizers (center picture) were Kathleen Carrol (l) and Amy Bisno.

Participants and organizers called the event a tremendous success. Not only did the Jam for Sudan raise $2,663, which will go to the Genocide Intervention Fund and to the Darfur Peace and Development Fund, but the event pulled together students and adults from all over the school. “It was a fundraiser, a social event, and a musical occasion all rolled into one!” exclaimed Blythe Hamer, student advisor and key event organizer.

by Evan Wallach is a student at Mamaroneck High School

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