THE URBAN MUSIC AWARDS LAUNCHES 'STAMP OUT VIOLENCE' CAMPAIGN!!
MP Simon Wooley, George Galloway, artists DJ Luck , MC Neat, Q, and more are amongst the many attending the filming and launch of the 'Stamp out Violence' iniative being launched by Founder of the Urban Music Awards, Jordan Kensington. He said "My sincere apologies go out to the victims of such an insensitive crime and the guests who were having such a brilliant time before this incident took place. I want to re-assure all UMA fans and supporters that our organization is about promoting success and achievement. We strongly stand against violence, and are appalled that the O2 didn't properly handle the security of such a high profile event because of their boxing match priorities, there by letting uninvited guests into the venue to commit such a distasteful incident". He continued; "Although, the blame is 100% on the O2's security for letting uninvited guest in, we at the UMA want to take this opportunity to bring to light some solutions and opportunities against a long standing problem facing our community".
The Stamp Out Violence campaign will be launched on the 21st of November 2008 by Invincible Media Group's charitable arm 'The UMA Academy'. At the heart of the UMA Academy is a series of practical programmes which aim to change attitudes and educate people about the dangers of carrying knives and give young people worthwhile opportunities, so rather than joining a gang, join a business with you owning a percentage of the profits, Invincible radio station will also provide slots and training opportunities for young people, we are also launching our innercity projects, holding 'open air seminars' in deprived council estates, and neighborhoods with speeches from the re-formed making a connection to these young people who feel inspired by people who they recognize as coming from the same struggle.
The UMA Academy will also launch hand in hand with the local councils from South, North, East, and West London to commence at discussing and putting in place solutions to some of the issues that have led to a current postcode war rivalry and anger amongst young people that clearly exists but clearly ignored.
With an e-mail database of 1.2 million e-mail addresses, it is clear that the UMA's UK team will be spreading across the UK. During the early part of 2009, we will be launching a tour with the winner of Britain's Next Urban Superstar, C.E.O of the Urban Music Awards, Jordan Kensington and more celebrities to go across 10 cities including Manchester, Birmingham, London, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol, Wales, and Liverpool. We would launch a series of events, visit series of prisons, with the aim of signing young people (within the ages of 13 to 34) up into an iniative by pairing them with a local mentor who will follow through their iniatives, projects providing them help and guidance throughout the journey of the campaign. The most successful 10 from the 10 cities to have created the most biggest change within their community, would receive a UMA Academy grant worth £10,000 at the 7th annual Urban Music Awards invest and continue their initiative and projects .
This incentive will roll out throughout the country and will take place annually. The UMA's and Invincible Media Group, Marketing Manager, Chris Mitchell added "We have been pretty successful internationally in all our projects and we believe this is the perfect opportunity to stand out and be counted, some people talk about creating a difference, we have created a difference since 2000 and we feel that with a brand so strong as the UMA's and with the current publicity surrounding recent events. It is perfect timing to concentrate on the solutions to a problem largely ignored by many".
The recent incident at the UMA's at the O2 brings to light something that has remained ignored by the media, government, and authorities who should concentrate on preventative and solution based iniatives rather than the aftermath. When crime is glorified and reported in a glamorous way in newspapers, radio and TV it serves the fuel needed by perpetrators to keep committing the crime. However, we await to see whether projects like Stamp Out Violence, get the same amount of coverage. The public want to know about the who? The when? The where? But not forgetting the How?? How do we stamp out the violence?
The answer lies in all of us; you can sign up to the UMA academy and become a mentor for one of our youth based projects. All we need is 2 days of your time each week to potential save a life and create a big difference!!
For More info on the Stamp Out Violence campaign/ Join the UMA Academy/ or to cover the press conference on Friday.
Please, e-mail: academy@urbanmusicawards.net