"Eye of the Storm" CD RELEASE PARTY From Oakland to New Orleans: Art, Music and

"Eye of the Storm" will bring together a host of extraordinary artists of conscience from across the Bay Area to celebrate the release of a new recording honoring survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The CD, which features stories of survival from family members, is a gift of love from local poets and musicians to our brothers and sisters of the Gulf Coast.

"Eye of the Storm" features 20 original works by slam-winning Hip Hop poets, gospel and soul singers and nationally-renowned musicians, including Michael Franti, Poet Laureate, devorah major, Aya de Leon, Shailja Patel, Eric McFadden, Alphabet Soup (who got back together for this project), Mike Molina, Vukani Mawathu, Freedom Choir, Glide Church's Vernon Bush, Renee Wilson (from the movie, Ray), Youth Speaks poets, Soulography, and more. This CD will serve as a legacy document, and take its place in our cultural history during one of the most illuminating travesties of our times.

This historic event will aslo feature visual art works and poets speaking out against police brutality, and the recent killing of Oakland resident Patrick Gaston. Featured visual/performing artists: Ariel Sheppard, Robert Trujillo, Siri Margerin, Borish, Michael Rauner, Colored Inc., The Usual Suspects/The Ghetto Prophet and more. As the discrimination against poor communities and communities of color in this country continues, we attempt to break the silence and convey a message that the path to peaceful streets and true community safety is not more prisons and police, but ecologically sound and nondiscriminatory economic development.

"Eye of the Storm" is a collaboration of Ella Baker Center's programs, Bay Area PoliceWatch (BAPW) and Reclaim the Future (RTF), connecting the neglect of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans to police brutality in Oakland with the power of Bay Area artists' message of fierce love and deep compassion. ALL PROCEEDS TO DIRECTLY AID FAMILIES AND GRASSROOTS-PEOPLE'S EFFORTS TO REBUILD THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE FAMILY OF PATRICK GASTON.

Cost: $5 before 7pm, $10 after 7pm