Boggs Media, LLC, Teams Up with My Brother's Keeper Alliance and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Former Starbucks lawyer-turned-musician Paula Boggs helps young people access opportunity and continues civil rights work

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 9, 2015 -- Boggs Media, LLC, and Paula Boggs Band are thrilled to announce their involvement with My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which unites leaders across philanthropic, nonprofit, and private sectors to improve life outcomes of boys and men of color; as well as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the country's first and foremost civil rights firm.

 

My Brother's Keeper Alliance helps  men and boys of color to bridge the gap between opportunities and outcomes. The alliance wholeheartedly believes in the American Dream, and that everyone should have access to it. Their commitment to sustainable, long-term, and effective engagement rests on four key missions: catalyzing place-based change to help spark localized change and spread impactful practices throughout the country; creating aligned action to unite cross-sector actors around a common agenda for boys and young men of color with measurable targets; generating commitments to spur new capital and engage the private sector to deliver impactful talent policies; and scaling "what works" to identify and scale innovative solutions and promote evidence-based best practices.

 

"The issues that disconnected youth face are extensive and the solutions are complex. When artists like Paula Boggs Band and J. Pinder , businesses, community organizations and activists partner with the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, we can leverage our combined resources to address these challenges," said Marisa Lee, managing director for the My Brother's Keeper Alliance. "Through the efforts of My Brother's Keeper Alliance and others who are tackling these opportunity gaps, we can ensure that the American Dream is increasingly within reach for future generations."

 

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the legal arm of the civil rights movement, has a long-standing tradition of legal advocacy. LDF has helped establish the foundation for the rights all Americans enjoy. LDF still works tirelessly to fight for full racial equality for all Americans and helps ensure previous victories are upheld.

 

"The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is honored to be associated with 'Look Straight Ahead' by Paula Boggs Band, artists whose work speaks into a moment of urgency with depth and inspiration, said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel. "Only by speaking truth can we instigate the structural changes necessary to eliminate racial bias in our criminal justice system and connect all young people to ladders of opportunity."

 

In 2016, My Brother's Keeper Alliance, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and Boggs Media will join community activists, business leaders, and political figures in forums around the country, starting in Seattle. These forums will address the issues affecting boys and young men of color.

 

"I believe artists need to speak out and I wholeheartedly believe in equipping young people with  skills they need to be successful in life. My Brother's Keeper Alliance provides access to positive influences , like mentors, and programs that prepare youth to work hard and prosper, ensuring young people of all backgrounds have access to the middle class," Boggs Media CEO Paula Boggs, said. "Legal work will always have a special place in my heart; the Legal Defense Fund has a long history of setting civil rights law precedent. Anything I or Paula Boggs Band can do to further their work is a blessing."

 

Paula Boggs Band recently released their new video and single , "Look Straight Ahead," a remixed version of the song from album Carnival of Miracles, with Seattle and LA-based rapper, J. Pinder. The song and video chronicle challenges faced by young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and encourage all young people to look forward to the future.

 

"Remixing 'Look Straight Ahead' challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone as an artist and also challenged others to step outside of theirs as listeners," J. Pinder said. "It was an exciting and fun process. Paula is one of the more extraordinary humans that the world has to offer and she stands for many things. I'm humbled and honored to stand next to her on the L.S.A. remix."

 

In 2016 Paula Boggs Band, J. Pinder, and artists to be named will play a special benefit concert in Seattle. Proceeds will go to My Brother's Keeper Alliance and LDF.

 

The "Look Straight Ahead" video can be seen here.

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