Saturday December 12th was the date for the “Elevate Genius” fundraising event held at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, but the purpose of the event is on-going throughout 2016 for non-profit Kind-Hearted Compassion in Action. The organization is dedicated to supporting artists, musicians, and activists from adverse circumstances,helping them to share their works, “in order to create positive and uplifting social change,” according to organization co-founder and Orange County attorney Pamela Tahim.
Pamela Tahim, center
Tahim‘s brother, Jesse Tahim, a musician and lyricist, started this project, a movement to make mainstream hip-hop music more socially conscious. Jesse Tahim asked for his sister’s help to start the program, but passed away before his dream could be realized. Pamela Tahim, along with psychologist Dr. Sonia Singh, went on to found this organization, which offers mentoring, funding, and partnering for artists.
Pamela Tahim explains “Our goal is to spread peace and compassion through music and the arts, through the words musicians select, or the type of art displayed. At our December event, headliner Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, keynote speaker and music manager Steve Lobel, and other speakers from Southern California all echoed the importance of empowering those who use art and music to spread these messages.”
Along with a wide variety of musical performers and additional speakers including FOX 11’s Christine Devine, an art exhibition was an integral part of the evening, depicting homeless or marginalized individuals who have lost their lives.These powerful portraits underscored the importance of spreading the positive to prevent brutality, abuse, and corruption. Words, music, and images – all vitally important ways to change negative events both politically and personally, according to the tenets of Kind Hearted Compassion in Action.
With over 500 attendees, funds raised from the event will be used for artist and musician grant recipients and for future programs. For more information on this program and its efforts to empower at risk artists, visit www.kindheartedcompassion.org
- Genie Davis; Photos: Provided by Dea Shandera Hunter