THREE YOUNG DC ARTISTS RELEASE MUSIC VIDEOS TO PROMOTE PEACE IN THE DISTRICT; BLOCK PARTY PLANNED TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
“Peace & Positivity” peace anthem created with support from One Common Unity
WASHINGTON (July 10, 2019) — Three young artists from D.C. are releasing a new song and music video to raise awareness about gun violence in District communities. The release of the single will coincide with a block party to unite the community towards a peaceful solution.
Local hip-hop artists Dougie D, 20, and Nfinity Zhy, 20, along with local poet Isaiah King, 20, are releasing a new single called “Peace & Positivity.” The summer peace anthem is being released by One Common Unity (OCU), a DC-based non-profit organization that aims to break cycles of violence through the arts and peace education. The music video was produced with support from the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
This weekend, the Peace and Positivity block party will be held Saturday, July 13 at 1101 V Street SE from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees can RSVP here. The block party will feature performances from DJ Underdog, Grammy nominee Maimouna Youssef, Go-go band TOD, and Fly By Light.
The song’s artists, Dougie D, Nfinity Zhy, and Isaiah King provide a youth perspective on issues they face in the community with powerful lyrics. The artists are all alumni of OCU’s Fly By Light program, which teaches social-emotional literacy, restorative justice, and non-violence practices through music and art. In “Peace & Positivity,” they express their aspirations for safety and well-being.
“The song captures my personal experience of being a native Washingtonian, witnessing and experiencing gang violence and ‘neighborhood beefs’ just outside of my doorstep,” said Nfinity Zhy.
“Youth in D.C. go through a lot and find various ways to cope, like listening to music,” said Dougie D. “But a lot of music nowadays just talks about violence, downgrading females, substance abuse, having name brand products and having the most money. I created ‘Peace & Positivity’ to provide a brighter perspective.”
“The policing can only go so far. It’s not truly an answer. If you’re to directly confront that issue, you have to get down to what traumatizes the youth and makes them react the way they do.,” said King.
The song and music video release will culminate in a block party to bring together neighbors, local community-based organizations, and youth to welcome summer in D.C. in a positive way. As the city enters warm-weather months, when violent crimes tend to rise, OCU aims to use the song and the block party to promote the arts as a creative solution to transform violence in the community.
The single will be available to stream on all major music platforms and the video will be available to view through www.OneCommonUnity.org and OCU’s YouTube channel, beginning July 10.
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About One Common Unity
Since 2000, One Common Unity has worked to shift the paradigm of violence in society. Through Fly By Light (FBL), its flagship initiative, OCU brings together educators, artists, musicians, and community leaders to amplify youth voices to lead a community-wide shift away from violence and poverty. Youth emerge from FBL as more active and engaged community members, empowered to create a positive impact in their own lives and throughout their communities.
