July 9 concert in East Moline for the benefit of a new solidarity effort to end sexual violence

Friday July 9^e from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Whiskey Stop (726 15^e Ave., East Moline), local bands and artists will take the stage to raise money for Family Resources to support victims of sexual violence in the Quad-Cities.

A new collaboration between River Music Experience, WVIK, Family Resources and the Whiskey Stop will host live music with performances by Murnau, Ross Clowser Trio, Mirabilia, Yung Flvy, BN WhoIam (with Crealot and K1ng Supr3m3) and Alyx Rush.

“This is a partnership that will help create a community vision where we are all able to thrive in mutual respect, protection and care within our region,” said Moselle Singh, coordinator of Solidarity Collaboration. “Everyone deserves to enjoy safe music, and it’s up to us as a community to ensure that such spaces exist. We can start by standing together against sexual violence and supporting survivor services in our community.

BN WhoIAm will perform on Friday at 8 p.m. for the benefit of Solidarity.

“We have come together because there are cases of sexual violence happening in the creative spheres, and we have collectively decided to speak out more as a community about this, rather than continue to sweep it under the hood. rugs, “Singh a college alumnus and local illustrator / artist said Monday.

“Just to become more proactive in creating safe spaces that provide protection and care for each other. There are people within the creative community who recognize that this is an issue that has yet to be openly discussed and proactively resolved. “

The coalition offered training on July 1 at the River Music Experience in downtown Davenport on the issue, to raise awareness in the music community about sexual violence.

“People don’t take it seriously yet and a lot of people end up being exploited in these situations and it’s just a huge problem,” Singh said, noting that they were offering training through the Freedom Forum Institute. This is a workplace integrity training program that addresses discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence in the workplace.

Moselle Singh, a Quebec artist, is the organizer of the July 9 fundraising event.

“Maybe we can catalyze the conversation a bit more, see where we’re gaining ground, possibly create a training program that can be translated into the QC music realm,” she said. “So the people who own concert halls, the people who work in these concert halls have active spectator training for cases of sexual violence and sexual harassment. We don’t do this anywhere in the Quad-Cities yet, and that’s a huge disservice.

The training aimed to raise awareness that this is an urgent problem and not limited to the workplace.

“It’s a great place to start,” Singh said. “So these organizations should first talk about it in their own workplace. But then how do we translate to the community itself? My goal in bringing everyone together in the same room is to be able to potentially catalyze more conversation, more skill building, more opportunities for active change within the community. The idea is to take that from conversation to action. The fundraiser will show that there are people who take this seriously and ask for action, she noted.

“RME will be offering the training program again, and we’ll be working with Family Resources to make it available again, and see if we can get more people to come forward for them, to take this seriously, because it needs to be taken seriously. ”Singh said.

“It’s not just a Quad-Cities problem. It’s like a problem everywhere, but Quad-Cities can be a leader in tackling this problem head-on. And I think that’s a great opportunity that we could look at to make it a safe community for everyone to enjoy music. In addition to supporting services for survivors, the group’s main goal is to prevent violence and predatory behavior.

Several people participated in a three-hour training on July 1 at RME of the new Collaboration Solidaire.

“Fundraising obviously goes to survivor services, this is something that happens after a horrific incident, which is unfortunate, but it is extremely important to make sure that these resources are properly funded and available to people.” , Singh said.

“So not only do I use Family Resources, but you have the victims of the initial incident – I linked them directly to Family Resources and they used the free therapy there. They are phenomenal in this community. So be sure to fundraise for them to make sure this continues.

“Preventive measures – it means raising awareness that people are functioning in a conscious way, when we cultivate these spaces, places where these conversations take place,” she said.

“Practicing confrontation, constructive confrontation, practicing active spectator training – this should be commonplace. Whenever there are also these big festivals. Whatever is going on downtown, there should be a tent that’s literally for active spectator training, and people there to patrol, to walk around being careful, because things are happening.

“And often people don’t know where to go,” Singh said. “We were also discussing this training program, if we push in that direction, the owners of concert halls who take this training and properly train their staff, they can have some kind of indicator that their staff are trained in active training. spectators, in sexual harassment and violence and that they can go there in all safety. They will help you if you need protection, if you need help. It’s really important.

The poster for a musical fundraiser on July 9 at Whiskey Stop, 726 15th Ave., East Moline.

“Solidarity: Coming Together to Support Survivor Services” is a five-hour benefit at the Whiskey Stop, East Moline, Friday.

Admission to the Friday event requires proof of donation (electronic or printed receipt) at https://gofund.me/4d9c39ec. They have a fundraising goal of $ 5,000 and $ 1,680 was raised Monday afternoon. On Friday at Whiskey Stop there will be two stages; food and drink will be available for purchase. The artists’ program is as follows:

• Murnau – 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. (outside)
• Ross Clowser Trio – 5: 45-6: 30 (inside)
• Miribilia – 6.30-7.15 a.m. (outside)
• Yung Flvy – 7:15 am – 8:00 am (inside)
• BN WhoIAm – 8: 00-8: 45 (outside)
• Announcement – 8:45 am to 9:00 am (inside)
• Alyx Rush – 9: 00-9: 45am (outdoor)

Yung Flvy will perform at 7:15 p.m. during the Friday event.

After the event (“Solidarity: Uniting our Efforts to Support Survivor Services”), the GoFundMe page will remain open until July 16 and all funds raised will be donated to the Family Resources online campaign, reaching 10,000 $.

Jonathan Turner has covered the Quad-Cities art scene for 25 years, first as a reporter for the Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, then as a reporter for the Quad City Times. Jonathan is also an accomplished actor and musician who has often been seen on local theater stages including the Bucktown Revue and the Black Box Theater.