The Danieley Center Neighborhood Association cordially invites the Elon Community to attend a special event next week called Freedom Sings—a concert and free expression event planned for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 in the PARC in the Danieley Center. This event is open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.

DESCRIPTION: 

Freedom Sings is the entertaining, engaging and inspiring story of free speech in America told through rock, pop, hip-hop and country music. An all-star cast of musicians revisits turning points in contemporary history and the popular and sometimes provocative songs they inspired. Multimedia and a riveting narration make this a singular entertainment experience. Accompanied with seven professional, Grammy Award-winning and -nominated musicians from Nashville, Freedom Sings is narrated and led by Ken Paulson, the dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University and the president of the First Amendment Center.

The show illustrates why First Amendment protections are important and how free speech plays a part in the political process. When you hear a song that’s been banned in the past because of its ideas or themes, you learn the power of music and the power of words. In this important presidential election season, it’s a good idea to reinforce why speech be protected. The content of the concert and narration—free speech and free expression—is applicable to students from all academic areas and disciplines.

MEDIA:

Here’s a quick 2-minute clip about the experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNm5ZG52Jtc. And here’s the Freedom Sings website: http://mtpress.mtsu.edu/freedomsings/. I also compiled a YouTube playlist of some of the songs the group has performed in the past. The list is a sampling. They may play some of these, as well as others not included here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZe7_RUb739W0cBz2CdTlBs5SAsdaz_El.

SPONSORS:

Freedom Sings is sponsored by the Danieley Center Neighborhood with support from the Colonnades Neighborhood, the Global Neighborhood, Living and Learning at Elon, the School of Communications, the Office of the Provost, Student Government Association, the Office of Cultural and Special Programs, the Kernodle Center for Service Learning, Elon Votes!, Elon News Network, the Sunshine Center of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Council on Civic Engagement.

Thank you for your consideration of the event and for helping promote it to students.

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Colin Donohue, Faculty Director of the Danieley Center Neighborhood, Director of Student Media and Instructor in Communications

Detric Robinson, Community Director of the Danieley Center Neighborhood

Cait Williams, Graduate Assistant in the Danieley Center Neighborhood