In under three weeks, local faith leaders assembled entertainers from several genres and from all over the country, bringing them to Chicago for a benefit concert for relief in Haiti.
Thousands of people gathered at the House of Hope church on the Far South Side Monday night to offer a long distance hug and show of support to the surviving victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital of Port-Au- Prince and outlying areas.
Hope for Haiti was a benefit concert and live telethon to help raise money for medical, food and other supplies needed in the ravaged Caribbean city.
Gospel and other entertainment industry standouts in comedy, rap, jazz and R&B, as well as other performers, collectively dropped what they were doing when event producer, Donald Lawrence, made the clarion call – after heeding the call, himself, from Fellowship Baptist Church Pastor Charles Jenkins.
The reverend called the benefit an “all-inclusive” event, pointing out that “Haiti needs all of us.”
One by one, the artists and performers said participating in the benefit concert was a must for them, and they didn’t give second thought to donating their time, talent – and money – to Monday’s event.
“It’s my mission to do these things,” rapper and Chicago native Common told the Defender. Common performed Monday night on behalf of his Common Ground Foundation.
Jenkins said putting on the event, itself, was “the morally right thing to do.” He told the Defender that from idea to execution, it took just two-and-a-half weeks to pull together the industry heavy-hitters who performed at the concert.
With renditions from jazz saxophonist Steve Cole and violinist Lee England; comedy from George Wilborn – one of the event’s hosts, a sultry and moving jazz-gospel song from Lalah Hathaway, a bevy of gospel performances from icons like Bobby Jones and Karen Clark Sheard, words of encouragement from Chicagoland faith leaders like Bishop Larry D. Trotter, and other presentations, the night was one some hope will be infectious.
“I’m praying that what happened here in Chicago will catch on all around the nation,” Trotter, pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit church, told the Defender.
“Sometimes God has to move the earth to shake up the world,” Chicago native and comedian Damon Williams told the Defender as he finished taking pledge calls from the telethon.
The event was broadcast live on WJYS television station.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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