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Somewhere2turn Turns to Music By Nicole Minieri, Contributing Writer When Redwood City community outreach project Somewhere2turn recently partnered with NOH8, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization that fashioned an artistic silent-protest photographic campaign against California’s Proposition 8, the result was an edgy photo and music video shoot at the Fox Theatre to promote a homegrown hip-hop anti-discrimination song. Inspired by the NOH8 concept, this anthem beat titled “One Day” was partially written and produced by Somewhere2turn pioneer and pillar Diego Pettersson and Ivan Reyes Martinez of Boys & Girls Clubs and Peapod Academy in Redwood City. Also contributing to the lyrical content were rappers Richard Kaho, Diamante Horton and Arthur Renowitzky, who blithely wrote and rapped their own verse, and local singer Lillianna De Los Reyes, whose captivating vocals were lent to the intro of the song. Top: The members of Somewhere2turn during the NOH8 campaign shoot. Bottom: Spectrum Publisher Steve Penna with members of Somewhere2turn at a recent event. Keeping his fingers crossed as he awaits “One Day’s” surge into the music and video scene, Pettersson recalls the development of this swift rap song wrapped around a meaningful message and how he got a lot of help from his entertainment friends, particularly a “Dancing With the Stars” veteran. “Basically I was on vacation with Louis van Amstel from ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and a couple of friends, and after talking we became really interested in doing something with my kids from Somewhere2turn in Redwood City. Since Somewhere2turn consists of a very multiethnic group, we thought it would be a perfect project for myself, as well as for the people behind NOH8, to get together to make a song about unity with a matching music video,” said Pettersson. “Once we made the decision to move forward, I then approached my friend Ivan Reyes Martinez, who is a 21-year-old musical genius from Redwood City, and asked him if he could take a look at some of the beats that we had already mixed and mold them into one song specifically for the NOH8 national project. We then went into a studio here in Redwood City to finish and record the song, which took about two weeks. Once it was a complete production, we got a hold of Louis van Amstel and the founders of NOH8, and they came down to Redwood City that following weekend to do the photo shoot and music video using the kids from Somewhere2turn.” “The turnout to the Redwood City NOH8 photo shoot was great,” said NOH8 co-founder Jeff Parshley. “The kids from Somewhere2turn had really good energy and were all very excited to be a part of our campaign.” The NOH8 Campaign was founded by Parshley and Adam Bouska, an award-winning American celebrity photographer, shortly after Proposition 8 was passed in California on Nov. 4, 2008. What originally started out as a cluster of snapshots taken of everyday Californians with duct tape concealing their mouths and the NOH8 logo painted on one cheek has now become amplified into an international online social networking photo phenomenon encompassing the gamut of human existence, from me to you to celebrities, artists, politicians, high-profile personalities, newlyweds, military personnel and law enforcement, to name a few. And while the NOH8 Campaign has busted into primetime and tabloid television, appearing on popular shows such as “Access Hollywood,” “Entertainment Tonight,” the “Today” show, “The View” and on FOX News, this anti-hate crusade’s message is still the same: raising awareness for marriage equality and other intolerance issues. The focus of the NOH8 Campaign has been on spreading the word about discrimination against same-sex marriage, but now is becoming so much more, said van Amstel. “It’s about ‘stop discriminating and start loving each other’ and there are so many people out there being discriminated upon,” he said. “This organization is doing awesome things, yet so is Somewhere2turn. Diego’s organization is all about kids doing great projects to stop violence. And these kids have a lot of things to deal with www.SpectrumMagazine.net
in their personal life; they come from drugs and gang violence. To see these two organizations come together and collaborate is remarkable. I am really very passionate about these two organizations because we all go through a time where we are being discriminated [against]. Some people can deal with this, but unfortunately there is a large majority of people who become depressed and even suicidal, and that is why these two organizations are working as one in spreading the word and spreading the love. I believe that the Somewhere2turn music video and all of the photos that were taken that day will be able to do that. The music video should be ready by early September and I am hoping before I start ‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 11, the video will be ready to air so I can push for a lot of publicity. Actually, what I am really hoping for is the ‘Susan Boyle’ effect to happen: a worldwide phenomenon through YouTube.” But adding to the ever-growing NOH8 online collage and shooting a music video in support of a soon-to-be released inspirational hip-hop song by the next artistic generation were not the only reasons van Amstel, Bouska and Parshley traveled up the Pacific coast, along with David Hernandez of “American Idol” season 7. In fact, they all came up as a group to add their support at an intimate poolside gathering held at the home of community humanitarian Ted J. Hannig, of Hannig Law Firm LLP in Redwood City, to help build awareness for the NOH8 movement. The cosmos must have been in perfect order because that evening was a sheer success: the weather behaved, there was an open bar and a delectable smorgasbord of appetizers and desserts for everyone to enjoy, the crowd mixed and mingled wonderfully, van Amstel spoke, Hernandez sang and Hannig unexpectedly raised approximately $5,000 for the meritorious campaign. Hannig is also responsible for the fresh growth spurt of Pettersson’s prized Somewhere2turn in its first year. “Ted Hannig is one of my biggest supporters. He has helped us grow from eight kids in June of 2009 to over 400 kids this past June, and that’s pretty amazing, that a small town like Redwood City has key people like Ted that believe in and help local charities grow,” said Pettersson. “I’ve worked for Ted for about a year doing his community relations work, and it’s been an education of sorts. He is an interesting individual and someone I’ve definitely learned a lot from. Especially how to be creative with fundraising and how to make the most out of your resources. I’ve watched him work obstacles and make good out of any bad situation. Ted is the classic community worker because he always makes a significant difference with people wherever he can. He is such a big giver who is always giving to charities, and I’m very thankful to personally know him.” Pettersson also expressed plenty of gratitude toward other outstanding Redwood City community leaders who quickly move at the drop of a hat to help others regardless of the need, including Steve Penna, publisher of The Spectrum, and Fox Theatre owner Eric Lochtefeld. “Steve and Eric, who have been friends for years, were major supporters to the photo and music shoot,” said Pettersson. “Steve was able to arrange with Eric on short notice for us to be able to use the Fox Theatre. They were both such a great host to us and so unbelievably wonderful to work with. Eric let us do whatever we wanted and we were able to stay longer than originally planned. He was just awesome. And Steve was amazing too! He made it happen right away and with no questions asked. I don’t think that we could have had a better location to do the shoot. You know when the stars arrange like that, it is kind of cool and kind of meant to be.” And Pettersson is confident that he can keep the stars of fortune perfectly positioned over his youth coalition. “I am going to continue to run Somewhere2turn in Redwood City, though I do plan on expanding the program in the future. However, we’ve already extended out into Half Moon Bay and hopefully we can continue to grow and help more and more counties,” said Pettersson. “But for now, it’s just about working with the kids, and the more kids that I can work with, the better, and the more lives I can help change through this program, even better! But then again, it also depends on whether or not I can keep the program running with the funds that we have already. Right now we are currently serving Top: Local attorney Ted Hannig at the NOH8 shoot. Above: Fox Theatre owner Eric Lochtefeld with van Amstel, Pettersson and members of Somewhere2turn at the Fox Theatre. Below: NOH8 co-founders Jeff Parshley and Adam Bouska. close to 500 at-risk local kids with free gifts, as well as art and break dance classes. This program is designed to help anyone involved steadily grow and learn. We offer a lot of potential to these atrisk youths because we bring in various programs that consistently embrace our mission message, which is anti–gang violence and anti-drugs, a message we are all hoping to bring nationally!” Through its multimedia marriage with the acclaimed NOH8 Campaign, Somewhere2turn’s “One Day” has all the main ingredients to motivate and move well over one million. They are a fine group of young adults who have absolutely no problem rapping to the world that judging others based on their ethnicity, religion, gender or sexuality is most definitely a cardinal no-no! And through their growing strength in photos every day, the NOH8 Campaign will continue to move forward in their quest for marriage equality and the abolition of hate of all genres. Lastly, it is comforting to know that we have so many good-hearted do-gooders from and visiting our community, such as Pettersson, Hannig, Penna, Lochtefeld, van Amstel, Bouska, Parshley and Hernandez, who willingly go out of their way to keep us united as one. Amen to that! Let’s all join as one and snap our fingers to a feel-good rap in the name of unity, the universal glue that holds all things together! To keep up with the latest news on Somewhere2turn’s “One Day” and other upcoming music/media projects, add Somewhere2turn to your Page list on Facebook. To learn more about the NOH8 Campaign or to become a part of their worldwide photo family, visit their website at www.noh8campaign.com. The Spectrum 11
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