On 15th-26th July Friction Arts will be playing hosting Isaura Mendes their home of The Edge, Cheapside. The press release they’ve sent me says it all, so please excuse the copy-and-pasting:
Isaura is the founder of the Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, a non-profit organisation, based in Boston, USA. The Peace Legacy is named in honour of Isaura’s oldest son Bobby who was murdered in 1995, which sparked a spiral of violence in her community which is still taking young lives today. It is rededicated to her youngest son Matthew who was murdered in 2006.
Isaura, a tireless campaigner against the violence which has blighted her community, first visited us here in 2006, along with her son, Matthew. We had an amazing time together, she met with young people at risk, appeared on New Style radio and at our Curio City Shop, but most importantly, got to have some great times with her son Matthew. Tragically Matthew was murdered just three weeks after their return home.
Despite this second tragedy Isaura has continued to campaign to save the lives of young people in her community. She works as a spokesperson, confidante and supporter of the bereaved, giving inspiring talks to men in prison, acting as a ‘Mama Christmas’ to young kids in her neighbourhood and takes every opportunity to try and give hope to her community through her work. Isaura works closely with Shannon Flattery of Touchable Stories, who partnered with us on last year’s ‘Echoes From the Edge’ and the arts are central to the way they work together in their community. We have more than a friendship with Isaura and are delighted that she will be returning to visit some of the people and places she visited with her son, just before his death.
In typical Isaura fashion, she doesn’t want this to be just a holiday, and has asked us to ask you if there are any opportunities for her to speak to, or meet with people who might benefit from her experience. She is particularly interested in meeting anyone involved in anti-violence initiatives, gun or gang crime issues, or young people at risk. Please get in touch with us here if you think you have a group or event which might be suitable for her to meet/address during her short visit.
We will be holding a debate here at the Edge on Thursday 22nd July at 6pm. This will begin by an address by Isaura, talking about her work with the BMPL , followed by a debate examining the question ‘How can we create a future free of violence for our children?’. This will almost certainly be followed by some of Isauras fantastic Cape Verdean cooking (she wouldn’t stay at the local hotel as they couldn’t provide her with a kitchen), and an opportunity to meet Isaura, and continue the discussion. Please RSVP if you would like to attend, as our debates are very popular, to info@frictionarts.com or telephone 0121 772 6160.
