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'Speak Your Peace' CD to Debut in First Public School on St. Thomas

Nov. 15, 2007 — On Friday morning, the first "Speak Your Peace" CDs to be distributed at a public school in the Virgin Islands will be presented to students at Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School.
In the summer of 2006, Project Safe Neighborhoods launched its first "Speak Your Peace" contest in the Virgin Islands, which challenged the territory's young people to write music with an anti-gun violence message. The 18 contest winners then saw their music produced at ISW studios on St. Thomas.
The final product is a selection of rap, reggae and R&B pieces about the impact gun violence has had on the local community. Hard-hitting messages from young artists ranging from ages 10 to 22 paint a vivid picture of the violence they face in the territory's schools and neighborhoods, and give a somber picture of a future riddled with bullets and drugs.
Many of the songs are hopeful, challenging kids to stay in school and pay more attention to their books instead of drifting toward an environment filled with violence.
As the CD is distributed on Friday, students will also gather at 9 a.m. in the school auditorium to take the pledge against gun violence.
Joining in the morning's events will be Gov. John deJongh Jr., along with representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, local law enforcement officers and officials and members of the Project Safe Neighborhoods team.
In a recent news release, BCB principal Carver Farrow showed his support for the campaign, saying, "Our students are definitely against gun violence; therefore, they have taken the pledge." He added that Friday's event would be a way for the school to "tell the whole community" about the importance of fighting gun violence.
"We hope other schools will follow," he said. "The aim is to make sure that our students are safe and secure on our campus and coming to and from school."
In all, 25,000 CDs will be distributed to every school student in the Virgin Islands.
The enhanced CD, which can be downloaded onto a computer, also includes ISW's award-winning video "Brother," by St. Thomas rapper FP. "Brother" is the first music video from the Virgin Islands to be aired on MTV.

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