People Of Poetry Celebrity Auction Event Hollywood May 22

NEWS RELEASE

YASHI BROWN ANNOUNCES HOLLYWOOD

FUND RAISING EVENT TO SAVE ARTS PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, 

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF POETRY FOUNDATION,

AND THE TRAVELING GUITAR FOUNDATION.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (May 14, 2012) - Writer, Poet, Mental Health Advocate and Philanthropist, also born into the legendary Jackson family  - Yashi Brown - is organizing a special Hollywood event "Music and Poetry in Motion" at Sayer's Club, Hollywood, CA on May 22, to promote awareness of the closure of arts programs in schools across the country, and the positive effect that the arts have on people with Mental Health problems. 

The Cause

KEEPING THE ARTS IN SCHOOLS

We are at a time when arts education programs - especially musical arts - will no longer be a choice for our youths and families who can't afford private school.  The public school system, especially in Los Angeles County, has cut these programs dramatically. 70% of Arts Education is no longer available to students. But members of the Jackson Family are taking a stand by trying to get the word out on this educational crisis.

About Yashi Brown

Yashi Brown, is the daughter of Rebbie Jackson and niece of, the legendary, Michael Jackson.  She established her foundation People of Poetry (POP) with intentions to travel the country with her non-profit, helping to donate brand new instruments to support the weak, and share the power of spoken word and creative literary expression. Yashi addresses the, almost taboo, subject of Mental Health, a cause that is personal to her, after she, herself, was diagnosed with Bipolar Type I in her early twenties.  Yashi is a Public Speaker on Mental Health issues, and uses the power of poetry and spoken word, to connect with Mental Health patients who are limited by the means in which they can communicate and express their feelings. 

Yashi acts as a peer group supporter holding a board position for Project Return Peer Support Network (PRPSN) who is the largest peer support group in Los Angeles County also supported by MHA Los Angeles . She’s also an official national advocate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) who’s established itself for three decades as the most formidable grassroots mental health advocacy organization in the country and the preeminent voice on capitol hill for mental health.

The Event

The upcoming "Music and Poetry in Motion Night of Awareness" also supported by the Traveling Guitar Foundation, will shed light on the cause, and raise money through the onsite silent auction and online live auction.  There will also be live music, comedians and special guest performances. 

Some of music's biggest names have lent their individual signatures to guitars and other special items - exclusively for this event - helping to raise money for the foundation.  Celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Lisa Marie Presley, Mariah Carey, Sting, Bill Withers, and Jackson Matriarch, Katherine Jackson, to name a few, have all contributed.  These items will all be listed and available for the public to bid on, through an Online Auction Site: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/29988 and via www.YashiBrown.com

Event Details:

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 22, 2012
6:15 – 6:45 p.m.         Media Check-In
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.         Cocktail Reception               
8:30 – 9.15 p.m.         Showtime & Auction
(Deadline to RSVP: Monday, May 21. Media must show picture I.D. when picking up credentials at media check-in on event day)

WHERE:

Sayer's Club,

1645 Wilcox Ave,

Hollywood, CA 90028

"Its now up to us individually to pull together and give students the option. Our politicians don't appear to be making this a priority but arts education is so important to our future generations.  It is an election year, so I am hoping that now is the time for our President to really address this issue."  - Yashi Brown

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For Interview Requests Please Contact:

Emily Smith - Publicist
Rememba Entertainment
T: 323 570 1160

T: @RemembaEnt
Emily@remembaentertainment.com

Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood had a Smashing Opening

The most recent addition to the Hard Rock chain, Officially opened last night, with a host of Celebrities, smashing guitars outside, by the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The celebrity line up included R&B crooner - Robin Thicke, funny guy - George Lopez, This Is It's rock chick/guitarist - Orianthi, and Los Angeles' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Other celebrities, who took part, included - Playboy's Bridget Marquardt ("Girls Next Door"), Angie Everhart (Actress/Model), Ashley Roberts (from the Pussycat Dolls), Aubrey O'Day (Playboy model and former member of Danity Kane), Jay Phillips (Actor/Def Comedy Jam Comedian "Semi Pro, Prom Night, Baby Mama etc.), Jeremy London (Actor/Producer "Mall Rats", "Party of Five" etc.), and Jonathan Lipnicki (Actor "Jerry Maguire, Stuart Little etc.), to name a few.

(from L-R)Jay Phillips, Bridget Marquardt, George & Robin, George Lopez, & Orianthi

It's not every day you see models in their high heels smashing guitars to pieces, so it was certainly a treat for spectators. I found it to be quite entertaining. George Lopez's guitar seemed to put up a fight, as it took several attempts to destroy it. Proud of his smashing skills, Jay Phillips told me he was going to keep a piece of his guitar as a souvenir! Robin Thicke and Orianthi appeared to be true guitar destroying professionals... The Mayor seemed to take to it like a duck to water too.

Just for the record... The guitars that were smashed, had been donated by the manufacturers, who had deemed them to be defective.

After the Rock 'n' Roll "moment", the VIP's and celebrities, plus yours truly (of course!), were ushered back inside the Hard Rock Cafe (located in between the world famous Kodak Theatre and the Grauman's Chinese Theatre), for the ultimate party. There were lines of waiters and waitresses, with trays full of alcohol and appetizers, that seemed to be ongoing throughout the night. Bloody Mary's with shrimp in them, pizza, southern style chicken sliders, regular sliders, pork-filled potstickers, oysters, crab cakes, and sesame seed chicken skewers, were all included in the offerings, plus a table with a mountain of fruits and cheeses, and another "naughty" table full of chocolate treats, profiteroles, cheesecake, and green "red velvet" cupcakes. There was even a "cool" Hard Rock ice sculpture that was lit up in red.

John Lennon Memorabilia, Ice Sculpture, and Mountains of food

While guests were mingling and celebrity spotting, George Lopez hosted the evening on stage, and introduced the performers - Orianthi (who played some of her own material - a nice acoustic guitar set), and Multiple Grammy Winner - Robin Thicke - who was the main performer for the evening, and had the crowd (especially the ladies) going wild. DJ Muggs from Cyprus Hill was the DJ for the evening, keeping the crowd hyped up, in between sets.

George Lopez on Stage, and Orianthi Performing on Stage

Even the kitchen staff seemed to be feeling it, as they were dancing in the kitchen, looking like they were having their own party! (Though I think they were oblivious to us noticing... (what a shame I happened to have filmed some of it hehe!) It certainly added to the entertainment.

Overall it was a great event, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. And most importantly - all proceeds from the cash bars were being donated to the Women's Center Downtown Los Angeles who provide permanent supportive housing, more than 50,000 nutritious meals, medical and mental health services, job training and literacy programs to hundreds of women in need each year. If you would like further information, you can visit http://www.dwcweb.org/donate.htm

Thank you Hard Rock, for the invitation... it was a pleasure to be there. I believe it's now safe to say, you have declared the Hard Rock Cafe HOLLYWOOD to be OFFICIALLY OPEN...!

-- Emily Smith