World Affairs Colloquium October 15 with Michael Sacco

-“It is not about how much you get in your meal. It’s about everyone gets something”

October 16 is the World Food Day when many parts of the world have the time to reflect on the importance of food and critical issues related to food that we human beings are facing today. This year, Trent World Affairs Colloquium (WAC) once again organized a guest-speaker/discussion event to celebrate the World Food Day. Michael Sacco- an outstanding horizontal trader of chocolate and now a PhD student at Trent- has shared with WAC many inspiring stories about how chocolate matters, and more importantly how communities matter. He recounted his past experience in Mexico with great enthusiasm, while explaining the concept of learning community social entrepreneur and the structure of ChocoSol- his collaborative business with a dedicated team. Participants not only enjoyed listening to his stories but also had the opportunity to try real chocolate- both to eat and to drink.

WAC would like to sincerely thanks Michael Sacco for his time, effort and exquisite chocolate; TISA and TIP for co-sponsoring the event; Kawartha World Issues Center, Champlain College and Professor Ray Dart for letting people know about our event.

Click here to see videos from the event.

*** Note: We have been approached by many keen students with questions such as where they can find more information about upcoming WAC. WAC committee is in the process of creating a database which will soon be publicized on Champlain College Blog and TISA Website. Stay tuned!

Nomadic Massive Live in the Great Hall, Sep 24 7 p.m.

More from Nomadic Massive:

Nomadic Massive Live in the Great Hall, Sep 24 7 p.m.

Why Nomadic Massive as a kick off event to bring Trent together for a Champlain event?

When Tim Shah (Champlain/Trent alumn, leader of the Trent Global Living Community, and now at UBC doing a Master's in Urban Planning) first contacted Nomadic Massive to see if they would do a performance in the Great Hall on their way to a gig in Toronto, they responded immediately and said that they love to do performances at universities--but . . ."

We might have been worried about the "but" until it was followed by, "we'd also like to do a workshop for social justice". Tim and I were both thrilled because, well, how Trent is that? A cutting edge eleven piece band making the great hall rumble with a multicultural sound--and a message with meaning to make a world of difference? That's a college life I want to be a part of!

When I came to Champlain 7 years ago, I heard many stories about "the old days" of concerts and sweaty dance parties in the Great Hall that brought together the community in ways no other college could. That's one tradition I'd like to sustain--if it gives us opportunities to learn together as this concert will!

Nomadic Massive, live in the Great Hall, with opening band The Resolutionaries, Friday, September 24, 2010, 7 p.m. Get tickets at the Champlain College Office, LEC Office, TIP, The Central or student affairs. Tickets are free with a donation for Pakistan Flood Relief (UNICEF).

Workshop: "Social Justice Through Hip Hop" World Affairs Colloquium in the Champlain Council Chambers (CC M2) at 3 p.m.

Effective Political Action

Ever heard of Nomadic Massive?

Nomadic Massive is a Montreal-based band. The song displayed above, "Moving Forward" is one of their recent and very famous pieces. It would be really awesome if we brought them to Champlain/Trent one of these days. Their interest in facilitating social change via performances and workshops, creating awareness over international issues, dedication to open-mindedness and their multi-cultural appeal would make for a perfect fit in Champlain or the University in general. The group is quite popular internationally. They have initiated socio-cultural exchanges with like-minded artists all over the world.

Del F. Cowie writes:

"Montreal’s Nomadic Massive are probably one of the most aptly named bands around. Boasting 12 members and vocalists that rap and sing in five different languages (English, French, Spanish, Creole and Arabic), Nomadic Massive provide a truly multicultural listening experience. Predictably, with such a diverse number of influences in a group made up of artists who were previously pursuing solo careers, the album’s musical approach rarely settles into one groove. Incorporating their diverse cultural backgrounds, Nomadic Massive successfully transfer traditional musical forms to hip-hop’s intrinsically syncretic approach with polished production skills."

Overall, they look like a pretty dynamic band and would be excellent for Champlain.