Cultural Kitchen Benefit with Umoja Orchestra Live! May 17, 2008

Hostelling International presents the Harambe Cultural Series Launch, featuring a live performance by Umoja Orchestra, a Florida favorite, in their Boston debut.

Join us for a fun evening of live music, food, drinks, dancing, and a silent auction to benefit Hostelling International's Cultural Kitchen program serving inner city youth in Boston.

Tickets available at http://umoja.eventbrite.com/ or call 617-718-7990 x17.

About Umoja Orchestra

"A band that can fill the stage with upwards of 10 people, Umoja is a mix of jazz, Latin, afro-beat, and funk; this, even, is too confining. And with an array of styles, people of all castes and colors flock together as one in a sea of positivity.'Umoja means Unity,' as the band always assures their fans. When I first met with Umoja it was in a very intimate setting, the band members layered across a living room couch. As I listened to them talk, I realized the band was righteous and honest. Saturday night, to kick off the completion of the first Umoja album, they played a CD release show. I was blown away. No longer did I hear what they had told me, I felt it; I was moved by it. Every person in the sold out show, and even those listening from the streets, shared my same view.

Umoja. Unity. Oneness. Call the power of love what you wish, but call Umoja a band with a gift."

- grooveshark.com

Check out more reviews, photos, and music at:

http://www.myspace.com/umojaorchestra

http://www.umojaorchestra.com



About the Harambe Cultural Series

Harambe is a Swahili word that means "working together in unity" or "let's pull together". This concept is used to initiate projects that unite communities to work together and pool their resources towards a common goal while also celebrating the opportunity to come together.

The goal of the Harambe Cultural Series is to bring communities together to celebrate and learn from our cultural diversity in fun social settings, while raising funds to support Hostelling International's Cultural Kitchen program.

Cultural Kitchen is an innovative after-school educational program for Boston middle and high school students that gives youth an opportunity to become more open-minded, worldly citizens with a deepened respect for the diversity of their communities. Over the course of 10 weeks, students participate in cultural exploration and peer education in a safe and supportive environment using cooking and cuisine as the primary vehicle. Through structured, hands-on activities and adult modeling, youth gain confidence and skills to work with, learn from, and resolve conflicts among the different people and cultures they encounter. Students also gain a greater understanding of their own cultures and countries of family origin.

For more information, please visit: http://www.usahostels.org/cult_kit.php



If you would like to purchase tickets offline, please call 617-718-7990 x17.

Cost: $10

Official Site: http://umoja.eventbrite.com/

Official Website: http://www.usahostels.org/harambe.php