Embracing Principles of Social Justice and Community Development through Music

Procopis B¹*

1. Sweet Freedom, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

This session will highlight the capacity of music & film to strengthen links between vulnerable people as well as offering those experiencing marginalisation ‘a voice’ to positively influence their personal and social environment.

Lifeline Community Worker and initiator of Sweet Freedom Productions Brian Procopis will outline the creative formulae and behind-the-scenes manoeuverings essential to such ‘productions’ as

• ‘Aim High/From Little Things Big Things Grow’ CD and DVD film clip of ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ harnessed the insights and talents of 225 primary school-aged children from the Zillmere State School who delivered an affirming message to their immediate communities and ultimately, via extensive radio play to the entire nation.
• ‘Scattered People’ CD and DVD film clip of ‘Stand With Us’ featuring asylum seekers, refugees and ‘kindred-spirited’ locals
• Alafiah … Freedom – Voices of Survival, Voices of Welcome featuring young refugees and their ‘mainstream’ peers
• Kidz2Kidz – Brisbane-based primary school children have put their hearts and talents into the composition and recording of five original songs of peace and connection which have been given as a gift to Iraqi children.

We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams …
yet we are the movers and shakers of the world forever it seems. (Arthur O’Shaunessy)

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