Mississippi Votes Uses Art to Highlight Pressing Issues in Politics

JACKSON,Miss., August 5, 2024 – Mississippi Votes, through its Arts and Activism Fellowship Program, proudly announces the release of “The Future: Up To Us,” a powerful and evocative musical project that unites six talented Mississippians: Truest Love, AUTM VALOR, Ariel J., Jack Viceee, Vitamin Cea, and Ally Durr. This collaborative album addresses pressing political issues and the profound struggles of being a Black Southerner, resonating deeply with the heart and soul of Mississippi.

The album features a blend of soulful melodies in “Day to Day,” emotional lyrics in “Made In America,” and raw emotion in “Cold.” Each track serves as a narrative, weaving together personal stories and collective experiences, making the album more than just music—it stands as a testament to resilience, a call for justice, and an expression of hope.

Project Manager Alexis Noble leads this initiative, emphasizing the unique voices and perspectives of the participating artists. “The Future: Up To Us” aims to spark conversation, inspire change, and drive activism. Fellows Justin Hardiman and Ronald Williams contribute to the project as photographer and videographer, capturing key moments throughout the creative process.

Artists and Fellows:

- Charity Hicks (Vitamin Cea)

- Ariel Johnson (Ariel J)

- Autumn Brown (AUTM VALOR)

- Allyson Durr (Ally Durr)

- Robert Sims (Jack Viceee & Siro`)

- Najalynn Chandler (Truest Love)

- Justin Hardiman (Visual Artist)

- Ronald Williams (Filmmaker)

“The Future: Up to Us” stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and creativity of the Black community in Mississippi, calling attention to the urgent need for justice and equity.

Executive Director of Mississippi Votes, Arekia Bennett-Scott, expressed her excitement to create space for activism to be expressed artistically. 

"Part of our (Mississippi Votes) mission embodies the flexibility of art. We do not do our work like traditional organizing institutions. We take risks. We do bold things. We meet people where they are. Art is where they are," Bennett-Scott said.

The name of the project, "The Future: #Up2Us" has historical context according to Policy Director, Hannah Williams, who helped write the curriculum for the fellowship program. 

"There were three main points we wanted the program to execute: capturing the soul of change and its possibilities while expressing the pain of missteps taken by our political leaders; intentionally investing in the soil of Mississippi, a place that has carried the sole responsibility of creating the modern sound of music and has contributed heavily to multiple art mediums; and finding a way to meet Mississippians who have ideas, thoughts, and opinions about how Mississippi's policies are not working for them, but often feel left out of these conversations. If you want to know how a society feels, always look towards their art."

For more information or to request interviews, please contact our Public Relations Coordinator, Alexis Grace via email at agrace@msvotes.org.

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\ About Us

Mississippi Votes is an organization of intergenerational synergy centering and led by young people invested in the progression of Mississippi. We do this through our programming and outreach strategies that empowers young people, encourages civic engagement, and educates communities on voting rights through place-based grassroots organizing.