Filipinos for Affirmative Action Host 1st Ever Pinay Jazz Concert in Oakland Chinatown

Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA) will host the first ever Pinay Jazz concert at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in historic Oakland Chinatown on April 16, 2009, where we will honor Tessie Guillermo, CEO of ZeroDivide. ABS-CBNs Balitang America reporter Henni Espinosa will emcee the benefit event.

We’re proud to present a cross-generational cast of talent that will perform classic and Latin jazz standards. Many of the performers also write, arrange and perform original compositions.

This special line-up includes:

*Josie Canion, Pinay jazz pioneer and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival, has been performing since the 1950s.

*Prelude, daughters of Josie Canion, Georgie Leong, Stevie Wallage and Jody Ente, who formerly performed as the 70s pop group the Third Wave.

*Ann Marie Santos, pianist, coach, singer and composer, winner of the prestigious “Star Search of Asia” has also made regular appearances on TV and stage shows in her career.

*Raquel Berlind, established her reputation as a Latin singer in the Bay Area, and has received awards for best composer and best performer in 2000, and again in 2005 at La Festival de la Cancion Latino-Americana.

*Angel Georecha Ventura, a 20 year-old singer, songwriter, musician and actress from the Bay Area who has appeared in numerous plays and often accompanies her performances by sharing her vocal, piano and guitar playing talents.

*Accompaniment by The Art Khu Trio.

In the spirit of recognizing these accomplished female singers, FAA will honor Ms. Guillermo for her outstanding leadership and contributions to not only the Filipino community, but communities of color nationally.

She has been an advocate for reducing the digital divide in her role as CEO of ZeroDivide, which invests in community enterprises that leverage technology to benefit people in low-income and other underserved communities, and an advocate for health access as former Executive Director of APIA Health Forum. She is on numerous boards and is an Inaugural Member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available. As an event sponsor, your organization can expect to reach more than 300 community members and leaders who will be on hand to catch this rare performance.

To purchase tickets online, please visit Brown Paper Tickets or filipinos4action.org.

Contact Judith or Geraldine for more information at (510) 465-9876.