InnerCity Life! and Harvest Moon Festival Press Release

A drum circle is an informal group of people playing percussion, singing, and/or dancing together. More than mere entertainment, it can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and forming a community spirit. Drums Not Guns will perform several pieces of music based on traditional African rhythms, and will provide instruments so that the public can join in the fun.

"Drumming is worldwide," says "Happy" Shel Weisman, president of Drums Not Guns. "When people come together to drum and dance, the rhythms make them smile from ear-to-ear. Drums are SO healing that they can eliminate stress and anxiety in people, and bridge the gap in communication by building good listening skills. Drums help us to better understand each other so that we are reminded that we can work well together as a team."

An International Neighborhood Festival
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Dallas prides itself in being an international city, and nowhere is this more evident than in East Dallas. One of the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods, it is home to one of the largest immigrant >and refugee communities in Texas.

The Inner City LIFE! Festival is an exotic cultural blending of traditional cultures that forms a true American mosaic. The festival will begin at 11:00a.m. with a naturalization ceremony led by Judge Jerry Buchmeyer. This will be followed by musicians and entertainers representing a wealth of cultures performing on stage throughout the day.

Exhibits will include ethnic foods, music, arts and crafts. The East Dallas Health Center of Parkland Hospital will provide complete health screening and back to school immunization for children. The Dallas Fire Department will exhibit fire safety displays. The Dallas Police Department will feature special presentations including K-9, Tactical and Mounted Unit demonstrations, and a recruiting booth. Additional exhibits will include immigration counseling and seniors' and youth advocacy activities.
Neighborhood schools, including Zaraguza, Fannin, Chavez, Kennedy, Spence
Middle and North Dallas High will hold fund-raising carnivals during the
festival.

Harvest Moon festivals have been celebrated throughout Asia for centuries.
It is a time of harvesting and renewal. It is also a time for story
telling and rewarding children for bringing honor upon their families and
schools. In keeping with this tradition, students in grades K-3 and 4-12
will create posters and write essays relating to the appreciation and
strength of our country's diversity. Winners will receive cash prizes,
gift certificates, and school supplies. Winning essays will be published
and exhibited in school libraries.

Scheduled to attend the Festival are:

Honorary Chair: Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson U.S. Congress
Speakers: Kathleen Leos, Dallas Schools Trustee
Ben Click, Dallas Police Chief
Paul Coggins, U.S. Attorney
John Loza, Dallas City Council
Veletta Lill, Dallas City Council
Larry Duncan, Dallas City Council
Community school principals, and assistant superintendents
The Dallas Police Choir

A New Tradition: Community Drumming
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The drum circle is a new custom, being born wherever people gather all over
the modern world. It has its roots in the tribal drumming of Africa; but
in America, it is a melting-pot phenomenon, with rhythms of a dozen
different ethnic groups mixing together freely.

Drums Not Guns was formed to bring drumming to at-risk youth, as a peaceful
alternative to gangs and other destructive activities. It is cross-cultural
and multi-cultural, seeking to nurture, celebrate and share our world's
percussion traditions, both old and new. It has presented drum workshops
and after-school jam sessions for elementary school students, and performed
at other events such as Dance for The Planet in Artists Square, and the Deep Ellum Art Walk.

The group welcomes anyone who appreciates and values rhythm to join it in
bringing rhythm and music to Dallas communities. For more information,
contact Drums Not Guns, PO Box 141354, Dallas, TX 75214 USA. Information
on local events and activities is available from the DRUM Hot Line, (214)
823-DRUM. On the Internet, send email to happy@drums.org; or visit its web
Site, www.drums.org.

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"Drums Not Guns -- Drumming for World Peace" is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit
membership organization devoted to stopping violence through the power of
percussion, and to providing our youth with creative ways to re-channel
negative energy; diffuse anger; build team spirit; learn to listen better;
have more self-esteem; and foster community spirit.