Spoken word poets, rappers, and singers whose work appears on “Xperience: Volume 1” will perform at their CD release show on Saturday, May 5, 2007. The event is part of “Xperience Hartford,” a community-based research collaboration among local young artists, The Institute for Community Research (ICR), the Hartford Animation Institute, Trinity Entertainment Studios, and the University of Connecticut-Center for Health Communication and Marketing to produce drug-free entertainment for youth ages 14-20. The show will take place at Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave, in Hartford. Doors open at 6 pm, and the show starts at 7 pm; refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

“There are many urban youth not using drugs,” says Xperience Co-Investigator Sarah Diamond, Ph.D., of ICR. “But people don’t always know that. The concept behind Xperience Hartford is to support the decisions of Hartford area youth who choose not to use drugs by providing exciting, alternative entertainment.” Last year, artists from the greater Hartford area began working with researchers to create original music, incorporating drug-prevention messages into their songs. After performing downtown four times last summer, the artists began collaborating with Hartford Animation Institute and Trinity Entertainment to record their work. The result is “Xperience: Volume 1,” which includes selections in spoken word set to music, Rap, and R & B.  “This was a professional experience for many of the artists who participated. Everything from the development of the content to the production of the music was top notch. I’m really impressed by the quality of the work and overall contributions from everyone involved,” says Xperience Artistic Director Rey Bermudez. 

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