This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Concert Benefits Congo

A concert held Saturday at Construction Junction will raise money for medical and educational programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As part of the annual “Summer Breeze” festival organized by the Point Breeze Organization and Pittsburgh Public Allies, WDUQ-FM’s Bob Studebaker will host “Concert for Congo” at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Construction Junction in Point Breeze.

With a $3 donation, concertgoers can listen to an eclectic mix of live music by Jon Banuelos, Benjamin Walsh, Brooke Annibale, The Sole Vibe, and Gramsci Melodic. The concert will wrap up with a drum circle; attendees can bring the percussion instrument of their choosing and join in.

All proceeds go to the nonprofit Congolese Advocacy and Memorial Project Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports medical and educational programs in the Eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s one of those events that’s nice to be involved with because it’s for such a good cause,” Studebaker said. “I’m always glad to help out with something like this.”

Studebaker said he agreed to host the even after Jeff Cech, who used to work at the station, reached out to him. Cech serves as the CAMP Fund’s media relations and events coordinator, and organizes events through Congo Story, the fund’s research and communications arm.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s a complicated situation,” Cech said of Congo. “And events like the Concert for Congo are a great place for people to get a foundation.”

Cech’s wife, Rebecca, was born in Congo. Her great grandfather went to the nation in 1917 as a building missionary and ended up staying there. Her father, Jim Camp—to whom the CAMP Fund’s acronym pays homage—served as a medical missionary there before fleeing the nation in 1991, when his family received a direct threat.

Jeff and Rebecca met in 2003. Since then, Cech said, he has become involved in aid efforts to the Congolese. The CAMP Fund was founded in 2009, following Camp's death after a trip the three made to Congo.

In a nation torn by war, as well as economic and political instability, Congolese people are plagued by hunger, disease and social issues.

Among the CAMP Fund’s partners is HEAL Africa, the high-profile relief organization with celebrity supporters that include Ben Affleck and Cindy McCain.
Cech—who holds a master’s degree in journalism from Duquesne University, as well as a political science minor—said the story of Congo isn’t well known in the United States.

“For a lot of reasons, we don’t see the full, in-depth coverage of a lot of things going on in the world,” he said. “There’s a lot to wrap your head around.”

In addition to the music, attendees at Saturday’s concert will have access to literature on Congo, Cech said.

He emphasized that people interested in attending should join the drum circle at the end, describing it as a way to actively participate in an effort to raise awareness.

“Bring your guiro, your shaker, anything,” Cech said. “It doesn’t matter—even something homemade.”

Concert for Congo begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington St., Pittsburgh, Pa. For more information, see Congo Story.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Forest Hills-Regent Square