You're Welcome! Campaign Kick-off: SXSW 2012

Texas Folklife staff members Charlie Lockwood and Sarah Rucker attended the You're Welcome! Campaign kick-off SXSW Showcase event on Thursday at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center.  The event featured an array of music, dance and comedy performances as well as a healthy dialogue amongst creative artists and community organizers about integrating artistic production into a sustained campaign. 

The You’re Welcome! campaign, organized by Welcoming America, will use comedy, music, dance parties and other creative approaches to fuel a cultural shift in the U.S. in support of immigrants and their contributions to the country. Welcoming America and its affiliates across the U.S. are launching the campaign-in-development to engage the creative community and younger generations in a movement that celebrates the fusion of cultures and creates a more welcoming America, community by community.

http://www.welcomingamerica.org/urwelcome/ 
http://www.facebook.com/events/353124428060851/ 

Volunteers prepare audience surveys for the You're Welcome! Campaign  

From Left to Right: Tanene Allison, Invincible, Negin Farsad, and Oliver Rajamani participate in a panel discussion about creating social change through music and performing arts.

Detroit, MI based hip-hop artist Invincible 

Comedian Maggie Mae

Kenyan band Sauti Sol offers their unique brand of Afro-Fusion