Humber Et Cetera - December 5, 2002

Humber Et Cetera - December 5, 2002

Stopping Hunger with a new tune
By Marsha Knapp
Photo by Andy Oo

Scarborough native and singer Angela McKenzie went with $300 US to the media capital of the world, New York City, looking for she didn¹t know what. Four years later, she is the founder of The AMcK Initiative, Inc., a non-profit organization that "creatively informs people how to combat hunger," McKenzie said. Their motto is "Food for the Body; Music for the Soul."

She and her fellow colleagues organize three benefit combination concerts and food drives in New York, for spring, summer and fall. McKenzie said the Initiative has several future goals, which include a hunger awareness tour to take place sometime in 2003. "You pay your financial donation ($5-$20) to come see the performances," McKenzie said. "In addition you have to bring one or more non-perishable donations. I perform, we have poets and local talents."

McKenzie has had a lot of help along the way, especially from the Initiative¹s co-founder, Vanessa Brezac. "Angela¹s greatest reward is being able to create outlets to use her musical ability to advocate a cause that she has personal experience with, like hunger," Brezac said. "Her work thorough the Initiative will definitely challenge her creative vision for a long time."

When McKenzie arrived in the U.S., she made it to New York and had to decide between eating and finding a place to live. "In New York food comes last, it's easier to have a roof over your head and go hungry," she said.

McKenzie got a job at the UN¹s headquarters where she realized she had what it takes to raise awareness. "The Angela I know does not feel alive unless she has a creative goal to strive for and reason to believe that she¹s making a positive difference in the lives of others," Brezac said. In April 2001, The AMcK Initiative was founded, and formalized in may 2002. "Given the newness of the organization," Brezac said "I would say it¹s greatest success thus far is staying alive and raising awareness of its mission." After the Initiative¹s first year of operations, they had already staged four benefit concerts. The fourth one, in April 2002, included musical talent from the fire department of New York¹s Ladder 4, which had lost the majority of their men to September 11. The event¹s success was also marked with recognition from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

McKenzie also had a chance to meet one of her idols. "Her work with the Initiative gave her the opportunity to meet World Food Prize Laureate, Dr. Pedro Sanchez," Brezac said. Sanchez is the Chairman of the United Nations Task Force on Hunger, and is helping to reduce world hunger in half by 2015. Both McKenzie and Brezac have high hopes for the Initiative in the future. "In the future, I expect that our organization will be one of the most visible and innovative hunger advocacy groups," Brezac said. "Simply because we are not afraid to use creative approaches." McKenzie hopes this message of hunger alleviation can one day spread nationwide, and that if she can do it, anyone can. "I think I am a bit of an inspiration," McKenzie said. "If you want to make an impression and want a diverse culture, go to the media capital of the world, you¹ll find support and influential people."