What started as a Social Science Fair Project, "Darfur: A Voice for the Voiceless" has evolved into a community project.  Jessica Royce, a junior, was very passionate about helping Darfur and when she needed an idea for the Social Science Fair Project, Darfur was the first thing she thought of.

        Royce realized that she wanted to make a difference and not just talk about ways to help Darfur, so she approached Heather Flor, her Clubhouse teacher, for help on starting a project known as Dominion for Darfur.

        Royce was aware that Flor had traveled to Africa a few times, including Darfur, and discussed with Flor about bringing her project to life.  Flor, Royce and Erin Murdock, a senior, worked together on designing t-shirts and creating videos for students to watch in their Clubhouse, promoting the t-shirts and the Darfur campaign.

        After seeing the numerous videos advertising for Dominion for Darfur, Taylor Berrett, a senior, suggested to Royce that a good fundraiser would be to hold a benefit concert.  Once Royce and Berrett got the concert officially approved for May 28 at 8:00 pm, they started working really hard, organizing advertisements, sending out messages and posting flyers around the school.

        “I can’t believe that it is actually happening, we’re buying stuff and creating advertisements, so that we can actually make a difference,” Murdock said.

        Berrett and Royce are trying very hard to make this concert impressive so that it is comparable to other concerts.  Berrett has been holding numerous rehearsals with all of the performers and he also asked alumni to come to the school to work the lights and sound.     

        “It’s an undeniably good cause, and there is no political involvement.  This will not be like a talent show at all, it will be more professional like a concert, we want to make this concert worthy of the cause, and make sure that every part is top quality,” Berrett said.

        There will also be multiple people performing such as Matt Harrison, Michael O’Donnell, Dimitri Leondaridis, Trey Baxter, Sasha Varzari, and Ethan Berrett.  All of the performers agree that the concert will be very different from a regular high school production.

        “The concert will consist of a collection of original and cover songs, and instead of having acts one after another, all of the artists will be playing at one time, so it’s more organic and fluid,” Berrett said.

        “The array of different guest artists and the power behind the music [will make the concert amazing,” O’Donnell said.

        Flor said that her favorite thing about the benefit concert and Dominion for Darfur is that it is completely student-driven and run by the students.  She said that her main job is to handle the logistics, like handling the funds and reserving the auditorium.

        Royce’s favorite thing about the concert is using her art, which she is incredibly passionate about in order to help Darfur.  “I’m interested to see how the musical and artistic vision comes out, because there are such talented people working on this concert,” Flor said.

        Royce said that Dominion for Darfur is a lot of work, but it is all worth it in the end.  “It just takes a lot of pushing, planning and people committed to the issue,” O’Donnell said.