'Global Music Jam' takes on hunger

Correction (October 17, 6:48 p.m.): Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Elizabeth Smith’s position with Nourish International. She the group’s Ventures Coordinator, not its Outreach Coordinator. The story also incorrectly stated Nourish International’s mission statement. The group does not directly address issues of world hunger. It partners with local organizations to promote sustainable projects that help alleviate global poverty. The story also incorrectly suggested that Nourish International’s fund raising ventures support student expenses on international trips. All funds directly support project costs. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the errors.

At 4 a.m. in South Africa, 8 a.m. in India and 10 p.m. on Rosemary Street, world music will take the stage.

Nightlight, a Chapel Hill bar and club, will host student non-profit Nourish International’s Global Music Jam this Saturday, despite minor misunderstandings between the hosts.

Problems arose after the club told Nourish International that they would need to charge an additional membership fee to attendees.

“Our member policy is creating a safe space for people,” said Alexis Mastromichalis, director of Nightlight. “(Nourish) was worried that people wouldn’t come if they had to pay more.”

For the event, Nightlight lowered its normal entrance fee from $5 to $3. Every member is, as usual, allowed one guest.

“We subsidized for the event,” Mastromichalis said. “It’s great to support something like this.”

The Global Music Jam is one of Nourish International’s regular events. The non-profit has been putting on the dance once a semester for about six years.

“It’s my favorite venture,” said junior Elizabeth Smith, Nourish International’s ventures coordinator.

Nourish International, a national nonprofit devoted to alleviating world poverty through sustainable development, started in 2003 with UNC’s Hunger Lunch.

By 2008, 19 chapters had been created at universities around the country.

The profits from the Global Music Jam go toward implementing sustainable development projects across the world.

“It’s not just a fundraiser or a benefit, but a way to invest in something you believe in, said Justin Loiseau, a Nourish co-chairman.

“You pay your $5 and you get to dance, but it also goes to something important.”

A different genre of international music is chosen and played every hour of the evening by DJs from campus radio station WXYC.

“We’re going to have music from Latin America and a lot of new-age African rock and hip-hop from Africa,” Loiseau said.

The other two hours will feature European house music and south Asian Bhangra.

Along with world music from WXYC’s DJs, co-chairman Greg Randolph said there will be dance performance and instruction.

The funds the group raises throughout the year support development projects that student members help implement abroad during the summer.

Students work on developments to help combat poverty and hunger.

Though most of Nourish’s profits come from Hunger Lunch — a popular lunch of rice, beans and corn bread that takes place every Wednesday in the Pit — Global Music Jam has been a huge success since its start.

“We do these from time to time to sort of spice it up,” Loiseau said of the party.

This year, Global Music Jam is an official celebration event for the Campus Y’s 150th birthday.

Shannon Murphy, Nourish International’s media relations officer, is hoping for a huge turnout.

“We hope it’s the kind of thing where you walk into Nightlight and you can’t see the stage because it’s so packed,” Murphy said.

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.