Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Monk Matthaeus is a shining example.
A DJ, producer, event curator, and educator, Monk works tirelessly to be positive vessel in every circle he rotates.
The Co-founder, Vice President, and Director of Elements of Change for Hip Hop Association of Advancement and Education (HHAAE), the Grand Rapids, Michigan native has a genuine love for Hip Hop culture and its history, community, and the youth. Monk uses events like One Peace Festival and Grand Rapids Beat Down to bring people together, promote unity, and help advance careers.
Monk is also the founder and creator of GRHIPHOP.org, an entertaining destination for information and promotion.
While good at what he does, he’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Monk Matthaeus to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone that he didn’t know. Here’s what he shared.
“I think the moves I’ve made in general with grhiphop.org and One Peace Festival fit what you are asking me.
The point behind creating grhiphop.org was to highlight as many folks from the Grand Rapids Hip Hop community as possible and give them all an equal shake at recognition and exposure.
Most folks on the site I’ve never met or even had a communication with. I spent over 8 months in 2020 when COVID hit just searching the internet, asking around, and trying my best to find as many Hip Hop artists – emcees, DJs, Bboy/Bgirls, graffiti writers, producers – as possible to highlight them on the site.
You will find longtime legends and heavy hitters to cats just starting out on the site right next to each other. You can decide who or what you like. I have opened up the lines of communication to the Grand Rapids Hip Hop community to reach out to me anytime with stories, events, or ideas that I’m willing to share on the site. It is a place that is truly for the people if they choose to utilize it.
There is an artist directory, history section, community engagement section, and even more to come this year.
One Peace Festival is all about creating a space for the community to share in a collective experience of Hip Hop and healthy fun. The goal is to share with Grand Rapids the amazing talent and community organizations that are serving the community through promoting healthy lifestyles be it physical, mental, spiritual, economic, educational, or any other form of healthy living that can uplift human beings. We are all about bringing in newcomers and welcome anyone interested in helping share in this mission.
For those of us who live Hip Hop every day, we know that the mantra of our culture is peace, unity, love, and safely having fun. One Peace Festival added health and wellness into that list to expand our reach and add another level of positive impact to Hip Hop’s already powerful intentions.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker – “The extra mile is only one mile more.”]
