Brian Townsend creates an interactive concert of the arts

Brian Townsend, Publisher of, Tri-County Bulletin and Long Beach Leader, with creative leadership    Maura Townsend.

Created by Brian Townsend

Historically, artists have used their creativity and platforms to challenge the status quo, inspire movements, and drive social change. In keeping with this continuum, a coterie of committed artists, advocates for social justice and community members gathered at Santa Ana College last week for an interactive concert, “Artists Against Hate.” Narrated by filmmaker Joyce Lee and playwright/director Maurice Kitchen, the 90-minute program, which featured dance, visual art, spoken word and music, was a celebration of the power of art as well as a call to action.

Created by Brian Townsend, Publisher of Precinct Reporter, Tri-County Bulletin and Long Beach Leader, with creative leadership by Kathryn Ervin, Professor Emeritus, Cal State San Bernardino, and Maura Townsend, choreographer/dancer/educator, the concert was the second in a series of three concerts launched last November in response to California’s “Stop the Hate” and “CA vs. Hate” legislation enacted to combat rising hate incidents and crimes and to empower diverse communities. The concert was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program.