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President Obama issued a video-taped message this week urging Americans to participate in actions around the upcoming Earth Day and post stories about their experiences on the White House website. This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, prompted in large part by a campaign to clean up the polluted Cuyahoga river in Cleveland. Each year on and around April 22nd, communities across the US and world organize environmental events and actions and this year the Second Annual Earth Day South LA takes place on Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm. Over a hundred artists will participate in musical and dance performances, visual and graphic art, murals, and more. There will be food vendors and cooking demonstrations, a poetry/hip hop open mic, and workshops on topics like African Drumming and How to Start Your Own Food-Not-Bombs Chapter. Some of the area’s top local musicians will perform including Aceyalone, LA Samba Kids, Mystic, La Santa Cecilia, 2Mex, and more.

GUESTS: Elijah Carter, co-producer of Earth Day South Los Angeles, Gloria Estrada, Marisoul, and Pepe Carlos, three of the six members of La Santa Cecilia

Earth Day South Los Angeles is happening on Saturday April 17th from 11 am to 6 pm at Normandie Avenue Elementary, 4505 S Raymond Avenue. Find out more at www.earthdaysouthla.org or call 323.299.7075.

Find out more about La Santa Cecilia at www.myspace.com/lasantacecilia, www.facebook.com/lasantacecilia, and www.lasantacecilia.com.