No More Mat-Su presents "Rock the Resilience"

PALMER — No More Mat-Su, the Valley’s community-driven campaign to end domestic violence are presenting their “Rock the Resilience” concert this Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, located at the Glenn Massay Theater.

“Through visual and performing arts, and access to resource agencies on-site both in the theater lobby and as speakers on the stage, Rock the Resilience continues the No More Mat-Su campaign’s efforts to educate and empower youth to be agents for change in the Valley’s domestic violence and sexual assault epidemic, said event coordinator, and Sunrise Rotary member, Janelle Gagnon.

This community collated event brought the Alaska Family Services, The Children’s Place, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su, NOW Mat-Su, Women and Gender Studies at Mat-Su College, as well as Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club, No More Mat-Su, community members, and teens all together for a series of talks and acts to raise awareness and fight back against the staggering rates of domestic violence in the area.

The Gathering Grounds Café of the MyHouse organization will serve concessions. Attendees can browse student made artwork and access community resources from the aforementioned agencies in the theater lobby.

Nearly every high school with a music program in the Valley will perform at the theater, Enliven Dance Company, a group comprised of children and adult dancers will conclude the event with a routine to the “This is Me,” song from the feature length, Oscar nominated film, “The Greatest Showman.”

“It’s the most rockin’ thing to happen in a long time,” Gagnon said.

Wasilla Sunrise Rotary started No More Mat-Su 4 years ago. It’s the local adaptation of the national program, “No More,” a campaign aiming to end domestic violence.

“Statistically, 1 in 2 women will experience some form of domestic violence or sexual assault in the Mat-Su Valley. This huge problem we have in the Valley and Alaska” Gagnon said.

She said that the No More Mat-Su campaign started with a large emphasis on youth, in hopes that they would pick it up and sustain it on their own, with adults advising.

“Our intention from the beginning was for this to be a student led campaign,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon said that the subject matter was “hard to market for teens” so they added “bling” by coming up with creative ways for the teens to get involved and express themselves through the arts. Two adult speakers and two teen speakers from the student advisory board will present during this event. Alice Lee, the SAB president and Maddison Emmi, the vice president will be the designated teens speaking out against domestic violence.

“They’re super involved kids,” Gagnon said.

The Glenn Massay donated the space for them and according to Gagnon, “is huge, because we would never be able to afford that.”

Gagnon said that this event has been a huge undertaking. All the pieces are in place and she’s elated to see this take the campaign to new heights and hopefully, will result in the Valley’s youth taking the mantle from Sunrise Rotary.

“Look, we’re here!” she exclaimed.