NextAid Returns to WMC in Miami for its 6th Year of Mobilizing the Electronic Music Community 3/24 - 3/28/09

NextAid (www.nextaid.org), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit humanitarian organization, returns to the 24^th annual Winter Music Conference (WMC) in Miami to create sustainable solutions and expand awareness of the AIDS orphan pandemic in Africa. The conference runs from Tuesday, March 24^th to Sunday, March 28, 2009 throughout South Beach and downtown Miami. NextAid will be participating in, and/or presenting, several informative panels and events such as its exclusive social mixer, “Beats Build Hope,” on a private rooftop on March 26^th. NextAid co-founder Lauren Segal-Avenna will moderate the “Music, Politics & Social Awareness” panel on 3/24 and sit on the “Green Initiatives in the Music Industry” panel on 3/25, both are part of WMC’s evening panel series, “South Beach Sessions.” For more information on the conference, please visit www.wintermusicconference.com. For more on NextAid, please visit www.nextaid.org.

On Thursday, March 26^th NextAid will host its exclusive mixer, “Beats Build Hope,” on a private rooftop overlooking the beach. From 1:00 - 5:00pm enjoy the sounds of Nickodemus from the infamous Turntables on the Hudson crew, J-Boogie (Om Records), Black Coffee (one of the biggest DJs and producers from South Africa), and Divasonic (Digital Bliss Productions). This is an RSVP only event (location revealed with confirmation reply); please e-mail events@nextaid.org. Donations will be graciously accepted and information about NextAid’s current initiatives will be available, including its new and unique membership program.

This year, NextAid is proud to present partnerships with DubSpot, Fusicology, The MML, Groove Cruise, and a long-standing supporter, Om Records, who will provide exposure for NextAid’s mission at their annual event. The Om:Miami 2009 will take place at Karu y Y in Miami on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00pm, with artists such as Kruder and Dorfmeister, Mark Farina, DJ Heather, Colette, J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science, Mike Monday, DJ Sneak, Samantha James and Fred Everything. For party information, please visit http://www.om-records.com/events/1352.

Om Records has also just committed to “adopt” one of NextAid’s children’s homes at the NextAid/Youth With A Vision Community Center and Children's Residential Village in Dennilton, South Africa. In April, Om will launch a full-blown campaign to raise $29,000 to build and furnish the “House of Om” for children orphaned by AIDS.

Uniting the world of electronic music while helping impoverished children in Africa, NextAid utilizes the momentum of the dance music community to produce music benefits and awareness-raising activities. Its pilot project, the building of a children’s center in Dennilton, South Africa, is on its way to completion. Launched in the summer of 2005, NextAid has completed over 14 structures, trained local builders in eco-friendly construction techniques and helped secure funding for small business development. To watch NextAid’s video of the children’s village project in South Africa, please visit: http://www.nextaid.org/media-nextaidoverview.htm.

NextAid is the only organization founded in the electronic music community that addresses the AIDS orphans crisis in Africa, making it a truly unique social enterprise. Because of this, NextAid has received incredible support over the years from major artists and industry leaders including Cielo, Remix Magazine, AM Only, Ableton, NiteVibe, DJ Dan, Colette, Miguel Migs and Louie Vega. NextAid is also a founding member of the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa (CSAfrica), a collaboration of nonprofit organizations based in Los Angeles all committed to Africa. For more information visit www.csafrica.org.

NEXTAID EVENTS at WMC 2009:

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009 5:00 PM

- South Beach Sessions – “Music, Politics & Social Awareness”
Miami Beach Resort & Spa - 4833 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140
Panel Room: Grande Promenade
Join issue forerunners while they rally around the world's most pressing issues and corresponding initiatives and campaigns. From world poverty to education crisis to malaria to AIDS, this discussion will address some of the most pressing social issues today. WMC and Social Awareness leaders present the means by which the music industry helps to solve such problems and create beneficial change.

Moderator: Lauren Segal-Avenna, Director of NextAid
- Wessel Van Eeden - Dance4Life
- Michele Bass - NextAid
- Darryl Von Daniken - EMSEE.net

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 6:30 PM

- South Beach Sessions – “Green Initiatives in the Music Industry”
Miami Beach Resort & Spa - 4833 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140
Panel Room: Grande Promenade

What is your carbon footprint? How can you green your record label? What are the steps you can take to green your tour? The industry is rallying around conservation efforts in an unprecedented way. Listen to some of the professionals leading this movement in an open forum.

Powered by GreenClubbing.org

Moderator: Mike Zuckerman, Dir. of Sustainability, Zen Compound/Temple Nightclub/Prana
- Dax Lee - The MML Greenclubbing.org
- Susan Lewis - Green Urban Living Center, Miami Dade College
- Anne-Marie Martinez - Greenhouse NYC
- Lauren Segal-Avenna - NextAid
- Ramon Wells - Ross Ellis

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009 1:00 - 5:00 PM

NextAid Beats Build Hope mixer
On a private rooftop overlooking the beach, location revealed upon RSVP confirmation (near 9^th and Ocean Avenue)

- Nickodemus (Turntables on the Hudson)
- J-Boogie (Om Records)
- Black Coffee (Soulistic Music, South Africa)

- Divasonic (Digital Bliss Productions)
Light food served. RSVP only: events@nextaid.org