A Nova Brazil act A Nova Brazil performing at the Wake Up the Earth festival, one of many bands that got everybody up on their feet dancing in Jamaica Plain last Saturday, May 5th. This is the 40th consecutive year that the JP community has come together with it’s unique multi-cultural festival celebrating the diversity that is Jamaica Plain, and the power of an organized people to shape their own little piece of the world. The festival began as a victory celebration in 1978 when the neighborhood stood up to City of Boston planers to stop construction of a major highway. Elly, one of the MC’s from the Sun Stage explained more. Elly act It was a milestone year for this festival, which is a mixture of music, food, family activities and activism. John was gathering signatures for the Green-Rainbow party John act Speaking on the environment, Sarah is with Boston Climate Action. She had a few choice words about Mayor Walsch. Sarah Act Perhaps because Wake Up the Earth is a celebration of a community standing up to city power could be one reason why any Mayor has never come. Meanwhile the people were certainly enjoying themselves as they danced to the music of local Honk Band, Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band Emperor Norton Amelia act That was Amelia, a 12 year old who has been coming to Wake Up the Earth as far back as she can remember. Tom, a long time JP resident reflected on his history with the Festival. Tom act Three very different styles of music just from walking around. One such different act, and one of the rare quiet ones was Brenda Lau. She herself proved to fit the multi-culturist aspect of Wake Up the Earth Brenda Lau Brenda Lau performing at Wake Up the Earth. Voter Choice Act Drums ambience Bike-A-Thon act That was Angela with Bikes Not Bombs, the Jamaica Plain Bicycle activist group. Wake Up the Earth is an activists delight. It’s also a music lovers delight, as MC Elly introduces a home-grown Jamaica Plain favorite. Elly to Babaloo Jamaica Plain’s own Babaloo had people dancing and grooving on the grass field at the Southwest Corridor site of the 40th annual Wake Up the Earth Festival. Wake Up the Earth happens every year on the first Saturday in May. This event was sponsored by Spontaneous Celebrations, a Jamaica Plain Arts and Education Center. For more information about them, you can visit their Facebook Page or go to their website: SpontaneousCelebrations.org This is Chuck Rosina, reporting…and dancing…at Wake Up the Earth.