By Joel Gaspar

I first heard of Frank when he asked us if he could play for our benefit concert against animal cruelty back in May of 2010. Normally we didn’t have musicians that asked us if they could contribute, most of the time it was usually the other way around. After getting to know Frank a little bit more, I began to realize that he was no ordinary musician that sang of the usual heartbreak or how cool he/she was. The music and the message this man carried in his lyrics spoke of empowerment and change. And what was more intriguing was his views on world issues and the problems we have here in Hawaii. As a fresh face to the islands I was shocked at how much Frank knew about our issues here in Hawaii. What fascinated me more was his dedication to helping our homeless problem.

Therefore we at Rise Up Hawaii would like to feature Frank Bressi as our very first, Artist of the Month! With this article we hope this would empower more musicians out there to be more involved in our community and to take part in a positive change for our society.

Who is Frank Bressi?

I’m a songwriter, musician and performer originally from the Jersey Shore. I grew up in Long Branch, New Jersey born to a Merchant Marine father and a mother who was an elementary school teacher. Both my mom and dad are of Southern Italian decent and since my dad came from Italy it makes me second generation. Spending time with the whole family around a big table over a meal was a cultural staple growing up and it gave me an extended sense of self and social responsibility that I carry with me today. To me we’re all family.

I have always liked reading just about anything. I like physics, movies, the outdoors and Jeet Kune Do. I’ve been making music since I was 4 or 5 after finding an old Elvis album in a stack of records in my parents’ den. The first song I ever bought was “Instant Karma!” by John Lennon and my first CD was The Stone Roses. These days I listen to artists like Radiohead, Bjork, The New Pornographers and Trans Am. In addition to making music I have recently begun creating television and film ideas, many of which have social/environmental themes. One of my ideas addresses the homeless problem in Hawai’i. I had to shelf it briefly when I first moved here due to other obligations but since I’ve been living here I feel like I have accumulated enough street level knowledge to get back to work on it. Honolulu is home to some incredibly talented and compassionate people, many of which are committed to positive social change through activism. I consider myself very fortunate to be living here. Since I’ve been living on the island I’ve been lucky enough to volunteer with CMA and Rise Up Hawai’i.

How and why is it important for people especially the youth to be more involved in activism?

Activism is a broad term. It suggests organization, promotion, donations and sometimes controversy. Let’s start by simplifying it down to “taking action in a positive direction”. It is incredibly important for the youth to take action in a positive direction! I think oftentimes people are convinced that they can’t make a difference or that their voice alone won’t be heard but nothing could be farther from the truth. If a young person can find the courage to speak out in a positive, intelligent way, they can be a powerful force of change in the world. But again let’s simplify further…I think the grand scale of problems we face today, both in Hawai’i and elsewhere in the world can have a paralyzing effect on someone who might really want to take action but they’re stuck thinking, “Where do I begin?”.

I suggest starting small. Examine your own life. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the trouble in the world or the question of which “cause” to support at first. Start with yourself and start today. If you see an older person struggling to open a heavy door, help them. If you see a young mother struggling with too many bags, offer to carry some of them. These positive actions only take a minute and need no cash flow to make them work. They don’t need to be advertised or promoted. In fact, no one ever needs to know they happened at all. Slow down your mind, shut off your machines and listen. You will know what to do when the time comes.

If you feel comfortable being socially active on a larger scale you need to educate yourself! I can’t stress this enough. Find a “cause” or problem that means something to you and learn all you can about it because without a firm grasp on the issue you’ll never be able to create the momentum needed for change. Speak intelligently and with compassion and people will listen. They may not agree but they will respect your position if it comes from a place of strength. The same goes for choosing an organization. Education is the key. Investigate the policies and practices of the group. Investigate their positions on issues other than the one you’re interested in supporting. Make sure they’re the kind of organization you can put your heart into and your energy behind.

If you can’t find an existing organization that really speaks for you then create your own! Young people today have resources, energy and passion but many lack direction. They are tricked into apathy by the ruling class because the ruling class rules by fear and persuasion. Activism can be that liberating path of positive direction for many of the young people out there today. We are living in very polarizing times. We are on the brink of a great cultural revolution. Taking positive action now, speaking out for social justice and peace, speaking out for ethical agricultural practices and environmental safety or whatever it is that affects you is the only way to ensure that the world we grow older in and the world your kids grow up in is better than the one we’re in now. What could be more important than that? There are some amazing organizations based right here on Oah’u! Young people interested in getting active can come out and support shows put on by Flux Magazine, CMA and Rise Up Hawai’i. They can get a feel for what issues might be of interest to them and have a great time doing it!

What are some problems or issues you feel that needs to tackled more here in Hawaii or globally. And why?

The first and most visible to me is “Homelessness”. Over the past several months I’ve heard a number of inspired solutions to the homeless issue such as the “River Street Residence” which unfortunately was bogged down in red tape and community opposition until the funding window closed. It’s too bad because that one project alone could have given a fresh start to so many people. Of course, it’s a complex issue that may never be totally “solved” as there are some homeless who refuse to leave the streets but for those that do wish to rejoin society Hawai’i needs to have something in place to provide a sustainable plan of action for them involving community outreach, counseling, transitional housing, education and job placement.

Another issue is “Human Trafficking”. Many people associate that term only with the sex trade however as recent news has reminded us there are countless men and woman lured here to Hawai’i to work on farms. They mortgage their properties, sell off belongings, leave their homes and families and pay huge fees to “Employment Agents” only to be enslaved on plantations living in cramped, unsanitary conditions keeping silent out of fear for their lives and the prospect of never seeing their families again. This is recent news, as in 2010.

The irony? In one problem we have a surplus of people looking for work and in the other we have a surplus of people being shipped in illegally to do just that…

Honolulu growing as a 21st Century city is another issue that I think about often:
To “Rail” or not to “Rail”, rampant construction, abuse of eminent domain, updating the infrastructure. Modernizing the city without sacrificing the Aloha. Sustainable employment vs contract jobs that run out once the construction is completed. Creating a strong public education system that will turn out intelligent, informed and healthy Hawai’ian graduates and competitive employment to keep the best and brightest from leaving for the mainland. Overall, lessening Hawai’ian dependence on the mainland. I’m interested in learning more about the proposed “Windmill” project on Moloka’I which on the surface sounds like a good “Green” idea until you talk it out with some Moloka’I residents as I have. So like I said, it’s an issue I’d like to look more deeply into. This is a crucial time for Hawai’i. We have a unique opportunity here and now to learn from the mainland’s mistakes so we don’t repeat them.

What are your thoughts on the Rise Up Hawaii Movement?

I love Rise Up Hawai’i. Even when you focus on issues or causes outside of Hawai’i the underlying message is that Hawai’I can reach out to the rest of the world and has more to offer than just Waikiki and tourism.

I love how “Rise Up” combines quality local art and bands with a socially significant issue. People who come out to support the events come out for a good cause but also for a good time! It’s a really well run organization. There always seems to be so much thought and planning behind the scenes to ensure the result isn’t just another show but an event that people will remember attending. The trick is to combine a carefree party atmosphere with an intense feeling of doing something good and making a difference and every “Rise Up” event I’ve attended has done just that. I’ve found “Rise Up Hawai’i promotes a very inclusive model as well. You aren’t afraid to work in cooperation with other local organizations to achieve your goals. I have a great respect for groups that work for positive change and get results that inspire people to get involved, become more aware of the world around them and take action! Thanks very much for everything you’ve done so far and all the best for the events you’ve yet to promote. Rock on!

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