The University of Windsor’s campus radio station, CJAM 99.1 FM played songs and recorded interviews with the Clash’s Joe Strummer, Saturday, in an effort to raise money and awareness about poverty in the Windsor/Detroit area.
While it may not be clear what the long-dead front man of an English punk band and the elimination of poverty have to do with each other, Sarah Morris, program director of the station said the three-year-old tradition seeks to continue the work of Strummer by using his protest-driven music interwoven with information to help those in the city.
Interviews with local organizations such as the Unemployed Help Centre and House of Sophrosyne were sandwiched between Strummer hits like London Calling and Redemption Song throughout the 24-hour radio event.
“People don’t think about how much these organizations really do to help families and help people in Windsor,” Morris said.
“A lot of people are in tough situations in Windsor right now, and they don’t know where to turn for help. Hopefully, by talking about these organizations, people will get a chance to know more about them.”
Strummer was very socially active, according to Morris, championing causes like environmentalism and poverty reduction throughout his lifetime.
“When people think ‘popular music’ they think of mindless, frivolous music,” she said. “But if you listen to the lyrics of Know your Rights, the song speaks to some very deep social issues.”
After organizing roundtables about homelessness and poverty, the radio station is also raising money for the Windsor Youth Centre through T-shirt sales designed by Serbian-Canadian artist, Nina Bunjevac.
“Statistics show that if you live in poverty when you’re a youth, you’re more likely to be impoverished when you’re older,” Morris said while explaining why the station chose the youth centre.
CJAM also stages radio events for Black History Month, Women’s Day and Women’s History Month as well as Pride.
Murad Erzinclioglu, music director at CJAM 99.1 FM, works the broadcast booth for Joe Strummer Day, a 24-hour marathon to combat poverty in Windsor and Detroit, at the CJAM 99.1 FM radio station at the University of Windsor, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)
