Written by: Katherine Kim
This entry is more serious compared to the others. As we approach the holiday season, I’d like to take this moment to reflect on some of the tragedies we’ve endured and what we can do to give back.
Electric Family is built on the foundation that together, we can raise the social consciousness of every person we come in contact with. Whether you purchase a bracelet to support your favorite DJ’s charity or actively go out of your way to volunteer in your community, we all are making a small difference towards a common goal.
Our idols and renowned DJ’s have shown us what it’s like to face tragedy head on and how to respond to such situations. Following the attacks in Paris, Kill Paris publicly announced that he would change his name, and artists like Gesaffelstein held moments of silence to honor the lives lost. Skrillex has shown that every individual’s life is worth honoring instead of scrutinizing and making false assumptions of, while we may never know why an individual takes their own life. Zedd has offered free tickets to his show in the Philippines in exchange for donations that benefit those in need.
We live in a world that is interconnected in many ways -- as the tragedies in Paris and Beirut have occurred, preventing catastrophic events that happen thousands of miles away from our home is inevitable. Social media keeps everyone updated regarding the news worldwide. We are the generation that uses the Internet to keep each other informed and to show support for one another. As socially conscious individuals, we have it within ourselves to reach out and offer a hand to those in need whether it be in person or online.
The bracelets we make are more than a symbol that represents our brand. Each bracelet symbolizes the love and support we have for our community and supports a unique organization. When you wear that bracelet, think about the organization you’re supporting and recognize that you can make an impact on someone else’s life. No matter how small the steps we take, when we count everyone’s small steps we realize that we are, in fact, making strides to better our community. If we do our part for the greater good, we can get to our goal of strengthening the community much faster than if we did it as individuals.
Gather your festival family, and volunteer at a food bank. Donate some of your old clothes that have been sitting in the back of your closets. Just like how we spread positivity and happiness to one another at a festival, try sharing some of that same happiness we experience to someone in your community. Every time you pull on that Electric Family tie-dye hoodie or slip on your favorite artist bracelet, remember the social consciousness you’re endowed with and the impact you can make.
The holidays are a time where giving back is strongly emphasized throughout the world. Many of us just celebrated Thanksgiving and as we move towards the end of the year, I ask that each of you in our family consider making an impact in someone else’s life before 2016. Wear your bracelets proudly. Volunteer at your local community organization or donate to a charity that resonates with your beliefs. Get your friends involved and use your online voice to raise awareness of what’s happening in the world. It doesn’t matter that we might not be famous or as influential as our idols. It doesn’t matter that we’re not Zedd or Skrillex or Krewella. We all have a voice that impacts our community, and we all have a responsibility to care for one another.