Jammin' at The Roots Room

With dreadlocks down to his waist and an intrinsic talent for music, Stann Champion is the musical champion of his neighborhood. NEIU students can jam to reggae and dance to the beat of their own drummer in Stann's eclectic environment known as The Roots Room at 5203 N. Kimball, just a short walk away from the NEIU main campus. This colorful intimate venue is cunningly hidden just north of Foster Avenue on the west side of the street. The Roots Room features international music from all over the world, such as samba, reggae, soukous, calypso, salsa and merenge, as well as other world rythms. Run with passionate commitment to the community, the Roots Room is co-owned by Tommie Love and Stann Champion of the Roots Rock Society, a successful reggae band that was formed in 1986 and has toured all over North America. The band was formed to keep African-American culture alive through music, dance and song. According to Champion, the music of the Roots Rock Society follows the same route as the slave trade, with origins in African rhythms, the music has gone on to include a strong Caribbean influence with American overtones. This venue is unusual since the owners of the Roots room show that they care about people through community involvement and the transformative nature of music, the universal language. Champion refers to traditional radio as "narrow cast", because it is not inclusive of all people. He feels the best way to be broadcast is to create a space where people of like minds dedicated to diversity and community can gather. He knows from experience that music can save people from lives of crime.

"Criminals aren't drawn to people who are focused on healthy activities. The Roots Room is our new village. We are inspiring people to come out and participate! Ultimately, what it comes down to is this: are you part of the problem, or are you part of the solution? The Roots Room is part of the solution," says Champion.

As part of their community-based solution, the Roots Room works with Dr. Jo Karr of NEIU on her Jamaican Literacy Project, raising classroom materials and books for underprivileged youth in Jamaica. Champion is in the midst of collaborating with Karr on a filmmaking venture with sixth graders at Budlong Elementary for the NEIU Chapter of the Illinois Education Association's (IEA) upcoming Golden Eagle Future Filmmaker (GEFF) awards in March. The Roots Room is also planning a fund-raising campaign to help those devestated by the Haitian earthquake.

An affordable community-based juice bar that serves Jamaican soda, popcorn and jerk chicken, the Roots Room is open to everyone 18 years and up. Children are welcome to attend in the company of an adult. The Roots Room is free to NEIU students on "Stress Relief Night", which happens on the third Thursday of every month. For more information on the Roots Room go to Roots Room.net or call (773) 320-1077.