In an exciting fusion of film, fashion, world culture, and fair trade advocacy, The Fourth Annual New England Culture Fest benefit extravaganza returned to the Arts District of historic downtown Lowell, Mass. Enterprise Bank Parking Lot (2-10 PM) on September 1st 2007 with a touch of Hollywood in headliners, Leon and the Peoples, featuring Leon, the star of films such as blockbuster Cool Runnings, Above the Rim and Waiting to Exhale. Out of a love for music apparent through his award winning performances in The Temptations and The Little Richard Story, Leon bursts onto the scene with his signature Reggae - Soul sound in honor of the economic empowerment work of the non-profit organization, Second World.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City have greater notoriety and longevity, but when it comes to timeliness and multicultural diversity, Lowell, Massachusetts was the place to be this Labor Day weekend. The nation’s first festival dedicated to Fair Trade returned on Saturday, 2 September, highlighting a global movement celebrating creative excellence, and the continuing struggle to provide a self-sustaining living wage and safe working conditions for artisans, musicians and workers worldwide. Purchase a print to support the NECF!

Second World Productions, plans events and provides fundraising entertainment packages for non profit organizations, companies who want their events to benefit fair trade, and a plethora of world music events. This event entertainment was provided on behalf of Community Teamwork, the Merrimack Valley's largest non profit and was a carnival theme complete with reggae band, steel drummer, beautiful carnival dancers, disc jockey, and custom created Caribbean video installation.

Second World Nepal Initiatives From April 5th, 2005 until May 8th 2005 Valerie Parker traveled with her cameras in hand documenting her journey every step of the way. The film called "Mother Earth," and photography project "Elevation" will be a premier in depth marketing tool for fair trade initiatives in the developing world. These images take you from the deserts of Rajasthan in North India and bustling Delhi, to the temples of Kathmandu, Nepal and Tharu indigenous communities in Chitwan National Park, to the seat of the Tibetan Government in exile and home of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, and finally to South India fishing villages and Pondicherry as well as the Mecca of movie making in the East, Chennai. This component depictes the development stages in working with theTharu indigenous people in creating and implementing a long term arts training program to create economic independence and self-sustainability. In addition, this component also includes case studies done of existing projects of the Associated Craft Producers.

The only festival in the United States dedicated to the advancement of fair trade using media, music and fair trade art to create a better world. This festival started in 2004, with earlier events called "Cultural Installations" which infused fashion, cultural unity, and diversity into exciting and dynamic edu-tainment events. Eventually, in 2004 the festival found its' home in Lowell, Massachusetts, the home of the labor movement in the United States- and today, a rich and vibrant diverse community overflowing with music, food and culture from around the globe- the ideal place for such a groundbreaking festival! Get ready for The New England Culture Fest coming your way Labor Day weekend!

Thangtong Lhugar Performing Arts in Dharamsala. This project consists of raising funds to further develop this grassroots cultural preservation program around the ancient and endangered art of llamo (Tibetan Opera) which targets young Tibetan refugees as the program beneficiaries who go on to professional careers in the field. Completion of the Second World documentary /photo sales will assist in raising the needed funds to build needed facilities, and address current housing and running water issues at the institution’s site in Dharamsala.

These initatives were researched and groundwork was developed in April of 2004. Valerie Parker-Diallo conducted field interviews and research for future Second World work as part of a special delegation to Peru from the International Rotary Foundation. Parker-Diallo was chosen to be among a team of five exceptional leaders in their fields to speak on a ten city tour of the country. During this valuable and enriching trip, Parker-Diallo represented the United States in Spanish language presentations for numerous conferences, and institutions and was interviewed by members of the Peruvian press. "It was such a privelage to have been selected as part of this excepional team, and the experience and the people I met, were an amazing gift," commented Parker-Diallo.