Bringing in the crowds
Democratic US Rep. Frost presents event intended to unite and inspire youth voters at MadSoul Music & Arts Fest
Music, arts and politics brought thousands of people from across Florida together Saturday afternoon and into the night in downtown Orlando.
Headliners at the MadSoul Music & Arts Festival included the band MUNA; songwriter, actor and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda; and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Other performers and speakers included state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando; singer Melanie Faye; and Democratic state
Rep. Justin Jones of Tennessee. Jones was one of two Black lawmakers expelled, then swiftly reinstated, after calling for gun control reform on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives last year.
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Orlando and the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, said this event attracted a record number of people to Loch Haven Park, located next to the Orlando Science Center.
“This event is about bringing the arts together, bringing people together to inspire them and give calls to action for the world that we deserve because Florida is worth fighting for,” he said.
Frost said he has held an event similar to MadSoul on a smaller scale, with an attendance of just 49 people. This year, however, he said more than 3,500 people were attending the festival.
Aside from music and art, a primary focus of this event was to unite people and encourage youth to register to vote.
“I have hope that we can make a better world because democracy is on the line and we really need you to vote,” Miranda said to the audience. “The future is so bright. I am so proud to be here.”
Teen volunteers working with People Power for Florida brought the importance of voting to the attention of attendees.
Louell White, a 15-yearold Orlando high school student, was one of these volunteers.
“I’ve always been really active in the political community and hearing that so many amazing artists and speakers were going to be here really just inspired me to come out and support my community,” White said.
Other advocacy organizations at the event included the Orange County Democrats, The Black Health Commission and Moms Demand Action.
Ivy Kilpatrick, a South Florida native and current Georgia resident, said she traveled all the way Atlanta for MadSoul.
“To get people out and having fun, being engaged in from our community and voting. It’s really important, especially given the state of our country,” Kilpatrick said.