News of October 25, 2005
Benefit Evening for Assemblies in Motion, the Project by Leila Steinberg and Tupac
In October 2005, Assemblies in Motion hosted its first benefit dinner. A handwritten poem by Tupac was also auctioned off.
Assemblies in Motion, AIM for short, is an arts education initiative that Leila Steinberg had founded together with the young Tupac. In October 2005, it hosted its first benefit evening. As AllHipHop reported on October 25, comedian Mike Epps was set to host the program the following evening, October 26, at the restaurant Vincenti in Brentwood. Supporters included Quincy Jones.
A Poem Under the Hammer
Planned were a reception, a five-course meal by chef Nicola Mastronardi, and performances by Epps and artists from the program. At a silent auction, items going under the hammer included a poem that Tupac had written by hand during his time with Steinberg. The proceeds were designated for art classes and assistance programs in schools, youth centers, children’s homes, and juvenile detention centers.
Workshops as Curriculum
Steinberg led a weekly workshop in which artists wrote songs and spoken word texts; from this, AIM’s curriculum emerged, including the “Rose From Concrete” program. The report recalled that Steinberg had strongly shaped Tupac’s early appearances and brought him together with Digital Underground.