PRESS

  1. 01. GOOD Magazine

    LIVING ROOM LISTENER
    Mike de la Rocha was selected as one of GOOD Magazine’s top 100 people changing the world in 2014. GOOD states, “Inspired by the United Farm Workers’ house parties of the 1960s and ’70s, de la Rocha started the Living Rooms Across America tour to initiate intimate conversations about art, personal development, and criminal and social justice. He uses music and storytelling to interact with his audience, engaging in a dialogue that raises awareness of violence and its victims.” Click here to read more GOOD Magazine

  2. 02. Huffington Post

    WHY VERSUS WHAT
    The last “why-er” I would like to share, is one of the most giving, loyal, kind people I have ever met — if you know him, you are shaking your head in agreement — Mike de la Rocha. He works with incarcerated youth, and is an extremely talented musician. He took two diverse roads, which he has turned into one “why.” He created a living-room-across-America tour, using his music as a foundation to inspire people to share their stories of gun violence. Click here to read more Huffington Post

  3. 03. Stanford Social Innovation Review

    SOCIAL CHANGE VIA THE LIVING ROOM
    Inspired by the home meetings of the United Farm Workers in the 1960s and 1970s, musician, writer, and cultural activist Mike de la Rocha launched The Living Rooms Across America Tour. This multi-city tour convened elected officials, cultural influencers, business leaders, artists, and others in the homes of local leaders for open conversations on gun violence issues. The grassroots initiative used the power of story and music to help break down barriers, and change politics and attitudes. Click here to read more SSIR Review

  4. 04. TEDx Venice Beach

    PLAY MUSIC AND FIGHT CRIME
    In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. Watch Mike de la Rocha’s TEDx Venice Beach Video where he discusses the inspiration for The Living Rooms Across America Tour and performs “Just Be You,” an original song from the tour. Click here to watch the video TEDx Venice Beach

  5. 05. Stanford Social Innovation Review

    WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE
    Recently, there was the Los Angeles International Airport shooting—before that, it was the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard, the Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Aurora movie theater, Gabby Giffords in Tucson. Before that, it was Columbine High School, and so on. With every horrific story of gun violence, we vow to amend gun laws so that they require universal background checks and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. We talk about increasing spending on mental health programs. Then, as the news coverage fades, so does our attention. Click here to read more SSIR Review

  6. 06. Chicago Tribune

    CHICAGO IDEAS WEEK TO END VIOLENCE
    Joseph Jones could have been in prison. At 14 years old, with an absent father and a mother in a coma, Jones shouldered the responsibility of taking care of a younger brother and a younger sister, washing cars in his West Englewood neighborhood for $10 a day to keep them fed. He coped with life the only way he knew how: joining a gang and selling drugs. “I didn’t know this is wrong,” said Jones, now 18. “A cop could have pulled me over, and I wouldn’t have known this is wrong.” But Jones isn’t in prison today. Click here to read more The Chicago Tribune

  7. 07. Chicago Ideas Week

    CIW AND LIVING ROOMS ACROSS AMERICA DREAM BIG TO ERADICATE VIOLENCE
    Chicago Ideas Week (CIW) partnered with musician and activist Mike de la Rocha this year to find solutions to our country’s violence and illegal gun problem. De la Rocha is leading a four-month tour called The Living Rooms Across America Tour  that stops in six major cities, including Chicago, to have intimate discussions with youth and their families about violence and illegal gun use. Click here to read more Chicago Ideas Week’s Ideasphere

  8. 08. The Clarion Ledger

    LOCALS SHARE STORIES FOR DOCUMENTARY ON GUN VIOLENCE
    Curbing the crime and gun violence that plague many parts of the city of Jackson could start with a simple conversation, say local groups working with law enforcement agencies. The Living Rooms Across America Tour is using music as a catalyst to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in America. In collaboration with Chicago Ideas Week, an annual gathering of global thinkers, the tour is visiting 10 cities in 10 states – Jackson among them. It culminates with a final performance and conversation in front of White House officials in October. Click here to read more The Clarion Ledger

  9. 09. HyperVocal

    IT WAS JUST A DREAM
    It started out as a dream. An ambition that quickly turned into reality as I poured my entire heart and soul into making The Living Rooms Across America Tour making happen. I didn’t just want to coordinate a nationwide tour. I wanted to change the world. I wanted to follow my bliss and play music that would inspire people and help reinforce the concept that love is critical to overcoming so many of our personal and societal challenges. Click here to read more HyperVocal

  10. 10. Forbes

    ANOTHER DETROIT IS HAPPENING
    During the 2012 Living Rooms Tour, Mike visited Detroit as part of “Another Detroit Is Happening,” a gathering of 125 of the most amazing thinkers, doers, entrepreneurs and activists from across North America. Click here to read more Forbes


© 2014 Living Rooms Across America