Sonic Watermelons Sonic Watermelons

Film from the Latino Diaspora And Ronald Kevin Lewis Visits Sonic Watermelons

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Original Episode Title:

From Consumer to Producer: The Providence Latin American Film Festival Visits Sonic Watermelons*

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Original Episode Date:

August 23, 2016

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Name of Guest:

Jose Ramirez and Ron Crosson
Providence Latin American Film Festival

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Original Episode Summary:

The world is a big place with big ideas and lots and lots of music. That is the tagline of Sonic Watermelons, but remove the word music and replace it with movies, and we might be talking about the Providence Latin American Film Festival (PLAFF), coming up in September. Today on Sonic Watermelons, we talk more about PLAFF with Programming Coordinator and Treasurer Ron Crosson and Sonic Watermelons' own Jose Ramirez, who is serving in his first year as Co-Director of the festival.

What does the process look like to move from attending and consuming the culture and media at a film festival to curating, selecting and arranging the pieces of a festival? What is the process used to select a film and how do you get a team onto the same page? And what is the purpose of PLAFF and future direction of the organization and event? We'll talk about this and more TODAY on Sonic Watermelons, Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

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Contact Info for Guest(s):

www.plaff.org
www.facebook.com/Latin.American.Film.Festival
www.facebook.com/events/211904795893636/

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More Info About the Guest, Topics and/or Podcast:

Micro-filmmaking and discussions about Latinos in Hollywood: it’s that time of year again, friends - Providence Latin American Film Festival time. This year’s events run September 28 thru October 2nd, and in addition to the capital city, screenings are also happening at Bryant University in Smithfield and the Warwick Public Library (in city of said name).

PLAFF is in its 24th year and #sonicwatermelons team member, Jose Ramirez, has evolved from a guy who used to watch the films to being a co-director (alongside Saul Ramos). Ron Crosson, on the other hand, has been involved since 2000 and during times in which attendees and participants included. Danny Glover, Anthony Quinn, and Antonio Banderas.

Learn about how film festival producers, like those part of PLAFF, and Latino filmmakers worldwide have interacted with Cuba and have dealt with questions of geography, identity and location, and hear about what’s coming up at this year’s festival in “Film from the Latino Diaspora and Ronald Kevin Lewis Visits Sonic Watermelons” the podcast.

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Audio from the podcast also comes from the Sonic Watermelons archives:

The Tuesday September 20, 2016 live episode of Sonic Watermelons: “Breathe and Climb to the Top: Ronald Kevin Lewis Visits Sonic Watermelons.” #terencecrutcher #keithlamont

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

www.bsrlive.com
www.venussings.com
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Reza Clifton
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie

Original Episode Title:

#GetBlissed on Sonic Watermelons*

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Original Episode Date:

Tuesday July 19, 2016

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Name of Guest:

Christine Paige, Owner
Bliss Salon, Providence, RI

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Original Episode Summary:

Are you part of #teamnatural or do you play for #teamrelaxed? Are those extensions or is that your real hair? Those are just some of the questions that come up when the topic of hair comes up around Black women, other women of color, and...well, a lot of folks, actually. Today on Sonic Watermelons, we'll talk about some of these issues and we'll dive deeper thanks to our special guest, Christine M. Paige, licensed cosmetologist, master stylist and owner of Bliss Salon in Providence, RI.

Paige, who is an avid social media user (follow #getblissed and find her on Facebook under "Christine M. Paige" to follow her "Live" videos), has not only been sharing her skills and #blackgirlmagic through one-on-one appointments at Bliss Salon, but also through live hair demonstrations, model and runway styling, classroom teaching, mentoring girls and women, and more.

TODAY on Sonic Watermelons, we'll #getblissed and talk to Paige about what it's been like to open and run a business in RI; what kinds of changes she's seen in hairstyles, styling techniques, and how we view ethnic hair and textures; and what kind of information someone getting into cosmetology and hair should know. We'll also have fun covering topics like trends and techniques to think about for late summer and fall and whatever else we want to because the world is a big place with big ideas and lots and lots of music. Tune in LIVE, Sonic Watermelons, Tuesday, July 19, 7-8 PM, bsrlive.com/live-stream.

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Contact Info for Guest(s):

Bliss Salon
239 Atwells Ave.
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 228-3722
www.Blisssalon555.com
blisssalon239@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/christinempaige



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More Info About the Guest, Topics and/or Podcast:

Check out a Facebook Live video from Christine Paige, and you might think that nourishing and caring for hair is easy and something that anyone can do. But that’s not necessarily true, says Paige, especially when you’re talking about colors, chemicals, and coming back from breakage and damage. Paige should know; she’s a 15-year veteran master stylist, licensed cosmetologist, and the owner of Bliss Salon in Providence.

Recently, on Thursday, September 15, Paige held a Grand Opening for the new location for Bliss Salon, which saw the business move from its (now former) Douglas Ave location to 239 Atwells Ave, still in Providence. The location might have moved, but the needs are still the same. Tune in to “Talking Hair and Getting Blissed: Christine Paige Visits Sonic Watermelons” to hear Paige discuss different topics and stories, including: 1) what it looks like running a business in RI; 2) what protective styles are and why they matter; 3) the do’s and don’ts of relaxers and weave; 4) why natural/curly hair care looks different; and 5) what the pitfalls are of doing certain styles and using certain chemicals at home.

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Audio from the podcast also comes from the Reza Rites and Sonic Watermelons archives:

Remix/mash-up produced by Reza Clifton featuring the poem “Hair” written and performed by Qi Dada of the band Riders Against the Storm and and Macomé [Yoruba BPM Mix] of the compilation “ROUGH GUIDE TO URBAN LATINO.”

Mic-check - “Let's Talk Hair: Meet Mary Gwann and Learn About the Bazaar Going on this Saturday” - November 17, 2005 - Reza Clifton, Mary Gwann, Jose Ramirez

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

www.bsrlive.com
www.venussings.com
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Reza Clifton
Tamara Diaz
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie

Original Episode Title:

Talking Black Businesses and More with Lisa Ranglin: Sonic Watermelons, July 26, 2016

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Original Episode Date:

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

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Name of Guest:

Lisa Ranglin, President, RI Black Business Association

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Original Episode Summary:

What else can we do?

From the the counter-top sit-ins we saw during the Civil Rights movement of yesteryear, to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations we've seen recently across the country and globe, "what else can we do" is a question that many have asked following mass protests and direct action campaigns held for decades. Consider this for a contemporary look:

In the days and weeks since the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police, social media sites and Black news spaces have posted about the need to support Black businesses and Black-owned banks as one way to do more to support and bring resources to the Black community. But here in RI, one question to ask is how are Black businesses doing?

Today we talk to Lisa Ranglin, President of the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) to learn about what it's like to open and run a business in RI and what it's like when you are a Black or Brown person, woman, and/or other underrepresented entrepreneur? We'll also discuss the purpose and function of the RI Black Business Association, and we'll talk about the kinds of people, members, and/or partners that support RIBBA? We'll also talk to Lisa about what current candidates should consider from the point of view of the Black business community and we'll ask her about someone special in her life participating in the upcoming elections!

What else can you do? Tune in to Sonic Watermelons.

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Contact Info for Guest(s):

www.ri-bba.com
www.twitter.com/ribbabiz
www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandBlackBusinessAssociation
401-383-1179

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More Info About the Guest, Topics and/or Podcast:

Three thousand, three hundred and sixteen: that is the number of Black owned businesses in RI, and one way to reach them is the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) according to Lisa Ranglin, President of RIBBA. Ranglin joined Sonic Watermelons on July 26, 2016 to talk more about her organization and about the different challenges facing Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned business in RI and the services designed to avoid or overcome them.

Some of those challenges include the lack of access to capital and contracts, says Ranglin, despite various laws and policies requiring a minimum number of contracts be made to women and minority-owned firms. Ranglin says that even in the present year, Governor Raimondo talks frequently about attracting new businesses to the state at the same time that there is a need to invest in micro-companies that are already here in RI.

Saying you can’t find qualified people of color isn’t enough, says Ranglin, especially when there are organizations like RIBBA and events like their Annual Awards Gala,, coming up this year on Friday October 7th, 2016. There are also a number of other initiatives, hashtags and activities that have risen up (#buyblack; #bankblack), inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and/or a desire to better catalogue and, therefore support, Black-owned businesses and communities disproportionately affected by police brutality. More information on some of these efforts are below, including a page showcasing efforts by Sonic Watermelons contributor Kabir Lambo and his Sorry4theBlog site:
http://sorry4theblog.com/category/bobri/
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/dc/bankblack-boosts-local-business/312641514
http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/08/30/491933320/for-some-african-americans-efforts-to-buyblack-present-challenges

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

www.bsrlive.com
www.venussings.com
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Reza Clifton
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie

Original Episode Title:

Back to School with James Monteiro

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Original Episode Date:

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

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Name of Guest(s):

James Monteiro

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Original Episode Summary:

The stores are stocked with notebooks, pens, and backpacks. The flyers are hitting our newspapers and stuffed in our mailboxes. If you have a kid in your house, they are probably scrambling to get that summer reading finished (started?) and dreading the start of a new school year.

Back to School means something a little different for tonight's guest though. James Monteiro runs the Prison Bridge Program through College Unbound. We're going to spend our time talking about the program, it's impact on the students who participate, and the fellowship that James was awarded to keep his work going. Get your #2 pencils out and join us for another amazing hour of Sonic Watermelons.

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Contact Info for Guest:

www.collegeunbound.org

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More Info About the Guest, Topics and/or Podcast:

A lot has been said about the school to prison pipeline. On Tuesday, August 9, 2016, Sonic Watermelons joined the conversation (again) by speaking with James Monteiro, the founder of the Prison Bridge Program through College Unbound. Monteiro’s organization assists individuals who are currently incarcerated and recently released from prison who are trying to obtain their post-secondary education - with the overarching goal of reducing recidivism. Just recently hitting a one-year anniversary, the Prison Bridge Program, says Monteiro, serves 80 students who are currently serving sentences and 14 students who have been released. Though they are unable to award degrees to incarcerated individuals, the program is able to offer up to 12 college credits for free to those inmates. In addition, the Prison Bridge Program can help students apply for college, find jobs, and connect to substance abuse counseling. More than just an education, the Prison Bridge Program offers a network for former prisoners who want to improve their lives and support their families.

Monteiro, as a formerly incarcerated person, has a unique perspective on the power of education to transform a life. However, he also knows the statistics, like those shared in a 2013 study from the Rand Corporation, “a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.” Among their findings is that inmates who participate in correctional education programs had a “43 percent lower odds of recidivating than those who did not.”

Previous legislation that effectively eliminated the opportunity for incarcerated individuals to obtain Pell Grants, the costs to incarcerate men and women in RI, and the way to get started if you were recently or are currently incarcerated: these are all additional topics discussed during the August 9, 2016 conversation with James Monteiro and highlighted in Building Bridges, Dismantling Systems: James Monteiro Talks Education And Incarceration on Sonic Watermelons (The Podcast).

To access the Rand Corporation study, www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR266.html.

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Audio from the podcast also comes from:

The Sonic Watermelons / Reza Rites Archive: “Problems with Private Prisons and Students Against the Prison Industrial Complex: New Podcasts from Reza Rites and Sonic Watermelons” - http://bit.ly/2cvoMaD

Mighty Mystic, Concrete World - www.mightymystic.com - https://youtu.be/OWUT7YCXWEA

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

www.bsrlive.com
venussings.wordpress.com
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Reza Clifton
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie

SUMMER FESTIVALS, PART DEUX And Fall Flicks for Family and You:
A SONIC WATERMELONS PODCAST

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Original Episode Title:

Finding Your Roots with Afropunk, Film Festivals and More: Sonic Watermelons, August 2, 2016

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Original Episode Date:

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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Name of Guest(s):

Conversation with #SonicWatermelons’ team members Reza Clifton and Kabir Lambo.

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Original Episode Summary:

Music, movies and art: these are all great past-times and hobbies, but they are also great ways to relax and release. That is why we're taking some time on today's Sonic Watermelons to talk about some of the events, gatherings, and big parties coming up in RI, New York, and beyond. We'll share dates and details about Afropunk, the Providence Latin American Film Festival, the next Roots Picnic and more. To get you warmed up, we'll share original reporting and synopses of previous and recently past events, like the Afro-Latino Festival and Art on the Ave. The world is a big place, with big ideas, and lots and lots of music. Learn more about where to find and have fun with it all: Sonic Watermelons on BSR, 7-8 PM, www.bsrlive.com/live-stream.

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Contact Info for Guest(s):

REZA CLIFTON: www.AmbitiousBlackFeminist.com - www.VenusSings.com - @rezaclif on Soundcloud, FB and Twiter - @3amblack on Instagram, FB and Twiter

KABIR LAMBO: www.Sorry4TheBlog - @Sorry4TheBlog on Twitter - @sorry4 on FB - @thekabirreport on Twitter

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More Info About the Guest, Topics and/or Podcast (click links to read archived tweets):

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_1.pdf

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_2.pdf

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_3.pdf

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_4.pdf

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_5.pdf

https://venussings.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/summer-fest-tweet_6.pdf

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Audio from the podcast also comes from PLAFF and the film “Ixcanul” :

ABOUT PLAFF: “The Providence Latin American Film Festival (PLAFF) is the largest Latin film festival in all of New England. [PLAFF] feature[s] films from Spain, Portugal and all Latin America.” Learn more by visiting www.plaff.org, by finding PLAFF on Facebook and Twitter, or by reading through the archived tweets corresponding with the live Sonic Watermelons episode (see above).

ABOUT IXCANUL: “María, a 17 year old mayan girl, lives on the slope of an active volcano in Guatemala. An arranged marriage awaits her. Although María dreams of seeing the “big city," her condition as an indigenous woman does not permit her to manage her own destiny.” The film won the Golden Bear at the 2015 Berlinale in Germany, and as of last year, PLAFF was “the only venue in all of New England where you’ll get to see this unforgettable film.” See the trailer on the PLAFF page, or visit their IMDB page to learn more: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4135844.

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

Web: www.bsrlive.com
Instagram: @sonicwatermelons
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Reza Clifton
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie
Kabir Lambo

Christopher Johnson Visits Sonic Watermelons Y Las Vidas Negras Importan

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Original Episode Title:

*Spoken Word, Speaking Truth: A Conversation with Christopher Johnson, June 28, 2016

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Original Episode Date:

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

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Name of Guest(s):

Christopher Johnson, poet, playwright, actor, director

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Original Episode Summary:

Christopher Johnson has spanned a wide spectrum of stages in Providence, from spoken word to writing and acting in plays and poetry nights. AS220, Everett, and Brown University have all hosted him and tonight we have the pleasure of his company. We will talk about his local productions as well as his exploits nationwide and what he has on tap for the near future.

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Contact Info for Guest(s):

www.facebook.com/Christopher-Johnson-Spoken-Word-Artist-96403640897
https://soundcloud.com/tranzitthawt-1

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Audio from the podcast also comes from the Jesse Williams 2016 BET Awards speech:

On June 26, 2016, the television network BET held its annual awards program. Actor Jesse Williams was honored with the the Humanitarian Award; his acceptance speech went viral, immediately. To listen or read the full speech:

http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2016/acceptance-speeches/jesse-williams-receives-humanitarian-award.html
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/4/jesse_williams_powerful_bet_awards_speech

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Audio from the podcast also comes from the Reza Rites Archive:

Earlier this summer, July 8-10, 2016, the New York-based Afro-Latino Festival held its fourth annual celebration. This year, Day 1 of the festival featured a full day of information and education exchanges that included a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, curated panels, a keynote luncheon, an exclusive film screening screening and dozens of performers. Some of the talks came with titles like “Transnational, Migration, Immigration & Human Rights;” “What Does A BlackLatinx Feminism Look Like;” “#BlackLivesMatter Beyond Borders: Race, Space & Consciousness in the International Decade of Afrodescendants Part II; and “Afrolatin@S, ¡Presente!: Representation And Cultural Heritage Consciousness,” which included Afro-Colombian Music Ethnographer, Geko Jones, as a panelist.

Jones was also one of the musicians who spoke to Sonic Watermelons Executive Producer Reza Clifton during a series of interviews she did at the 2015 Afro-Latino Festival. At the time, Clifton interviewed Jones and “Uproot Andy” who make up the DJ-duo Que Bajo! You can hear their voices, and others, in today’s podcast, which includes part II of Reza’s digital mixtape, “Venus Sings and La Musica Mueve at Afro-Latino Festival, NYC.” The audio medley highlights, in order of appearance, 1) Los Rakas, Africana, played at Afro-Latino Festival (audience singing along and dancing),; 2) Geko Jones & Uproot Andy of Que Bajo!, Afro-Latino Festival, 2015; 3) Kafu Banton, Live Performance, Afro-Latino Festival, 2015; 4) Geko Jones & Uproot Andy; 5) Kafu Banton; 6) Geko Jones & Uproot Andy; 7) Kafu Banton; 8) Danay Suarez, phone interview, following Afro-Latino Festival, 2015; and 9) Kafu Banton, Live Performance. To listen to “RI Food Fight and Afro-Latino Festival on Sonic Watermelons” which features part I of “Venus Sings and La Musica Mueve at Afro-Latino Festival, NYC” click here: https://soundcloud.com/sonicwatermelons/ri-food-fight-and-afro-latino-festival-on-sonic-watermelons

For more info on Afro-Latino Fest, Artists:

http://www.afrolatinofestnyc.com/
https://www.facebook.com/events/983259308458947/
http://quebajo.com/
https://danaysuarez.bandpage.com/
http://losrakas.com/
www.facebook.com/KafuBanton507

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Sonic Watermelons Contact Info:

www.bsrlive.com
Instagram: @sonicwatermelons
Facebook: @sonicwatermelons
Twitter: @WatermelonRadio
Soundcloud: @sonicwatermelons
iTunes: “sonic watermelons”

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Sonic Staff & Volunteers

Michelle Arias
Reza Clifton
Deejay Kellan
Jessica LaBrie