Beats & Bites: Mosquito Awareness Event & Music Festival Draws Huge Crowd
The Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District (Compton Creek MAD) officially kicked off the beginning of Mosquito Awareness Week with a community music festival and mosquito awareness event, held at Davis Middle School on April 20th.

The 1st Annual Beats & Bites: and 7th Annual Mosquito Awareness Event was a collaborative effort between the Compton Unified School District, Social Justice Learning Institute, Compton Creek MAD, and other community partners.

The event was a rousing success, with over 400 people showing up throughout the day – many bringing their entire family to enjoy a day of great music, fun activities, and hands-on exhibits that raised awareness about the environment, Earth, and mosquitoes.

With live music from YoYo, Elaine Gibbs & the Nu Soul Band, Kim Yarbrough, Jesse Campbell, and Ronnie Martin, among others, attendees were treated to world class performances right here in Compton. Performers all took the time to share important messages and Public Safety Alerts to help underscore the dangers posed by mosquitoes and the diseases that they can transmit.

By partnering with the Social Justice Learning Institute, the organization responsible for the ever-popular Inglewood Jazz Festival, Compton Creek MAD was able to expand its message of awareness and shared responsibility to a huge swath of the Compton Community.

Numerous local officials also joined the festivities, including: Compton Creek MAD Board President (and Compton Unified School Board President) Micah Ali, Compton Creek MAD Board Members Margaret Comer, John Shelton, Janna Zurita, and Tana McCoy (Zurita and McCoy also serve as Compton Council Members); Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and Senator Steven Bradford; and Compton School Board Vice-President Satra Zurita, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, Compton City Council Member Emma Sharif, and Compton City Manager Cecil Rhambo.

We are already looking to next year’s event, ensuring that we have the groundwork in place for a bigger, better, and more effective Mosquito Awareness Event next year.