Jam for Justice will be on Thursday, May 2, 2024!

Jam for Justice is a music and human rights festival hosted each year at DHS, whose purpose is to spread awareness of current human rights issues. We donate all proceeds to organizations that work to address these issues, often with one main beneficiary and other beneficiaries related to current pressing issues and the work of the club all year. 

In 2023, we focused on both relief efforts for the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.  With the help of the First Bank of Chicago, the DHS Quest cafeteria and DHS Activities office, we were able to raise $1000.  

During the Jam for Justice, there are live performances by students and information tables for a variety of local non-profit organizations.  Representatives from these organizations speak briefly about their work on stage between acts.  Students from Human Rights Club also speak between acts to inform the audience about the Ukraine refugee crisis and other human rights issues, making up the “justice” part of the event.

Interested in Performing?

Fill out this Google Form, which will also be posted in Warrior Words and on the TV screens.  Deadline to sign up is Monday, April 8, 2024!  We'd love it if you would choose a song that relates to social justice; to get inspiration, see Oxfam's Spotify Playlist Songs of Social Justice, Change, and Inspiration.

The History of Jam for Justice

Before Human Rights Club began (around 2006), Deerfield High School had a club called AWARE, which was a gathering of students interested in talking about current events and taking action to raise awareness at the school.  They held Jam for Justice in the evening in the Cafeteria.  There had also been a long-standing event called the Battle of the Bands, which was held in the Courtyard outside of school hours.  These two school events and the phenomenon of music festivals like Lollapalooza and concerts by organizations like Global Citizen and Amnesty International inspired Human Rights Club to ask if the administration at DHS would allow a music and human rights festival during the school day in the courtyard.  Thanks to the support of Mr. Verisario, the Activities Director, the event came into existence.  Here is an article by journalist Steve Sadin from the first Jam for Justice in 2012:  "Deerfield Students Jam for Justice"