DJ Unites Jews and Arabs in Nightclub for Sustainable Cause

Though Scott Manning describes himself as a “Bay Area boy,” his passion to unite cultures through music and sustainable agriculture has spread his influence across the globe.

Born in Redwood City and raised in Los Altos, Manning sparked his journey while gearing up to perform as DJ Selekta Obadayo at the Miami Earthdance International.

One year, Earthdance International, an annual synchronized music and dance festival held in more than 60 countries to promote peace, fell on March 19, 2003: the first day of the Iraq War.

“Here I am trying to create peace and harmony,” Manning said. “It was a total disaster.”

Shocked, would-be participants glued themselves to their televisions or did not have the spirit to join in a day of celebration, Manning said.

The invasion of Iraq set about a period of introspection for Manning who soon met a priest describing the war as a holy war.

“All signs were pointing for me to go to Israel to research it myself,” Manning said.

When Manning arrived in Tel Aviv, he met a Jewish woman from New York who quickly hired him to produce a coexistence event to bring together Jews and Arabs together in the nightclub music scene.

“Little did I know that no one had ever done that before,” he said.

Manning coordinated a mixture of Arab and Jewish DJs to perform at the event entitled “Together” in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

However, establishing the event hit a wall when several Israeli club owners denied hosting the event because they did not want to allow Arabs on their property.

“They said no monkeys were allowed in their club,” Manning said.

Manning felt a swell of anger but kept his cool in order to continue the search for a venue.

“It took every bit of graciousness and discernment I had,” he said.

The discrimination did not stop there. The night before the event, Manning’s office received a bomb threat.

“I was spit on and pushed around,” Manning said.

A narrative of “Together” is detailed in the documentary “Clubbing on the Frontline.”

Manning considers the event, which brought hundreds together in music, the greatest accomplishment of his life.

He then returned to San Francisco to continue his work as a DJ when partying took its toll. Tired of the unhealthy lifestyle often associated with the nightclub scene, Manning took time off to spend time in Santa Cruz and evaluate his music.

“House music is very healing for me,” he said.

Manning said his work is nothing like the blasting sounds of techno, but more characterized by grooves.

“I play beautiful live instruments,” he said. “It really brings young and old together.”

Using Music to Promote Healthier Eating Habits

While in Santa Cruz, Manning changed his diet almost overnight and began to recognize the benefits of an organic lifestyle.

With his new appreciation for healthy sustainable foods, Manning partnered with Sara Paul to found Community Sustainable Agriculture in 2008 in order to circulate the benefits of organic produce.

“I found with my parents and adults that kids are much more receptive,” Manning said.

For this reason, Manning began fundraising to bring gardens to California schools. He has already raised tens of thousands of dollars to promote sustainable foods for the youth of the state.

“That little garden encourages them,” he said. “A lot of that pavement really doesn’t need to be there.”

By the time students graduate sixth grade, Manning said, they will be able to run a small farm.

“Kids are hocking magazines and chocolate bars when they could be fundraising with organic produce,” Manning said.

Manning will begin a tour in San Francisco on Oct. 6 with all proceeds going toward establishing school gardens in California.

Though he is no longer an active partner in the California CSA, Manning is in the process of bringing CSA to Hawaii where he currently resides.

As fundraising for school gardens continue, Manning hopes to create a connection with house music.

The DJ hopes to teach youth through the free software Virtual DJ. Children will be able to produce music to raise funds for campus gardens.

“It empowers kids to create,” he said.

While Manning has travelled all over the world to generate peace and music, there is one central location that will create the most sustainable influence.

“By starting with the school system,” Manning said. “We are starting with the backbone of society.”