College graduation is typically celebrated with family gatherings, followed by summer jobs and fun in the sun. But a national concert tour? Well yes, if you are recent Earlham College grads Dan Mahle and Jamie Utt and their colleague Ian Shaw of the University of Oregon, winners of a $10,000 grant from the Davis Foundation's 100 Projects for Peace.

The award-winning project, "Change from Within: A Verbal Vehicle for Peace and Youth Empowerment," is a speaking and performance tour that will be presented at schools, conferences, camps and other venues across the country this summer. The tour will include the trio's return to Colorado on Thursday, June 12 th with an 8pm performance at Mahle and Shaw's alma mater, the Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder. Utt is also a Colorado native, hailing from Grand Junction. Admission is free for the performance; seating is limited so early arrivals are encouraged. The program content is suitable for ages 14 and up.

"The name of this project reflects our belief that the changes we want to see in the world must begin from within each of us," says Mahle, who along with Shaw formed the socially conscious, hip-hop music group IDeology in 2003 in their hometown of Boulder, Colo. During the tour, IDeology will perform several songs before introducing Utt's interactive, hands-on presentation titled "The Wall." For the past four years Utt has presented "The Wall" to combat prejudice, bigotry and hate to audiences around the country.

"Because Dan and Ian's music is entertaining yet powerfully focused on social justice, it has the power to draw in young people to think about social justice issues," says Utt. "My interactive presentation then offers practical, hands-on processes for finding constructive solutions to combat prejudice, bigotry and hate in our world. By mixing entertainment with a message, we're bridging the gap between young people and some pretty serious discussion they might not readily jump into."

The partners say they hope to inspire positive change by mobilizing young people to promote peace in their own communities. To get involved and obtain more information about IDeology's music and "Change from Within: A Verbal Vehicle for Peace and Youth Empowerment" please visit www.changefromwithin.org.