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SOCENT BLOG 

​Stranger Than Fiction

4/22/2018

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​One day during nascent creative development at Socent Studios our CEO-founder Justin Bastian was researching ancient African culture. Through this effort he stumbled onto the symbol and history of the ancient solar god, "Akongo."

​As Justin would discover, Akongo represented the universe's creative life force. Though we haven't validated the history or symbol with a scholar, the impact Akongo had on Justin that night was resonate. Today it symbolizes both our philosophy and mission at Socent Studios:
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The golden dot in the middle represents you, us and all that we know.

The black surrounding the golden dot represents our creative potential, the universe and all that we don't know.

​The golden circle encompassing both represents the sacred circle of life, our perpetual pursuit of creative potential and a destiny that unites us all.
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Shortly following Justin's discovery of Akongo, he and Mike Ramsdell would be introduced via chance (Virginia!). As fate would have it this introduction led Justin and Mike on a journey together to eastern Congo.

​Made possible by Morgan Darwin's and Matt Mondero's early investment into Justin and Socent Studios, Mike led Justin through eastern Congo to listen and learn from the amazing Congolese thought leaders that shaped his award-winning Congo documentary, When Elephants Fight. Thought leaders such as Mama Justine, Fidel Bafilemba, Amani Matabaro and Rebecca Kabugho.

​While in Congo Justin and Mike solidified their brotherhood atop Mount Nyiragongo. 

Immediately following their return from the Kivus, Justin dove into updating Socent Studio's venture due diligence. This resulted in his introduction of the Socent Studios logo you see today.

Shortly after, Mike texted Justin a picture of the symbol he placed inside the connecting band tattooed to his forearm, years prior. An icon Mike chose to symbolize his all-in determination to make When Elephants Fight for Congo:
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​Our truth is stranger than fiction.
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Historic Cleveland Tower Lighting For DRC Peace, #13MillionInNeed

4/19/2018

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FOR HOPE AND HUMAN DIGNITY

CLEVELAND, OH — In 2017 Socent Studios journeyed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to meet with members of Lucha RDC (BBC World Service). LUCHA (fight for change) is a nonviolent, non-partisan, youth-organized citizen movement made up of Congolese from all walks of life, origins and religions who share in a united desire for a truly independent, constitutional, democratic and prosperous Congo, and who militate for its advent through nonviolent actions. Today LUCHA poses the greatest resistance to DRC's dictator Joseph Kabila. As a result, LUCHA youth have been intimidated, arrested, tortured and killed by the Kabila-led state government. ​Unconscionably, Congo is home to the deadliest struggle for peace and human dignity since WWII (Impact). 
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LUCHA RD Congo
After listening to their stories and learning of their unspeakable struggle Socent founder and CEO Justin Bastian made a promise to Congolese leaders atop Virunga's active startovolcano, Mount Nyiragongo. Justin promised that Socent Studios would return to the United States and light Northeast Ohio's iconic Terminal Tower for Congolese peace and dignity; that Socent would illuminate the darkness to show support and solidarity with all Congolese risking together nonviolently to end our world's deadliest war.
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Michael McCabe
On April 2, 2018 Justin kept his promise and Socent Studios lit Northeast OH's iconic Terminal Tower the colors of Congo's flag. From twilight to dawn Cleveland, OH's landmark Tower and three other K&D Group buildings in Downtown Cleveland radiated with DRC's colors in global solidarity. Powered by unwaivering determination to keep a promise made to comrades atop Mount Nyiragongo, Socent Studios established Cleveland, OH as the first Western city in history to acknowledge Congolese hope and human dignity in such a way.
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Blue: symbolizes Congo's peace and hope.
Red: symbolizes the blood of Congo's martyrs.
Yellow: symbolizes Congo's wealth and prosperity.
Yellow Star: symbolizes unity and brilliant future.

Due to international exploitation of Congo's mineral wealth valued today at $24 trillion, Congolese struggle is directly fueled by our Conflict Electronics. Millions and millions of innocents have been slaughtered and thirteen million more are in critical peril today. Due to 22 years of unfettered geopolitical corruption and transnational exploitation of DRC UN Geneva classified Congo's struggle as a Level 3 Humanitarian Crisis in April 2018, the body's highest level of emergency.
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Thomas Wasinski, April 2, 2018
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Tom Wasinski, April 2, 2018
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Dagna Griffin, April 2, 2018
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Thomas Wasinski, April 2, 2018
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Dagna Griffin, April 2, 2018
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Thomas Wasinski, April 2, 2018
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Dagna Griffin, April 2, 2018
Unfettered plundering of DRC has also placed Congo’s wildlife at grave risk. As a result planet earth’s largest primates, Congo's endemic Eastern Lowland Gorillas (King Kong), are critically endangered and on the precipice of extinction. Additionally, every year roughly 30,000 of Congo’s African Elephants (largest land mammals in the world) are slaughtered for their ivory. It is estimated only 400,000 remain.
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Mike Ramsdell
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Socent Studios and Cleveland, OH stand in solidarity with LUCHA, Congo's youth and all Congolese risking together nonviolently for durable peace, progress, and prosperity.

​#CLE4DRC

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