Thug Life Army

Carlos Santana, musician, humanitarian and world citizen; will attend and speak at the 1^st annual Challenge Future Peace Conference in Bochum, Germany on Saturday, June 30 and perform at a special benefit concert the next day, Sunday July 1.

Challenge Future Peace Conference patrons are South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres – both Nobel Laureates -- and Dr. Ottilie Scholz, the Lord Mayor of the City of Bochum. The Challenge Future organization and its sponsors will bequeath donations to, and concert proceeds will benefit, the San Francisco Bay Area-based Milagro Foundation, founded by Carlos and Deborah Santana in 1998, and the Desmond Tutu Peace Center in Cape Town, South Africa.

The June 30 Challenge Future Peace Conference takes place in the historic Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum, a city in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany's Rhine-Rhur region. The Conference was conceived to stimulate multi-cultural and inter-faith dialogues and address global issues including initiatives to end poverty, spread social justice, strengthen children's and women's rights and protect the environment.

Discussions will also center on Europe's role in the world and the role of artists as peacemakers internationally. The intent is to make this the first of a yearly series of prestigious forums. In addition to the aforementioned patrons, among the dozens of dignitaries and world leaders whose attendance is confirmed are Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Prince Hassan of Jordan and German Parliament President Norbert Lammert.

Carlos Santana, who will introduce Archbishop Tutu at the Challenge Future Peace Conference, said, "I am deeply grateful and supremely honored to be part of this superbowl of consciousness. To be in the company and in the presence of all these luminaries and entities of compassion, mercy and forgiveness fills my heart with hope that the Supreme One has a divine master plan for the highest good for life, people and the planet."

Challenge Future's benefit concert is set for 8PM on July 1 at Bochum's Ruhr Congress. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana will sit in with acclaimed Beninese singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo and German music superstar Peter Maffay. Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) is also scheduled to perform, among other acts. Both the concert and main conference are under the direction of Challenge Future founder Sascha Hellen, who is partnering on logistics with World Vision, an international charitable organization overseeing projects globally.

Concert proceeds benefit The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, a landmark institution aimed at using the experience of the South African people and the example of Desmond Tutu to inspire a new generation of visionary peace builders, and the Milagro Foundation. Since the Santanas established Milagro in 1998, it has granted over $2 million to agencies and programs worldwide serving children and youth in the areas of health, education and the arts.

For more information, log on to http://www.santana.com