Organizers of the student talk at Stan Sheriff Center had initially prohibited bringing in cellphones. But they later relented, recognizing that parents needed to be in contact with their kids.

During the hip hop dance and musical performances, not a few people in the audience recorded what they saw with those phones — another no-no that appears to have been relaxed. The emcee — he’s one half of the comedy duo Da Bruddahs — warned folks not to record “or you’re going back on the bus.” Everybody laughed.

To set the scene a bit: Cameras in the arena project what’s on stage to large video screens above. A “Pillars of Peace” banner is brightly illuminated just below the screens.

Local singer Anuhea has the audience singing along to her hit, “Simple Love Song.” And Jack Johnson, I’m told, will perform after all.

—Chad Blair