Who needs a Grammy?
"...I just want to say that you are the most genuine person I know who actually lives her principles - moment by moment in your mind and heart and demonstratively through your donation of time and talent at the Peace and Refugee centers and I imagine other places--wherever you live and breathe! You are an inspiration to many!" Joyce S., 2019
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Music Students and Teachers from Center for Refugee Services (CRS)
Field Trip to San Antonio Symphony June 10, 2017
Cirque de la Symphonie
Click picture for story.
Click HERE to listen to a report about the music teaching program for refugee students at CRS that recently aired on KSTX 89.1.
Click HERE to see the Kens 5 TV show about our students performance at Ten Thousand Villages.
Click HERE for a video of our music program at CRS
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Music and Social Justice
When my children were small I thought we would have all the major problems in the world solved by the time they grew up. Wrong. There is still so much to do.
Because I believe songs are a powerful tool for inspiring people to work for a better world, I can't resist providing music for social justice events/projects. I admit to being a woman of strong opinions, and I relish the opportunity to write songs expressing them!
I was recently challenged to write a history of my involvement. Below is a partial list.
At Southern Illinois University during the Viet Nam war years, I was a member of the Southern Illinois Peace Committee and traveled twice to Washington D.C. to participate in massive Moratoriums to end the war. I sang at peace demonstrations on campus.
I wrote songs for these events in San Antonio, helped organize them, and performed at them:
1999 Southwest UU Women's Conference
World Aids Day
World Refugee Day
San Antonio Peace Choir
Memorial for Victims of Domestic Violence, Peace Initiative
Climate Flash Choir, San Antonio City Council Chamber and Earth Day, Woodlawn Park
I performed for the following events and helped organize them:
Walk Against Genocide, San Antonio Coalition Against Genocide
Martin Luther King Vigil, Peace Initiative
Blessing of the Peacemakers, San Antonio Peace Center
Many other events for the San Antonio Peace Center
Centennial of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha
Rally at Arneson River Theater with Arun Gandhi
Season for Nonviolence Events
Concerts with Seattle Peace Chorus, Travis Park Church and Mennonite Church
I performed for:
Solidarity Sunday, University Presbyterian Church
Journey of Hope with Sister Helen Prejean, St. Mary's University
Victim Advocacy Council, Tree of Angels, Madison Square Presbyterian Church
Festival of Human Dignity, Travis Park
Early Morning Worship Service, Martin Luther King March, 2007 and 2008
Student UNICEF, University of Texas
Inner City Development Coffeehouse, Inner City Development
Teaching Peace Conference/Texans for Peace, University of Incarnate Word
Race Unity Day, La Villita
Regional Interfaith Conference, University of Incarnate Word, Oblate School of Theology
One Billion Rising, Alpha Home, Rape Crisis Center, Free Battered Texas Women
Performances elsewhere:
Oneness Festival, Aquarena Center, Boerne TX
Global Action Days for Darfur, Floresville TX
Die-In for Darfur, Schreiner University, Kerrville TX
World Day of Prayer, Crossings Retreat Center, Austin TX
Oasis Women's Center, Alton Ill.
Awards:
Baha'i Unity of Humanity Award 2010
Peace Initiative Phoenix Award 2012
UU Social Justice Through Music Award 2019.
Other work:
Produced two compilation CDs on the theme of peace to benefit San Antonio Peace Center
Participated in the Human Library at UIW as the “book” Pacifist and Songwriter, 2018 & 2019
Since February 2015: Coordinator of Music Teaching Program, Center for Refugee Services
Volunteered at Migrant Overnight Shelter at Travis Park Church with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition.