Democracy: The Musical!

In 2010, while I was writing Healing the Heart of Democracy, the Center held two national conferences on the subject, one near Seattle, one near Boston. At both conferences, the leadership team included a gifted musician whose contributions went far beyond providing “grace notes” or “background music” to the talks and group discussions. Music can open pathways into problems and possibilities that words alone cannot.

In Seattle, my musical partner was the amazing Phillip Bimstein. In Boston, my partner was the equally amazing Carrie Newcomer. For several years, Carrie has been an “at large” ambassador for the Center, generously supporting our work in every way she can.

Following the Boston conference, Carrie and I began imagining a “music and spoken word” event, an interplay of her work and mine, rooted, as Carrie says, “in the power and depth of the human story, and the hope that what connects us is stronger than that which divides us.” The result is “Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good,” whose first two performances will occur early in 2012. (Carrie’s many fans will recognize “A Gathering of Spirits” as the title of one of her most-loved songs.)

The first performance will be on Sunday, January 22, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, in the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. (For further information see www.luther.edu/publiclife/.) The second will be on Friday, February 10, from 8:00 to 9:30 PM, in the Graham Chapel at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. (For further information, email the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at rap@wustl.edu.) Both events are open to the public, both are free of charge, and both come with a guarantee that I’ll do only the spoken word parts and will leave the singing to Carrie! I’m also delighted to announce that Gary Walters, a gifted pianist who often tours with Carrie, will be joining us for both events. 

To quote Carrie again, “Our music and spoken word event aims to integrate heart and mind, story and song. The presentation will be quietly counter-cultural as we speak the words of the poets, the prophets, and the dreamers, and sing music that comforts the heart and engages the mind. We hope to offer a reminder of the value and worth of our individual stories as well as the power of the gathered community when we agree to roll up our sleeves and work together for the common good.”

P.S. In both Decorah and St. Louis, the music and spoken word event will be paired with a day-long retreat on “Healing the Heart of Democracy” co-facilitated by Carrie and me. Participation is limited to fifty people, and first priority will be given to on-campus and local applicants, so it is unlikely that others will be able to attend. But if you wish to inquire about the possibility of attending a retreat—on Jan. 21 in Decorah or February 11 in St. Louis—please use the contact information above.