Allowing Space for Community to Take Time to Pause

By Jennifer L. Warren

CORNWALL – The lyrics were deeply heartfelt, sincerely revealing and potently inspiring, creating a rippling wave of unity, community, hope and joy among the diverse crowd of attentive listeners.

They included catchy, melodic phrases emphatically delivered by a wide ensemble of talented musicians, chorus chants often echoed back by an engaged audience. The words that enveloped the airwaves included; “We are strong, and we grow stronger every day.” “Put out the fire; our house is on fire.” “Hearts and hands, hopes and plans, that’s what an immigrant brings.” “America; where are we now?” Resounding clapping, smiling and a surge of sheer joy enveloped the Rural Migrant Ministries’ (RMM) idyllic, Storm King Mountain nestled, home base: Grail grounds, on a picture perfect summer afternoon. Enter Saturday’s Voices of Hope Festival Concert, Part II.

“We are celebrating diversity, upholding our beliefs and taking a moment to breathe, while experiencing joy during these difficult times,” explained Gittel Evangelist, Communications Coordinator for RMM. “By coming to this concert, folks have a powerful and simple way to stand up to oppression and the hateful forces around us (standing together, refusing to be diminished, dismissed) and see how ‘joy is a radical act’ as discussed in The Book of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama.”

It’s that very liberating and empowering sense of genuine joy that music-the arts in general-incite in so many, touching our cores, planting seeds of hope. It’s upon those principles that the first Voices of Hope, also hosted by RMM, involving folk legend, Pete Seeger, was created over 10 years ago. Now, as an influx of harsh and divisive issues inundate our political landscape, including on a very personal level for the RMM family, the dire need for a concert sequel seemed more pressing than ever.

“We have a lot of folks in our society who are upset, angry and fearful about what’s going on, and we want to remind them of what’s most important, pausing and celebrating humanity, because when we do so, we create more hope and positivity,” said Richard Witt, Executive Director of RMM. “Our history is filled with the arts which give us inspiration and hope.”

That motivational force field, propelled by an eclectic mix of musicians (several from RMM’s staff), hailing from a wide range of genres: folk, funk and classical, assiduously assembled by Producer, Jeannine Otis, could be seen working its magic for several hours. Musicians not only provided moving, uplifting lyrics in their melodies, but peppered their acts with transformative, personal narratives, including; the return of an immigrant unfairly uprooted from his family, the passage of basic human rights laws- drink breaks and bathroom access- to assist migrant farm workers and the poignant symbolism of a lighthouse alluded to in a song. It all added up to something so many are desperately seeking.

“A lot of people are feeling very isolated these days,” said Wilmer Jimenez, Co-host of the event. “We really want to connect people, and the way to do that is by creating hope.”

That recipe for elusive hope also came in the form of spoken word, something Poet Gold astutely concocted when she unraveled a litany of issues facing the world, leaving her audience with the resounding, repetitive rhetorical query: “America: Where are we now?”
Perhaps summing up the purpose of the afternoon’s success, guided by the uplifting driving forces of music, community, hope and joy, Poet Gold provided her root “solution” to what many deem insurmountable.

“My vote is for humanity,” pitched Gold, clasping her hands, sighing deeply, glancing skyward, and affirmatively acknowledging the inspired crowd, adorning the “Great Lawn.”