2020: What A Year
There’s nothing that we can say about this year that won’t be echoed by nearly every other human on the planet. However, thanks to our community of artists, dancers, poets, singers, activists, educators and learners, donors and community leaders, we were able to not only make it through this crazy year - we were able to stay active and continue serving our community while staying on mission. Check out this quick review:
We the People: Open Mic & Story Circles
Way back at the beginning of the year, we were wanting to kick things off with a two-part event series, focusing on a crucial piece of the U.S. Constitution. We hosted an open mic session at Speakertree, then followed it up with Story Circle, thanks to our friends at the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, where community member gathered and responded to prompts around our place in the community.
Daily Virtual Read Aloud
As the 2019-2020 school year met an abrupt end, we invited over 40 community members to join us on our platform and read some of their favorite books to our community of Freedom School scholars and families!
Virtual Open Mic Sessions
As our ability to gather together changed this year, we were able to transition to holding space online. Responding to social events, we continued to host sessions for those of us who perform with passion and purpose. We featured the following themes on our Instagram and Facebook Accounts (links at the bottom of this page):
Good Trouble (Tribute to Rep. John Lewis)
Growth
Never Catch Me (Session for Ahmaud Arbery’s Birthday)
ODD
Freedom Bags
Together with the Junior League of Lynchburg, we were able to provide over 30 families with survival kits, packed with creative tools resources to help students cope with our changing environment.
Life These Days
This collaborative project between us and Opera on the James matched classically trained composers with original poetry written by four young poets, reflecting on the world around them!
“I am so impressed by #LifeTheseDays. This joint project between The Listening and Opera on the James is just what we need in these times, and also in the future. We are all grateful to Rox Cruz and Marco Nistico for their vision in creating this visionary program!”
Gardening Kits
Thanks to a grant from the Virginia Cooperative Extension, we were able to provide over 30 families with gardening kits, an alternative learning opportunity while providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables!
Racial Healing/Justice Journey
With support from our friends from The People's Supper, we co-hosted 5 weekly sessions of dinner and discussion with Refuge, another local collective of culture-changers. These conversations, facilitated by community members and Creative Citizens, journeyed across racial lines, as well as among those who share the same racial identity. Quoted from the Racial Justice Guidebook, this series was for those "who wish to have an honest conversation about race, and to chart a collective path forward."
All of the things that we were able to do this year (including achieving our Giving Tuesday goal!) could not have been possible without you, and we are beyond grateful. The next year promises more challenges, triumphs and changes, and we look forward to continuing our impact in Lynchburg and the spaces around us. Together, we’re on to something great.