[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] it’s performance day singers are rushing
it’s performance day singers are rushing
it’s performance day singers are rushing into the choir room to put on their
into the choir room to put on their
into the choir room to put on their robes
robes
robes they’ve taken extra care with their hair
they’ve taken extra care with their hair
they’ve taken extra care with their hair and makeup today after all it’s never
and makeup today after all it’s never
and makeup today after all it’s never easy to sing in front of your peers we
easy to sing in front of your peers we
easy to sing in front of your peers we do a quick warm-up and then I read
do a quick warm-up and then I read
do a quick warm-up and then I read letters from fans all over the world
letters from fans all over the world
letters from fans all over the world wishing the women good luck or as we say
wishing the women good luck or as we say
wishing the women good luck or as we say in the music world TOI TOI TOI we only
in the music world TOI TOI TOI we only
in the music world TOI TOI TOI we only make it through a few letters before the
make it through a few letters before the
make it through a few letters before the women remind me not to make them cry
women remind me not to make them cry
women remind me not to make them cry right before their big moment and then
right before their big moment and then
right before their big moment and then it’s time 6:52
it’s time 6:52
it’s time 6:52 p.m. it’s kind of an odd start time for
p.m. it’s kind of an odd start time for
p.m. it’s kind of an odd start time for a concert but we had to make sure we
a concert but we had to make sure we
a concert but we had to make sure we would be finished in plenty of time for
would be finished in plenty of time for
would be finished in plenty of time for the women to be released at the eight
the women to be released at the eight
the women to be released at the eight o’clock movement the choir shuffled into
o’clock movement the choir shuffled into
o’clock movement the choir shuffled into the visiting room at the Minnesota
the visiting room at the Minnesota
the visiting room at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee where
Correctional Facility in Shakopee where
Correctional Facility in Shakopee where an audience of 75 incarcerated women
an audience of 75 incarcerated women
an audience of 75 incarcerated women eagerly awaited the prison choirs first
eagerly awaited the prison choirs first
eagerly awaited the prison choirs first full concert that evening I witnessed
full concert that evening I witnessed
full concert that evening I witnessed the transformative power of music
the transformative power of music
the transformative power of music clearer than ever before I witnessed it
clearer than ever before I witnessed it
clearer than ever before I witnessed it in the 25 singer’s smiling ear-to-ear in
in the 25 singer’s smiling ear-to-ear in
in the 25 singer’s smiling ear-to-ear in the moments before their big debut I
the moments before their big debut I
the moments before their big debut I witnessed it in an enthusiastic and
witnessed it in an enthusiastic and
witnessed it in an enthusiastic and teary audience who clapped within songs
teary audience who clapped within songs
teary audience who clapped within songs they were so moved I witnessed it as
they were so moved I witnessed it as
they were so moved I witnessed it as woman after woman introduced each piece
woman after woman introduced each piece
woman after woman introduced each piece with a personal story like how she used
with a personal story like how she used
with a personal story like how she used to sing lean on me with her sorority
to sing lean on me with her sorority
to sing lean on me with her sorority sisters or how she’s drawn to the song
sisters or how she’s drawn to the song
sisters or how she’s drawn to the song shenandoah because she loves imagining a
shenandoah because she loves imagining a
shenandoah because she loves imagining a rolling river even though she hasn’t
rolling river even though she hasn’t
rolling river even though she hasn’t been able to see one for years since
been able to see one for years since
been able to see one for years since she’s been locked up I witnessed
she’s been locked up I witnessed
she’s been locked up I witnessed unabashedly and I watched it spread
unabashedly and I watched it spread
unabashedly and I watched it spread throughout the room
throughout the room
throughout the room we started singing together just over a
we started singing together just over a
we started singing together just over a year ago now and when we first began I
year ago now and when we first began I
year ago now and when we first began I asked the women why they were interested
asked the women why they were interested
asked the women why they were interested in joining a prison choir I thought you
in joining a prison choir I thought you
in joining a prison choir I thought you know maybe they would say they used to
know maybe they would say they used to
know maybe they would say they used to sing in their high school choir or a
sing in their high school choir or a
sing in their high school choir or a church choir or even that they were
church choir or even that they were
church choir or even that they were looking for something to take their
looking for something to take their
looking for something to take their minds off of everyday life but what
minds off of everyday life but what
minds off of everyday life but what surprised me is that more than half of
surprised me is that more than half of
surprised me is that more than half of these women said they viewed this new
these women said they viewed this new
these women said they viewed this new class as an opportunity for restorative
class as an opportunity for restorative
class as an opportunity for restorative justice now at the time I didn’t really
justice now at the time I didn’t really
justice now at the time I didn’t really know what that meant and so I went home
know what that meant and so I went home
know what that meant and so I went home and I bought the little book of
and I bought the little book of
and I bought the little book of restorative justice and I read and
restorative justice and I read and
restorative justice and I read and here’s what I learned the criminal
here’s what I learned the criminal
here’s what I learned the criminal justice system defines crime as
justice system defines crime as
justice system defines crime as occurring against the state so the legal
occurring against the state so the legal
occurring against the state so the legal action that follows aims to hold an
action that follows aims to hold an
action that follows aims to hold an offender accountable by giving them the
offender accountable by giving them the
offender accountable by giving them the punishment they deserve restorative
punishment they deserve restorative
punishment they deserve restorative justice provides a slightly different
justice provides a slightly different
justice provides a slightly different framework one which focuses on
framework one which focuses on
framework one which focuses on relationships that have been broken and
relationships that have been broken and
relationships that have been broken and the healing that needs to take place in
the healing that needs to take place in
the healing that needs to take place in order to restore those relationships as
order to restore those relationships as
order to restore those relationships as I read there is this one point that kept
I read there is this one point that kept
I read there is this one point that kept coming back again and again that above
coming back again and again that above
coming back again and again that above all restorative justice is based on the
all restorative justice is based on the
all restorative justice is based on the assumption that we’re all interconnected
assumption that we’re all interconnected
assumption that we’re all interconnected embedded in a web of relationships a
embedded in a web of relationships a
embedded in a web of relationships a crime in a community affects all of us
crime in a community affects all of us
crime in a community affects all of us you and you and me it tears the web and
you and you and me it tears the web and
you and you and me it tears the web and in order to rebuild that web we must
in order to rebuild that web we must
in order to rebuild that web we must focus on healing for those who have been
focus on healing for those who have been
focus on healing for those who have been harmed those who caused the harm and the
harmed those who caused the harm and the
harmed those who caused the harm and the well-being of the entire community now
well-being of the entire community now
well-being of the entire community now I’m guessing that you didn’t realize
I’m guessing that you didn’t realize
I’m guessing that you didn’t realize you’re a part of a giant web with the
you’re a part of a giant web with the
you’re a part of a giant web with the women at the prison in Shakopee and I
women at the prison in Shakopee and I
women at the prison in Shakopee and I get it it’s pretty easy to ignore our
get it it’s pretty easy to ignore our
get it it’s pretty easy to ignore our society does a great job at hiding the
society does a great job at hiding the
society does a great job at hiding the prison population quite literally often
prison population quite literally often
prison population quite literally often in remote locations behind giant fences
in remote locations behind giant fences
in remote locations behind giant fences our political system strips
our political system strips
our political system strips their right to vote our language erases
their right to vote our language erases
their right to vote our language erases these men and women as we call them
these men and women as we call them
these men and women as we call them prisoners inmates offenders rather than
prisoners inmates offenders rather than
prisoners inmates offenders rather than using people-centered language even
using people-centered language even
using people-centered language even tonight you won’t see real faces or hear
tonight you won’t see real faces or hear
tonight you won’t see real faces or hear real names of course you can find all
real names of course you can find all
real names of course you can find all the negative press you want to about
the negative press you want to about
the negative press you want to about these women if you search for it but
these women if you search for it but
these women if you search for it but there are so many barriers to helping
there are so many barriers to helping
there are so many barriers to helping them build a more positive image we
them build a more positive image we
them build a more positive image we teach that criminals are bad and scary
teach that criminals are bad and scary
teach that criminals are bad and scary but we do not teach what causes crime we
but we do not teach what causes crime we
but we do not teach what causes crime we don’t teach about physical or sexual
don’t teach about physical or sexual
don’t teach about physical or sexual abuse something which more than sixty
abuse something which more than sixty
abuse something which more than sixty percent of women in prison experienced
percent of women in prison experienced
percent of women in prison experienced before going to prison we don’t talk
before going to prison we don’t talk
before going to prison we don’t talk about the 17% of women in prison who
about the 17% of women in prison who
about the 17% of women in prison who grew up in and out of the foster care
grew up in and out of the foster care
grew up in and out of the foster care system or other institutions we
system or other institutions we
system or other institutions we definitely don’t like to talk about
definitely don’t like to talk about
definitely don’t like to talk about mental illness depression anxiety
mental illness depression anxiety
mental illness depression anxiety something which one and six women in
something which one and six women in
something which one and six women in prison are being treated for we don’t
prison are being treated for we don’t
prison are being treated for we don’t talk about poverty or the war on drugs
talk about poverty or the war on drugs
talk about poverty or the war on drugs we don’t like to talk about addiction or
we don’t like to talk about addiction or
we don’t like to talk about addiction or the fact that a third of women in prison
the fact that a third of women in prison
the fact that a third of women in prison grew up with a parent who abused drugs
grew up with a parent who abused drugs
grew up with a parent who abused drugs or alcohol we don’t acknowledge the
or alcohol we don’t acknowledge the
or alcohol we don’t acknowledge the challenges of growing up in a one parent
challenges of growing up in a one parent
challenges of growing up in a one parent household something much more than 50%
household something much more than 50%
household something much more than 50% of women in prison experienced we love
of women in prison experienced we love
of women in prison experienced we love to point fingers and issue blame we’re
to point fingers and issue blame we’re
to point fingers and issue blame we’re so good at that but if we engage in a
so good at that but if we engage in a
so good at that but if we engage in a framework of restorative justice if we
framework of restorative justice if we
framework of restorative justice if we truly believe we’re all connected in
truly believe we’re all connected in
truly believe we’re all connected in this web of connections then we can see
this web of connections then we can see
this web of connections then we can see with new eyes then we’re able to see how
with new eyes then we’re able to see how
with new eyes then we’re able to see how one person’s actions might affect
one person’s actions might affect
one person’s actions might affect another then we can see more clearly the
another then we can see more clearly the
another then we can see more clearly the 663 women at the prison and shakopee we
663 women at the prison and shakopee we
663 women at the prison and shakopee we see individual faces we can delight in
see individual faces we can delight in
see individual faces we can delight in Sarah’s teenaged boy as he wins his
Sarah’s teenaged boy as he wins his
Sarah’s teenaged boy as he wins his first high school football game
first high school football game
first high school football game we lament with Rebecca as her release
we lament with Rebecca as her release
we lament with Rebecca as her release date from prison is pushed off yet
date from prison is pushed off yet
date from prison is pushed off yet another month when the web is tugged up
another month when the web is tugged up
another month when the web is tugged up or down we too are pulled in that
or down we too are pulled in that
or down we too are pulled in that direction as I read it became clear to
direction as I read it became clear to
direction as I read it became clear to me why the women at Shakopee might view
me why the women at Shakopee might view
me why the women at Shakopee might view music as a place where restorative
music as a place where restorative
music as a place where restorative justice could happen they had a vision
justice could happen they had a vision
justice could happen they had a vision much greater than anything I could have
much greater than anything I could have
much greater than anything I could have imagined and so I paid attention and the
imagined and so I paid attention and the
imagined and so I paid attention and the closer I paid attention the more I could
closer I paid attention the more I could
closer I paid attention the more I could see the challenges of prison weighing
see the challenges of prison weighing
see the challenges of prison weighing down on these women they’ve been
down on these women they’ve been
down on these women they’ve been stripped of their identities given a
stripped of their identities given a
stripped of their identities given a number called offender for more than 75%
number called offender for more than 75%
number called offender for more than 75% of women at Shakopee who are mothers
of women at Shakopee who are mothers
of women at Shakopee who are mothers their role of caretaker has been taken
their role of caretaker has been taken
their role of caretaker has been taken away from them they’ve lost a piece of
away from them they’ve lost a piece of
away from them they’ve lost a piece of themselves without the ability to parent
themselves without the ability to parent
themselves without the ability to parent on top of that the no touch policy at
on top of that the no touch policy at
on top of that the no touch policy at Shakopee means that the staff can’t
Shakopee means that the staff can’t
Shakopee means that the staff can’t touch the women and the women aren’t
touch the women and the women aren’t
touch the women and the women aren’t allowed to touch one another so for some
allowed to touch one another so for some
allowed to touch one another so for some women it’s maybe been years since
women it’s maybe been years since
women it’s maybe been years since they’ve felt something as simple as a
they’ve felt something as simple as a
they’ve felt something as simple as a hug for the many many women at Shakopee
hug for the many many women at Shakopee
hug for the many many women at Shakopee and other prisons who need treatment
and other prisons who need treatment
and other prisons who need treatment many of them aren’t able to receive it
many of them aren’t able to receive it
many of them aren’t able to receive it for lack of space and resources
for lack of space and resources
for lack of space and resources powerlessness depression boredom
powerlessness depression boredom
powerlessness depression boredom distrust the list goes on and on and it
distrust the list goes on and on and it
distrust the list goes on and on and it is not confined to their time at prison
is not confined to their time at prison
is not confined to their time at prison for what might seem to you or to me like
for what might seem to you or to me like
for what might seem to you or to me like a fantastic final day of a sentence is
a fantastic final day of a sentence is
a fantastic final day of a sentence is actually often filled with the immense
actually often filled with the immense
actually often filled with the immense anxiety of reintegrating into a society
anxiety of reintegrating into a society
anxiety of reintegrating into a society that has already decided who these women
that has already decided who these women
that has already decided who these women are and given them no room for change
this is the choir I have the honor of
this is the choir I have the honor of conducting this is our web of
conducting this is our web of
conducting this is our web of connections and at first glance it may
connections and at first glance it may
connections and at first glance it may appear to be in pretty sad shape but if
appear to be in pretty sad shape but if
appear to be in pretty sad shape but if you look closely you can see musics
you look closely you can see musics
you look closely you can see musics ability to transform for when these
ability to transform for when these
ability to transform for when these women have lost all else they still have
women have lost all else they still have
women have lost all else they still have their voice together we’re learning to
their voice together we’re learning to
their voice together we’re learning to use our voices for good as singing is
use our voices for good as singing is
use our voices for good as singing is bringing back memories of childhood and
bringing back memories of childhood and
bringing back memories of childhood and connecting these women to their children
connecting these women to their children
connecting these women to their children the choir shares stories about their
the choir shares stories about their
the choir shares stories about their families in an emotionally safe space
families in an emotionally safe space
families in an emotionally safe space weaving together into a family of their
weaving together into a family of their
weaving together into a family of their own we have fun together singing
own we have fun together singing
own we have fun together singing releases dopamine in the brain and
releases dopamine in the brain and
releases dopamine in the brain and adrenaline in the body and no one said
adrenaline in the body and no one said
adrenaline in the body and no one said it better than Christina after our big
it better than Christina after our big
it better than Christina after our big concert when she said I’m in treatment
concert when she said I’m in treatment
concert when she said I’m in treatment and I have never felt a high like that
I’m continually amazed as new women join
I’m continually amazed as new women join the choir and returning ones welcomed
the choir and returning ones welcomed
the choir and returning ones welcomed them with open arms stepping right into
them with open arms stepping right into
them with open arms stepping right into a position of leadership these women are
a position of leadership these women are
a position of leadership these women are experiencing more positive self-esteem
experiencing more positive self-esteem
experiencing more positive self-esteem exercising creativity and learning to
exercising creativity and learning to
exercising creativity and learning to trust one another
singing means having to openly receive
singing means having to openly receive critique and work to make positive
critique and work to make positive
critique and work to make positive change and as a result these women are
change and as a result these women are
change and as a result these women are improving skills of self evaluation and
improving skills of self evaluation and
improving skills of self evaluation and communication as they work towards life
communication as they work towards life
communication as they work towards life after prison our web is stronger than
after prison our web is stronger than
after prison our web is stronger than ever and the best part is we’re seeking
ever and the best part is we’re seeking
ever and the best part is we’re seeking to extend it beyond ourselves as we’re
to extend it beyond ourselves as we’re
to extend it beyond ourselves as we’re singing throughout the prison the choirs
singing throughout the prison the choirs
singing throughout the prison the choirs starting to build a reputation Hanna
starting to build a reputation Hanna
starting to build a reputation Hanna noticed this and said it feels so good
noticed this and said it feels so good
noticed this and said it feels so good to be recognized for something positive
to be recognized for something positive
to be recognized for something positive around here and it’s true we’ve created
around here and it’s true we’ve created
around here and it’s true we’ve created a buzz I hear it in the hallways I see
a buzz I hear it in the hallways I see
a buzz I hear it in the hallways I see it as women peer into the windows of our
it as women peer into the windows of our
it as women peer into the windows of our classroom when we
classroom when we
classroom when we rehearse I’ve even noticed it from the
rehearse I’ve even noticed it from the
rehearse I’ve even noticed it from the officer at the front desk who checked me
officer at the front desk who checked me
officer at the front desk who checked me in silently for months and just recently
in silently for months and just recently
in silently for months and just recently gave me a half smile and said sing your
gave me a half smile and said sing your
gave me a half smile and said sing your heart out tonight
how has music brought us together so
how has music brought us together so close so fast science is always working
close so fast science is always working
close so fast science is always working to show the power of music and one of my
to show the power of music and one of my
to show the power of music and one of my favorite scientific studies about choral
favorite scientific studies about choral
favorite scientific studies about choral music shows that when you sing together
music shows that when you sing together
music shows that when you sing together your heartbeats align now this is maybe
your heartbeats align now this is maybe
your heartbeats align now this is maybe not so strange to consider when you
not so strange to consider when you
not so strange to consider when you think about the controlled breathing
think about the controlled breathing
think about the controlled breathing that singing requires but still it’s a
that singing requires but still it’s a
that singing requires but still it’s a beautiful metaphor for the unity that
beautiful metaphor for the unity that
beautiful metaphor for the unity that choir can create independent of age race
choir can create independent of age race
choir can create independent of age race gender background as I think about this
gender background as I think about this
gender background as I think about this web of connections one of the first
web of connections one of the first
web of connections one of the first images that pops into my head is that
images that pops into my head is that
images that pops into my head is that old camp activity with a ball of yarn
old camp activity with a ball of yarn
old camp activity with a ball of yarn I’m guessing maybe several you have done
I’m guessing maybe several you have done
I’m guessing maybe several you have done this right so if you haven’t if you’re
this right so if you haven’t if you’re
this right so if you haven’t if you’re one of the few that has been left out of
one of the few that has been left out of
one of the few that has been left out of this activity I would hold the end of
this activity I would hold the end of
this activity I would hold the end of the ball of yarn and toss it across the
the ball of yarn and toss it across the
the ball of yarn and toss it across the room you would grab on and throw it and
room you would grab on and throw it and
room you would grab on and throw it and grab on until we’ve created this web I
grab on until we’ve created this web I
grab on until we’ve created this web I thought about doing it here tonight but
thought about doing it here tonight but
thought about doing it here tonight but I thought it might get out of control so
I thought it might get out of control so
I thought it might get out of control so not such a good idea
not such a good idea
not such a good idea but I think this picture helps to
but I think this picture helps to
but I think this picture helps to demonstrate it’s it’s a beautiful image
demonstrate it’s it’s a beautiful image
demonstrate it’s it’s a beautiful image it’s a fun activity to do but there’s a
it’s a fun activity to do but there’s a
it’s a fun activity to do but there’s a problem what about the people who aren’t
problem what about the people who aren’t
problem what about the people who aren’t here what about the women at Shakopee
here what about the women at Shakopee
here what about the women at Shakopee what about the homeless what about the
what about the homeless what about the
what about the homeless what about the mentally ill what about the elderly what
mentally ill what about the elderly what
mentally ill what about the elderly what about those who couldn’t afford a ticket
about those who couldn’t afford a ticket
about those who couldn’t afford a ticket to tonight’s event there are a lot of
to tonight’s event there are a lot of
to tonight’s event there are a lot of people who aren’t here and come to think
people who aren’t here and come to think
people who aren’t here and come to think of it every time I’ve done this activity
of it every time I’ve done this activity
of it every time I’ve done this activity it’s been with like-minded similarly
it’s been with like-minded similarly
it’s been with like-minded similarly abled people our connections run much
abled people our connections run much
abled people our connections run much deeper than that whether we can see it
deeper than that whether we can see it
deeper than that whether we can see it here tonight or not
between 1980 and 2014 the number of
between 1980 and 2014 the number of women in prison increased 700 percent
women in prison increased 700 percent
women in prison increased 700 percent this incredible rate of growth outpaced
this incredible rate of growth outpaced
this incredible rate of growth outpaced men in prison by 50% that’s a serious
men in prison by 50% that’s a serious
men in prison by 50% that’s a serious tug on our web of community like many
tug on our web of community like many
tug on our web of community like many other prisons shakopee too has seen this
other prisons shakopee too has seen this
other prisons shakopee too has seen this kind of growth they’re severely
kind of growth they’re severely
kind of growth they’re severely overcrowded and understaffed and we have
overcrowded and understaffed and we have
overcrowded and understaffed and we have to ask ourselves if conditions like this
to ask ourselves if conditions like this
to ask ourselves if conditions like this are truly serving to rehabilitate women
are truly serving to rehabilitate women
are truly serving to rehabilitate women in prison volunteer programs can help
in prison volunteer programs can help
in prison volunteer programs can help with us serving as a connection between
with us serving as a connection between
with us serving as a connection between prisons and the outside world after all
prisons and the outside world after all
prisons and the outside world after all most of these women will be rejoining us
most of these women will be rejoining us
most of these women will be rejoining us in society there are over 40 prisons
in society there are over 40 prisons
in society there are over 40 prisons across the country making music it’s a
across the country making music it’s a
across the country making music it’s a start but it’s not enough
start but it’s not enough
start but it’s not enough research has shown these programs to be
research has shown these programs to be
research has shown these programs to be a positive and healing experience for
a positive and healing experience for
a positive and healing experience for all who participates I’ve seen this with
all who participates I’ve seen this with
all who participates I’ve seen this with my very own eyes as I’ve watched woman
my very own eyes as I’ve watched woman
my very own eyes as I’ve watched woman after woman evolved to reclaim a fuller
after woman evolved to reclaim a fuller
after woman evolved to reclaim a fuller version of herself now it’s important to
version of herself now it’s important to
version of herself now it’s important to me that I emphasize that I am here today
me that I emphasize that I am here today
me that I emphasize that I am here today merely as an extension of these women I
merely as an extension of these women I
merely as an extension of these women I guarantee they would have given a better
guarantee they would have given a better
guarantee they would have given a better talk than me and so I asked them what
talk than me and so I asked them what
talk than me and so I asked them what they would like to share if they could
they would like to share if they could
they would like to share if they could have been here tonight and they said
have been here tonight and they said
have been here tonight and they said they want you to know the following that
they want you to know the following that
they want you to know the following that we have created a community within a
we have created a community within a
we have created a community within a community at Shakopee that in this space
community at Shakopee that in this space
community at Shakopee that in this space we can be ourselves no matter where
we can be ourselves no matter where
we can be ourselves no matter where we’ve come from that choir in prison is
we’ve come from that choir in prison is
we’ve come from that choir in prison is light in a dark place that singing is
light in a dark place that singing is
light in a dark place that singing is both educational and therapeutic
but there’s a lot of locked up talent in
but there’s a lot of locked up talent in prisons across the country that we truly
prisons across the country that we truly
prisons across the country that we truly believe the skills we are building will
believe the skills we are building will
believe the skills we are building will help to reduce recidivism making sure
help to reduce recidivism making sure
help to reduce recidivism making sure these women don’t come back to the
these women don’t come back to the
these women don’t come back to the prison once they’ve been released we’ve
prison once they’ve been released we’ve
prison once they’ve been released we’ve been singing a new song lately by
been singing a new song lately by
been singing a new song lately by Minnesota composer Linda ikkaku Meyer
Minnesota composer Linda ikkaku Meyer
Minnesota composer Linda ikkaku Meyer she came to a rehearsal recently to tell
she came to a rehearsal recently to tell
she came to a rehearsal recently to tell us about her song and here a sing and
us about her song and here a sing and
us about her song and here a sing and she was particularly struck by the
she was particularly struck by the
she was particularly struck by the ability of a song to have a life of its
ability of a song to have a life of its
ability of a song to have a life of its own
own
own which she wrote the words it was from
which she wrote the words it was from
which she wrote the words it was from the perspective of a middle-aged woman
the perspective of a middle-aged woman
the perspective of a middle-aged woman still figuring out who she is when the
still figuring out who she is when the
still figuring out who she is when the piece was premiered it was done by a
piece was premiered it was done by a
piece was premiered it was done by a middle school choir at their graduation
middle school choir at their graduation
middle school choir at their graduation ceremony but on this particular
ceremony but on this particular
ceremony but on this particular Wednesday evening as 25 women gathered
Wednesday evening as 25 women gathered
Wednesday evening as 25 women gathered in the small chapel in the prison in
in the small chapel in the prison in
in the small chapel in the prison in Shakopee the text took on yet another
Shakopee the text took on yet another
Shakopee the text took on yet another meaning
hearing the women sing these words of
hearing the women sing these words of course was emotional but what happened
course was emotional but what happened
course was emotional but what happened next got me even more
next got me even more
next got me even more they asked Linda if she would sing her
they asked Linda if she would sing her
they asked Linda if she would sing her song for them now Linda was not
song for them now Linda was not
song for them now Linda was not expecting this and was a little bit
expecting this and was a little bit
expecting this and was a little bit hesitant to sing but they pushed her
hesitant to sing but they pushed her
hesitant to sing but they pushed her saying please hearing the words from the
saying please hearing the words from the
saying please hearing the words from the person who wrote them would be so
person who wrote them would be so
person who wrote them would be so meaningful so Linda sang her song to a
meaningful so Linda sang her song to a
meaningful so Linda sang her song to a most eager and attentive audience it was
most eager and attentive audience it was
most eager and attentive audience it was a shared confession by joining in these
a shared confession by joining in these
a shared confession by joining in these words we were finding common ground in
words we were finding common ground in
words we were finding common ground in admittance of our own shortcomings and
admittance of our own shortcomings and
admittance of our own shortcomings and our goals in the most beautiful
our goals in the most beautiful
our goals in the most beautiful expansion of community I’ve seen like
expansion of community I’ve seen like
expansion of community I’ve seen like any good volunteer Linda came to the
any good volunteer Linda came to the
any good volunteer Linda came to the prison hoping to serve the women in some
prison hoping to serve the women in some
prison hoping to serve the women in some small way and yet she was the one who
small way and yet she was the one who
small way and yet she was the one who received that evening our little prison
received that evening our little prison
received that evening our little prison choir lived out there self-appointed
choir lived out there self-appointed
choir lived out there self-appointed named the voices of hope they came to
named the voices of hope they came to
named the voices of hope they came to rehearsal as guests but transformed into
rehearsal as guests but transformed into
rehearsal as guests but transformed into great gift givers for the real miracle
great gift givers for the real miracle
great gift givers for the real miracle that night was not the voices of Hope
that night was not the voices of Hope
that night was not the voices of Hope singing Linda’s song but rather the
singing Linda’s song but rather the
singing Linda’s song but rather the voices of Hope encouraging Linda to give
voices of Hope encouraging Linda to give
voices of Hope encouraging Linda to give voice to her own story this is the
voice to her own story this is the
voice to her own story this is the future of restorative justice we imagine
future of restorative justice we imagine
future of restorative justice we imagine it is the future held up by a radically
it is the future held up by a radically
it is the future held up by a radically inclusive web of community strengthened
inclusive web of community strengthened
inclusive web of community strengthened by the gift of music we know our voices
by the gift of music we know our voices
by the gift of music we know our voices can carry this message across the world
can carry this message across the world
can carry this message across the world even if they’re confined within the
even if they’re confined within the
even if they’re confined within the walls of a building in Shakopee
walls of a building in Shakopee
walls of a building in Shakopee Minnesota
we are the voices of hope we are strong
we are the voices of hope we are strong we are powerful and we invite you to
we are powerful and we invite you to
we are powerful and we invite you to join our song thank you
join our song thank you
join our song thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment