The Orchestral Dialogues Project was established in 2015 in order to establish an orchestra for children, ages 10-14, from Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, Germantown, Nicetown-Tioga and Strawberry Mansion neighborhoods (as well as from our current Refugee and homeless populations) who might otherwise not have access to this kind of high quality, formal musical training. Through the ensemble of the orchestra, coupled with intentional dialogue sessions, children’s interpersonal and intrapersonal development is enhanced. Rehearsals take place weekly and monthly in Mount Airy, Philadelphia. Through the program we aim to create a lasting youth orchestra in Philadelphia.
Last Thursday evening; on my way to assist with a BuildaBridge group for Burmese children in South Philadelphia, I pulled up to the street address greeted by yellow caution tape, police and crowds of neighborhood on-lookers. My car window was down and I overheard the words spoken, “somebody was shot.” My heart sank into my stomach. I pulled across the street and parked my car. When I got out and started walking down the sidewalk, I saw Zing and her three children standing on the corner. It was a relief to see them and we waited together outside for a while, waiting for some communication with the teachers inside the classroom, which was directly behind the caution tape that we were not allowed through. After some time passed and still no word, Zing asked if I wanted to go with them to a Burmese family’s home a few blocks away where apparently there was a birthday party happening. When we got to the home, as we walked in the front door, a wave of warmth came over me. No...
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