Stress-Reduction, Haiti, Church, and Mexican Mahem!

Written by Greg Whitt Friday, 16 April 2010 00:00

Photo by Annelies Gentile

May is off to a great start with lots of events on the calendar so far! There is so much exciting stuff going on that you won't want to miss.  Here are a few highlights, and more information can be found on my calendar....

Last week Drum For Change helped out Robert Lawrence Friedman, author of the Healing Power of the Drum by lending drums for his work at the UNC Hospitals burn survivor retreat.  Then Annelies and I helped again by drumming with Robert at a retreat for the NC Chaplains Association at Haw River State Park. 

On Saturday we continued the Drumming Empowerment sessions at Dancing Moon Books & Gifts.  This month's theme was based on West African healing rhythms from the Dagara medicine wheel.  These classes are usually intimate and powerful experiences.  No experience is required and loaner drums are available.  Monthly classes are offered for a suggested $10 donation.

Twice this week I was blessed to drum with old friend Walnes Cangas, co-director of the St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port au Prince, Haiti.  Walnes leads the Resurrection Dance Theater there.  On Monday we drummed at a birthday party and benefit hosted at the Irregardless Cafe where Arthur Gordon was a most gracious host and provided a wonderful meal as always.  Not so surprisingly, at the party I reconnected with not less than four people that had drummed with me over the years!  This included fellow HealthRHYTHMS facilitator and wonderful human being Stacy Grove.  Then on Wednesday Walnes and I played again at Hayes-Barton United Methodist Church for a special Haiti Night service and celebration.  Walnes borrowed a dozen drums and then taught drumming to their youth program.

However, I was off to another event!  Ken Wierzbicki had picked up drums earlier in the afternoon and was setting up in downtown Raleigh.  Good friend Angela Salamanca owns Dos Taquitos Centro and hired me to come down and celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.  What a crazy fun time!  People were everywhere and the DJ was rockin' some great salsa music.  Ken, his daughter Araya, Annelies, our friend Janet Killen and I played congas, cowbells, and claves with a dozen people on a patio filled with 50 while people stood in the street and jammed along with shot glasses on a string!  It was quite the fiesta!  Ken's wife Amanada joined us for a GREAT dinner afterward and we had a fabulous time right up until the piñata incident that resulted in total mahem with cops, firetrucks, ambulances, news crews, and a rickshaw driver.... it's a long story. 

This coming week I'll be working with at-risk kids at Homework Haven, at the UNC Oncology Hospital, and then spending the weekend at drumSTRONG for another record-breaking, earth-shaking marathon with pal Scott Swimmer.  If you're free, this is a not-to-be missed event that changes lives and builds life-long friendships.  I hope to hear (and see) you there....