Rumors of Peace Concert for Kenyan Children

UPDATED 3-4-12:
On January 22, 2012 the first Rumors of Peace concert of the New Year raised over $2,000 for the children of Joy House Education Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Long-time Central New Jersey peace activist and advanced care nurse Dorothy Schwartz, who recently volunteered at the school with her son Mote over her summer vacation, worked with songs4peace founder Sharleen Leahey to raise needed funds for school supplies, nutrition programs for the children (many of whom are orphans) and teacher's salaries. Sharleen performed songs from the new CD as well as a freedom song medley in honor of Martin Luther King's birthday with percussionist Linda Phillips and special guest vocalist Yolanda Serrano. The concert, which included a slide presentation and video showing from Dorothy's most recent trip, took place in a Piscattaway Community Center and attracted over 40 supporters and activists from peace and religious groups throughout New Jersey. Many thanks to the Courier and Home News Tribune for their help with publicizing the event.

"The way you and your colleagues took this on is just wonderful and a prime example of a community here working together to help a struggling community on the other side of the world. It is so cool that Dorothy brought supplies and Mote made a video of it all. The photos in the newspaper article are so powerful--no doubt the video is even more so. And then, you, Linda and Yolanda stepped forward to put on a concert calling attention to the situation and involving a whole lot more people. I remember you reported that the event raised a nice chunk of money to help. I say: This is what community looks like. Nice Work!"