The Heartbeat - Volume Four
May 2020
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A Message from Our Executive Director
How many of you have wondered what your life might have been like if you lived in earlier times? A friend sent this reflection to me to encourage perspective during today's challenging times. I believe it is worth sharing.
Let's try and keep things in perspective. Let's be smart, help each other out and we will get through all of this. In the history of the world, there has never been a storm that lasted. This too, shall pass.
Dave Perron, Executive Director
A Perspective (Author Unknown)
Imagine you were born in 1900. When you are 14, World War I starts and ends on your 18th birthday with 22 million people killed. Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until you are twenty.
READ MORE >>
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Our Spring Appeal - Do you ever stop to think about...
what music means to you?
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Performer
Sylvia Herold greets client at CEI Berkeley. Photo by Peter Merts.
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Although the Coronavirus is currently keeping us apart, music still brings us together.
You can help us sustain our ongoing program by donating to our Spring Appeal. During this interim time, we have received many positive comments from sharing links to our performers online concerts with our facility audiences.
Laguna Honda Hospital, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in San Francisco, sent an email saying, "Thanks to Carolyn Gauthier and the Bread & Roses musicians for the nice music videos to show our residents. We don't have enough words to express our gratitude for their commitment to the Laguna Honda Hospital community."
Your support will help to sustain our interim programming as we continue to find creative ways to heal hearts and uplift spirits during this unprecedented time. We are maintaining our organization and will be ready as soon as possible to get back to the delivery of high quality live performances for our isolated audiences in Bay Area institutional settings. Your donation will help us continue connecting volunteer performers with diverse audiences who need music most throughout the year.
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New Date: Spring Benefit Concert
This year's Spring Benefit Concert with Cage The Elephant is now scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2021 at Saint Joseph's Arts Society in San Francisco. We hope you can join us for the new date for our annual fundraising event.
Table Sponsorships with premier seating still available.
GA & VIP tickets sold out!
If you are interested in attending, please contact us for more info or to join our waiting list:
csownie@breadandroses.org
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Last February
Tony Saunders was doing a show at
Holderman Hospital at the
Veterans Home in Yountville for a Black History program when a vet rolled up in a wheelchair and said "Y-NOT!" That's the nickname he had given Tony - his name spelled backwards - 30 years ago. "The guy was crying because I remembered him," Tony said as he had called his production company Y-NOT. "When you do something that touches people, it's worth more than money."
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Board of Directors Profile
Raj Gopal, Chief Risk Officer (SEVP) for Bank of the West, has been an invaluable member of our board and the finance committee since 2015. He is also a talented musician who has helped to raise money for Bread & Roses through several charity concerts over the years. Heidi James, Vice President of Development, recently had the opportunity to interview Raj (pictured on right with fellow Board Member Matt Jaffe.)
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Our Volunteer Hosts
In 2019, Bread & Roses Presents produced 653 shows for 32,718 audience members. Our volunteers hosted 459 of those shows, which is an amazing 70 percent! Hosts are an integral and much needed part of our volunteer team.
What does a volunteer host do? They are ambassadors of Bread & Roses as well as the eyes and ears of the producers. Since the producers aren't able to be at every show, our hosts are there to make sure everything goes smoothly.
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The latest edition of
Francesca's Playlist features international artists and musical influences from Brazil, Africa, France, Mexico Italy, India, Spain, Canada, Ireland, England and the United States. Included is a track with Herbie Hancock from "The Joni Letters," reminiscent of when he performed with her at the Greek Theatre Festival of Music in 1978 (pictured.) Sit back, relax and enjoy a nice cup of coffee or espresso while listening to this eclectic mix of songs that will be sure to put your mind at ease.
Also included is a
Bonus Playlist of songs composed by the late Audrey Auld, Jackson Browne, Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe of Calaveras that were inspired by our mission.
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Facility Profile
The Redwoods: A Community of Seniors in Mill Valley is a non-profit senior residence, which opened its doors in 1972. They have all levels of care such as independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. Bread & Roses has been serving the seniors there since 1977, producing shows in the healthcare unit as well as in the main auditorium.
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Francesca Lee Remembers Her Favorite Live Music Experience: A Bread & Roses Show
"Bread & Roses shows are some of the most important I've ever performed as a musician. The appreciation, love and joy that I have received from the audiences we serve never fail to confirm just how powerful music is. I've witnessed the energy of a room completely shift after a Bread & Roses performance and it is truly magical. On a personal level, the shows that I have performed for Bread & Roses have taught me how to truly connect with my audience and it has helped me to grow so much more as performer and musician."
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Share your story of your favorite live music experience on social media with the hashtag #livemusicmemory (and tag us too!)
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Photo of Mimi Fariña rose by Susan Hyde Greene
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Marian's Did You Know...
Marian's Did You Know
... that it is spring and the Mimi Fariña roses are blooming?
The roses are just one of the creations that have been inspired by Mimi's example and the mission of Bread & Roses. Read more to see how our work has inspired various supporters in their dedicated creations, musicians who have written songs inspired by our program and like-minded friends who have started similar organizations elsewhere.
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Lisa Starbird has been a team member at Bread & Roses since 2007. She describes herself as efficient, organized and someone who sees the details as well as the big picture. She enjoys streamlining projects and making them flow easier for others. Her official title is Program Associate/Events Producer. She is also our database analyst, volunteer coordinator, logistical support person and music producer at San Quentin State Prison. Lisa also manages hosts and event volunteers and is the lead producer for the annual Bread & Roses volunteer appreciation event-The JAM.
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Community Partner Profile
We have the coolest community partners...
Chris DeNike
is a local realtor who appreciates the power of connectivity -- with his clients (especially seniors), the real estate market and our community in general. He prides himself on a unique ability to listen and help others succeed. A music lover with a particular interest in alternative music and supporter of small live music venues, Chris also yearns to play piano. Chris was introduced to Bread & Roses when he saw our awning while walking his dog. Upon becoming aware of our mission, he threw his support behind us by pledging a percentage of his sales to us. A former San Francisco restaurant owner, Chris moved with his wife to Corte Madera in search of open space and blue skies...and is very happy here. He enjoys his Peleton bike, jogging, tennis, going to the beach and working with Age-Friendly Corte Madera.
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Impersonator Challenge
Bread & Roses invites you to an Impersonator Challenge!
- Take a video of your best musical impersonation
- Post it online and tag us: @BreadAndRosesCA on Facebook, @BreadAndRosesCA on Twitter, or @breadandroses_ca on Instagram
- Use the hashtag #ImpersonatorChallenge
Show us your best Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Freddie Mercury or Lady Gaga! For some inspiration, watch long-time Bread & Roses volunteer performer Ben Fong-Torres do his famous Elvis impression.
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Bread & Roses Reaching Out to Seniors
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Seniors at the Veterans Home in Yountville. Photo by Peter Merts.
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Bread & Roses Presents has been reaching out to isolated populations providing hope and healing through live music for 46 years. As we go through this shelter-in-place, we have all developed a new understanding about what it means to be isolated. Our immune compromised seniors are especially feeling the isolation of not being able to go out or have visitors come to them.
Would you like to spread a little joy to seniors during this time?
Bread & Roses Reaching Out to Seniors
233 Tamalpais Drive, Suite 100
Corte Madera, CA 94925
We'll distribute your cards and messages to seniors in the facilities we serve throughout the Bay Area. Let us know if you have a county preference -- Marin/San Francisco/Alameda/Contra Costa/San Mateo/Sonoma/Napa.
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Bread & Roses Debuts "Music and More" Book Club!
Ready for some fun stimulating conversation about "Music and More"? Discuss books like "
Positively 4th Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Fariña, and Richard Fariña" by
David Hajdu and "Wild Tales: A Rock and Roll Life" by
Graham Nash! Bread & Roses is debuting a new book club via Zoom with more info coming soon about our first meeting in June. Communications Manager/Producer
Marian Hubler will moderate, with guest authors/moderators from time to time.
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Live Streams by our Active Volunteers
Check
Bread & Roses Facebook for daily live streams from our performers and other related news.
See our blog for information about regular streamed shows and catch up with what we have shared.
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Financial Resources for Creative Professionals
See the complete list on our blog.
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Won't you help us continue to bring hope, healing and joy through music to our isolated audiences and greater community?
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