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As of Monday
April 18 we reached our $5,000 goal! We now have the resources to create
the CD (which includes compensating singers, studio recording costs, CD graphic
design, mixing, mastering, and duplication).
We NOW have a stretch goal of
$10,000. Additional donations allow us to promote and distribute this CD to
national news programs, major print media, and radio stations across the
country and to fund staff time in researching and writing grants to pilot Old
Songs in new communities and sustain it in Erie. Read on for basic info:
Simba La La: World Music for Children is the culmination of 12 years’ success of collecting children’s folk songs from Erie’s refugee community. Old Songs New Opportunities (OSNO) was started in 2004 by the Erie Art Museum as a way to help refugee women gain employment in childcare and to help them preserve their traditional cultures.
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Erie is the new home for over 12,000 people who were forced out of their native countries due to civil war, religious, or ethnic persecution. They are economically poor but culturally rich. Unlike many Americans, they still have a living tradition of singing to their children. OSNO helps them use their culture as an asset. We have worked with 63 women and two men from Bhutan, Ukraine, Bosnia, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Congo, Burundi, and Puerto Rico. They take a 4-month training course that teaches them childcare rules and regulations, child development theory, and best teaching practices. Participants share their traditional children’s songs; we create English versions and mentor the men and women as they use their songs while they intern in local childcares. Over half have found good employment with children as a result!
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We’ve now collected almost 100 wonderful songs! Many of them have become favorites in classrooms across our region. We want to produce a CD of 50 of the most popular tunes. It will contain an eclectic mix beautifully sung in many languages, with faithful English translations. This collection will be a treasure to anyone who works with young children; the songs are catchy, encourage physical coordination, strengthen improvisation skills, teach co-operation, and bring real celebration to any classroom or living room. The CD is also wonderful for anyone who works with newcomer communities or is interested in world music. We will produce liner notes for the CD that will include lyrics in the native language and English, information about the song, the singers and the culture it comes from.
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Your donation of $5 or more will go directly to producing this album, compensating our singers for their time and skill, and promoting this album to major print, web, TV and radio media.
Old Songs New Opportunities is the only program like it in the country. Now is the time to let the world know about our innovative program and to share these joyful songs!
If you live near Erie, Pennsylvania, you are invited to our CD release party in September at the Erie Art Museum. We'll have lots of singers and tasty food from around the world.
You can hear how OSNO started at Kelly's TED talk
Here’s
what some of our backers say:
“If you love music, its ability to increase connection between humans,
its cognitive benefits in child development and the ample opportunities it
creates for mankind, CHECK THIS OUT and SUPPORT IT! I
believe programs like these should be an integral part of our current country.
We are a nation of many faces and identities, cultures and beliefs...we should
be lifting each other up!” Musician, Los
Angeles, CA
“This is how we
build world peace at the local level. Your heart will soar when you hear what
folk artist Kelly Armor & the new American women in Erie PA are creating.” High School
Headmaster, Erie PA
“As storytellers ,teachers, musicians and
lovers of the folk tradition we know the power of traditional stories and
songs. I have a hunch the CD will be valuable resource.” Professional Storyteller, Chicago, IL
“My baby’s first favorite song
Yo Lay La. Old Songs New Opportunities has been one of the fondest memories
I've had as a teacher. I truly support and value every part of the program.
What you and the international women are doing is absolutely remarkable.” Early
Childhood Educator, Erie, PA
“May my
contribution to the project will be part of a true revolution of tolerance,
acceptance and sharing. You do good.” Folk music radio host, Erie PA
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Old Songs New Opportunities is a project brought to you by the Erie Art Museum, a non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible. If you have any questions about the tax deductions or the program, contact Kelly Armor.
