Community member Kathryn Canney, of Boston Shambhala Ikebana fame, is also a member of the Boston Minstrel Company. In light of a recent visit by Zen Peacemaker’s founder, Bernie Glassman and our community’s burgeoning involvement with the homeless community in Boston, Kathryn wanted to advertise this musical organization.

“A vibrant troupe of volunteer singers and musicians who have seen how music heals, the Boston Minstrel Company has produced musical programs for the homeless, elderly and imprisoned throughout the greater Boston metro area for over a decade. Their interactive pop, rock and folk events touch audiences of about 4,000 each year.” (see their website for more info)

Kathryn has been singing with them for nearly 5 years. She says: “We sing primarily for homeless shelters in and around Boston, and generally have one rehearsal one evening a month in Newton.” I know, from having spoken with her about the group, that it is not only a lovely social venue to meet like-minded Bostonians, but it is an opportunity to give joy back to people in need. As more and more people wake up to the suffering in the world, there is more of a call to engage. Singing is has been a direct way into people’s hearts since the beginning of human history, and according to Kathryn and the Boston Minstrels: “The Boston Minstrels need you for “making music with heart.”

Learn how to make a big difference in someone’s life while having a “rocking good time”! Contact them here. Join Kathryn at their next event: Shattuck Shelter, 170 Morton St., Jamaica Plain, at 6:30pm for a Songfest and BBQ.

From Acharya Emily Bower:

To the Boston Shambhala Community:

“A group of community members met on Sunday, March 8, to discuss the questions arising from the presence of homeless people staying around our building. Mostly, we felt saddened and deeply moved by the situation. We found that facing homelessness so intimately brings up feelings of groundlessness and hopelessness because we know the problem is pervasive and it’s not going away. We felt that the presence of homeless people around our building presents an opportunity to enter into the situation and relate with it directly.”

Please visit the Director’s Blog to read the full report including

-WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON
-WHAT SHOULD WE DO
-WHAT CAN WE DO TO RELATE TO THE LARGER ISSUE?
-WEEKLY PRACTICE SESSION
-WAYS TO VOLUNTEER (Includes document from Mary C.)
-WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
-DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED?