August 13, 2009 • Albuquerque NM (9am - 3pm)
Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock leads an exploration of:
- the values embedded in the music
- roles of cultural and spiritual traditions/rituals
- how leadership emerges and can be shared among community members
- cultural responses to and influences on political and social struggle
- the significance of a shared communal experience in one’s personal life
There is an awesome power in the human voice and when uncommon voices are blended for the common good, they become a “vocal community” at its best. Masterfully led by Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell, singers and non-singers alike will share the common experience of learning in the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants, traditional songs from Africa and the Diaspora, and a variety of songs from African American culture including spirituals, ring shouts, hymns, gospels, and songs from the Civil Rights Movement. The historical, social and political context will provide an introduction to the songs.
Throughout this experience, the group will explore from an African American world view, the values embedded in the music, the role of cultural and spiritual traditions and rituals, ways in which leadership emerges and can be shared by and among community members, the nature of cultural responses to and influences on political and social struggle, and finally the significance of a shared communal experience in one’s personal life. All that is required is a willingness to sing!
WORKSHOP PRESENTER
DR. YSAYE M. BARNWELL is a native of New York City who has lived in Washington, DC since 1968. She majored in music through High School and then earned the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology (SUNY, Geneseo, 1967, 1968), Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (University of Pittsburgh, 1975), and Master of Science in Public Health (Howard University, 1981). In 1998, Dr. Barnwell was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by her alma mater, SUNY Geneseo. For over a decade, Dr. Barnwell was a professor at the College of Dentistry at Howard University and completing her degree in Public Health, she went on to administered public health programs at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center and at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and, as a volunteer, assisted community based organizations in the use of computer technology. In 1977, Barnwell founded the All Souls Jubilee Singers and in 1979 she was invited to join the world renowned a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock ®.
About the Conference Hosts: The Center for Action and Contemplation
“Women Wisdom Dancing” by Mary Southard, CSJ
Congregation of St. Joseph of LaGrange
Courtesy of www.marysouthardart.org
About the Conference Hosts: The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC), located in Albuquerque,New Mexico, was founded in 1987 by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr who saw the need for a training/formation center that would allow spiritually seeking people to balance social action with contemplation, and contemplation with social action. Committed to offering a constructive message of the Gospel that crosses boundaries of religion, ethnicity, social class and gender, the CAC provides numerous programs and resources aimed at offering hope, inspiration and spiritual challenge.