[HANASHIR:2484] Build This World Together Concert

[Adrian Durlester <durleste...>]

I'd like to welcome to the list Troy Miller. Troy is from Kansas City and is
instrumental in putting together the joint concert that Debbie Friedman is
performing at this May. Although we don't usually post event announcements
of  a local nature, this project is quite interesting and I thought I would
share some of the information Troy has sent about it with the list.

Troy is a participant in a exchange of choir members between a synagogue and
a church. Since we can't reprint the article from the KC Newspaper
describing this program here on the list because of copyright issues, I'd
like to ask Troy to tell us about this program. We have discussed on this
list before issues of Jews performing at churches and vice versa, Jews
participating in church choirs, how to deal with having to sing the words of
Xtian prayers, the JC words, etc.

It also might be nice to hear from Troy, Randee, Carole or others how Debbie
became involved in this project and about her plans for it and her feelings
about it.

The name of the event I think answers the question about which of Debbie's
songs she was so eager to have performed by a gospel choir :)

Adrian

-------------------------------------------------
BUILD THIS WORLD TOGETHER:
IVANHOE NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFIT CONCERT

WHO: Debbie Friedman, the premier Jewish singer/songwriter; Albertina
Walker, internationally recognized gospel performer and Grammy winner; The
Independence Messiah Choir, directed by Jack Ergo; the Temple B'nai Jehudah
Choir augmented by the Congregation Beth Torah Choir and a community-wide
Jewish choir, directed by Cantor Paul Silbersher and Cantor Barbara Finn;
and the St. James United Methodist Church Mass Choir with a community-wide
gospel choir, directed by Dr. Michael Charles.


WHAT: "Build This World Together," a benefit concert for the Ivanhoe
Neighborhood Project.  Tickets become available March 21, 1999 through the
Central Ticket Office at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Performing
Arts Center, 4949 Cherry, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, 816-235-2700, Relay
Missouri 800-735-2966 (TT).

Ticket prices:  $7, $15, $25 and $40.

WHEN: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 1999

WHERE: RLDS Auditorium, 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, Missouri

WHY: Ivanhoe's boundaries are Prospect and Paseo on the east and west and
31st Street and 47th Street on the north and south. Through neighborhood
cleanups, home repair and painting projects and training of block captains,
the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project is working to revive one of Kansas City,
Missouri's most impoverished neighborhoods.  Ivanhoe hopes to serve as a
role model for other neighborhoods in Kansas City and around the country
seeking to rebuild.

The Ivanhoe Concert unites three diverse cultures and communities for a
common cause: to raise funds for the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project.   The
Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project is a partnership between neighborhood
residents, city departments, council members, the police department, the
fire department, James B. Nutter & Company and KCP&L dedicated to
revitalizing the Ivanhoe neighborhood.
_____________________________________________________




IVANHOE NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFIT CONCERT
"Build This World Together"
Fact Sheet

On Sunday, May 16, 1999, the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)
Auditorium will be the setting for a fundraising concert to benefit the
Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project.

The Ivanhoe concert will include performances by internationally known
performers and Kansas City area choirs, including:

Debbie Friedman, premier Jewish singer and songwriter
Albertina Walker, internationally recognized gospel singer
The Independence Messiah Choir directed by Jack Ergo
St. James United Methodist Church Mass Choir with a community-wide gospel
choir, under the direction of Dr. Michael Charles
Temple B'nai Jehudah Choir, augmented by the Congregation Beth Torah choir
and a community-wide Jewish choir, directed by Cantor Paul Silbersher and
Cantor Barbara Finn


The Ivanhoe benefit concert unites three diverse communities for a common
cause:  to raise funds for the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project and build a
model for other neighborhoods in Kansas City and around the country.

Concert proceeds will benefit the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Project, a
partnership effort of Kansas City, Missouri council members; the Kansas City
police, fire and parks departments; KCP&L and James B. Nutter & Co. to
rebuild the Ivanhoe neighborhood.  All money raised will be used for
exterior renovations to homes in the Ivanhoe neighborhood.

The Ivanhoe neighborhood is bounded by 31st street on the north, 47th street
on the south and Paseo to Prospect on the east and west. Ivanhoe is one of
the oldest and lowest income neighborhoods in the city.  Per capita income
is $8,433 and 17% of residents earn less than $5,000 per year; 65% of the
houses in Ivanhoe were built prior to 1945.Since October 1997, residents and
volunteers have cleaned up more than 70 vacant lots and have helped to
create a more pleasant and safer neighborhood. Ongoing efforts to improve
the lives of Ivanhoe residents have included immunization programs, smoke
detector installation, streetlight upgrades, block captain selection and
training and information fairs that brought school district and financial
institutions to Ivanhoe.

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