Steve Deasy has a wealth of musical experience, both instrumental & vocal, but only began writing songs relatively recently. He got some top honors at the Kerrville Folk Festival this year. His latest release is the fruit of a deepening spiritual engagement with Quakerism and issues of peace & justice.
Niyonu Spann began leading Beyond Diversity 101 workshops after about 10 years as a diversity workshop facilitator. In this new approach, Niyonu uses mixed modes, song, movement, body work, etc, to move in new directions of growth following knowledge of racism from all sides. Among other things, Niyonu makes music with Tribe1.
Music Featured:
I Wish I Knew How/Wade In The Water - Niyonu Spann & FGC Workshop
I Ain't Movin' - Des'ree
Ain't You Got a Right to the Tree of Life - Bill Harley
George Lakey was a founder of A Quaker Action Group, Movement for a New Society and recently left Training for Change to do more direct action with Earth Quaker Action Team. With the experience & stories of 50 years of peace, justice and environmental activism, George is a treasure trove of inspiration.
Tom Goss is a big-hearted singer/songwriter from Washington D.C. Motivated by his passion for social justice issues, Tom spent 6 months in seminary to become a Catholic priest before deciding it wasn't right for him. Tom writes and sings frequently of love and its rightness, regardless of laws. Tom and his partner will be married in October in D.C., one of the areas that provides for gay marriage.
Ari Herstand is a Midwestern singer/songwriter, soon to be in LA. Much of his studio work is mellow, painting images from an inner palette and, raised as a cultural & religious Jew, Ari provides a new and valuable perspective for many listeners.
Tom Allen is very involved in Transcendental Mediation, Men's work, and working for world peace, especially on the spiritual plane. He's a talented guitarist of many styles - classical, jazz and much more. In addition he has a long history with Christian praise bands, A COURSE IN MIRACLES, and other contemporary expressions of Christ's energy.
Our two guests consider whether government can do Spirit work on Earth. Jason Penn Browne, author of William Penn's Legacy, writes about the many ways that Penn's Holy Experiment influenced the development of the USA. Julia Ryberg has lived in Sweden for 30+ years, experiencing a progressive system based on the entwining of church & state.
Lisa Wildman performs kids music with Peanut Butter Jellyfish, folk music with Group W, as well as performing country, opera and symphonic music. She plays flute, guitar and sings, and her current passion is sacred chant. Lisa is accompanied on some of these songs by Brenda Rose Simkin (vocals) and Paul Tinkerhess (banjo).
Carrie Newcomer is a musical beacon of light & soul from Indiana. She is consciously reaching inward, gently sharing what she finds, delighting in people and flashes of the Divine everywhere. She's got 12 recordings of her own material and regularly collaborates with other musicians, poets, and writers. She is a member of Bloomington, Indiana, Friends Meeting.