Whats going on

I don't know what people mean when they say that there is nothing to do in Cola. Town.
Just a few things I've hit in the last couple of months...

Caught Unbound's performance Les Femmes at CMFA.
It was one of the best modern dance shows I've seen in Cola. It was hot, sexy, fun, and only a dance or two too long.
Very cool with Dell crooning in between numbers and Steven playing sax and singing Summertime. I loved it.


Urban Tour downtown was another fun night out. The most people I've seen on Main St since uh....forever.
The Nick had an event at it's new site and burned it's mortgage.

We ended up on the rooftop of the Sheraton Hotel.


Speaking of The Nickelodeon, their recent fundraiser, "Larry's Family Reunion" was hilarious! It was also my first time in the historic jewel that is being transformed.
Love the space.

It is already a treat to be in.
Who knew Larry was a hula hoop champion?


Mr. Sketchy was another adventure that I enjoyed...knew nothing about this facebook invitation but said "what the heck" and showed up anyways. My friend Ashley Rivers was the host of the funky drawing party. Ashley Bennett was the model and we sketched her for different timed sessions and then voted on the best sketches.

I actually won the first round and my prize was a shot of Goldschlagger with Ashley. First time sketching in about 40 years I think.

The Crane Wife and Junk Palace puppet show was a wonderful night out of entertainment.
Hopefully those guys at the Marionette Theatre will be doing more adult shows like that.

Took a tool around the block in Ted's new Sentreon(sp?). Ted is Alejandro & Britt's neighbor. We were the envy of the uptown historic district for about 8 minutes.



Dick Moons has started a drum circle at the Riverfront amphitheater, every Friday at 7pm.


Lots of things going on.

Positive Repercussions at Camp Long

Just completed a drum residency at Camp Long which is just outside of Aiken, SC.
I was hired to first instruct teachers how to teach West African drumming and then to conduct a week long residency with the kids that were there at the time.
Camp Long, run by Clemson is "The Youth Development Center, through the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice,(that) helps low-risk, nonviolent offenders succeed through behavior modification, innovative learning programs, personal development and career planning." It is actually a place where kids that have gotten in trouble are "sentenced" for usually 90 days. It is one of those tall pine and sandy hot spots in SC with cabins, a lake and mess hall.
When I asked about how many kids I would have, the coordinator said there were about 30 boys aged 12 - 17. I asked about girls and she said "oh you want to teach the girls too?" I guess there is a perception that girls don't drum. uh Wrong!
I had two classes of boys and one with about 15 girls.

At Camp Long the girls and boys are separated at all times. They are not even suppose to be in eyesight of each other. As you can imagine this creates an unnatural obsession beyond normal teenage hormonal intrigue, so from day one it was with interest I observed their over zealous curiosity of what the opposite sex was up to.

The first day one of the teachers said "Do you know what you are getting yourself into?" Having taught "at risk" kids many times what I knew was that these kids were gonna love it and respond positively if I did it right. Positive Repercussions is what my drum teacher Faisal named this program years ago. Observing him as a teacher, I learned skills to teach drumming to all ages and how to incorporate life lessons like listening, teamwork, and embracing cultural diversity.

Carol, one of the VERY enthusiastic teachers! AND she can drum!


Although everyday, at any moment I could feel the potential for some sort of outburst or confrontation between certain kids, things moved forward and they stayed focused. The outbursts never manifested. The kids became immersed in the activity of drumming and creating something that they had never experienced. They listened, they were engaged, they even gave positive remarks to each other.
The absolute coolest thing was to see the light come on in their eyes. Sure there were the few that would disengage, put their head in the hands and refuse to participate. BUT usually the next day they were back in it.
There was one girl that had a blank stare the first couple of days and sat off to the side. At the end of day two I asked her why she didn't want to participate, she said she had migraines every day. I told her my daughter also suffered from headaches and that sometimes if she drank lots of water that would help. She finally looked me in the eyes and just seemed to be confused as to why I was giving her attention but completely grateful.
The next day, she participated and was quite vocal about what we were doing.
By the third day, all classes were fully engaged, getting the rhythms and some of the most cynical, listless, seemingly angry kids were SMILING. They looked so completely different when they smiled. I commented to them how fabulous their smiles were and how they should use them more often. (wish I could show some pics of smiles but can't show their faces...)
I told all classes that we would perform for the camp on our last day.
The big question was "would the girls (boys) be there?!"
It took some finessing to work that out...but finally the camp director agreed for them to all be in the mess hall at the same time.
I was a little concerned about how that could turn out and whether they could be supportive of each other and so on so I told them how important it was to me for this to be a positive experience for everyone.
Once we all got into the mess hall and set up - the first group went, nailed it and were met with great applause and accolades as did the second group and the girls went last.
They all did an awesome job, stayed focused and the smiles, laughter and congrats were abundant. WHEW.


One of the more outspoken and very talented, dedicated girls presented me with a decorated paper that read:
"Mrs. LeAnn Thank You. We have enjoyed the djembes & dune dunes. The way we work together is a miracle and a blessing. And we got these things, learned these thing because YOU. Girl Dorm." That was the icing on the cake for me.
These children have for whatever reason found themselves in a life that was probably molded by unfortunate, unrelenting circumstances. I sat at lunch with one 14 year old girl who was meek and sweet and so innocent looking. I didn't know what she had done to get sentenced to this camp. It didn't matter. I had prayed everyday that I'd be given wisdom, the right words and understanding to teach these kids something. Anything positive. I'm thankful for the opportunity.

Congo Action - Pool

I met Herve several years ago in Cote I'voire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. We were part of a public relations team there at the request of the finance minister under President Gbagbo.
Herve and I became fast friends and as guests of the President we were treated like VIPs with drivers, many appointments with important people and freedom to travel where we liked. My task was to shoot a documentary. That is another story....
A native of Congo Brazzaville or The Republic of Congo, Herve is smart, handsome, charismatic and passionate about the fate of his country.
He left Congo in 1987 for France and in 1989 came to the US to attend school. With a BS and MS in mathematics Herve is presently a teacher's assistant at Howard University and working towards his PhD. What weighs heavy on his heart though and at top of mind is concern for his people. The war that started in 1997 in Congo Brazzaville has all but destroyed his country.
Herve's real ambition is to return to his war torn country and help to lead his people out of despair. Congo Brazzaville is called the "neglected humanitarian crisis" and is in dire need of humanitarian aid. I met with Herve and his group Action Congo-Pool in DC recently to talk with them about their mission and how I can help. I agreed to produce a video for ACP as a PR and fund raising tool. They are presently working on an English version of their web site.
The first hurdle is - why would anyone here care??...we are so bombarded by African crisis that it seems hopeless at times and insurmountable. Doesn't matter. We are all able to make a difference in many corners of the world as well as our immediate communities. We know this is true.

Herve, Victor & The Professor

Travel Log of DC Trip
After Herve picked me up from the airport we picked up the Professor (his mentor from Senegal) and met at Victor's house. Victor is one of Action Congo -Pool's leaders and is extremely pleasant and hospitable. Victor and Herve made brunch for us, Victor's wife had the day off for mother's day...

Ham, onions, tomatoes were chopped for an omelet while Victor split avocados and prepared a tuna, balsamic vinegar, garlic and oil dressing. Coffee was served in soup bowls with a steaming pot of milk to pour, delicious juice from a box and warm French bread with butter.
We left promptly after brunch for a pre meeting with key ACP members, including the previous ambassador to Congo Brazzaville under Clinton's tenure, Andoine Ganga and host to the meeting.
I was treated graciously as a guest and felt welcome and comfortable immediately.
White girl in Congo town.....they quickly gave me a name "Lumamba" meaning a vine or plant that is resilient and flexible but very strong, unbreakable.
Mr. Ganga, Victor, Herve and myself met downstairs while other members arrived. I gave my advice, we made some decisions and talked about some options then went back up to present to the committee.
I was introduced to the room of 9 Congolese and felt incredibly humble, hot(Africans tend to not use AC), white and fascinated with the circumstances at which I found myself.
I opened by saying how honored I was to be in the company of these folks and questioned my resolute connection to Africa.
The response from the chairwoman of ACP, Monique, a formidable and quite beautiful woman was that of wisdom, gratitude and guarded trust.
She recognized my authenticity and their own undeniable connection to my country as well. It reminded me of a meeting in Cote I'voire with a humanitarian group that was trying to help rural women. At that meeting I was tired, it was the end of the trip and I was very touched by what they were trying to do and felt totally inadequate at what I might be able to help them with. Teary eyed and on the verge of totally losing it and this chairwoman told me to "be strong". I needed to be strong for them she said. At the ACP meeting I was resolute not to get emotional.
After we presented our ideas, there was much discussion and questions and then they proceeded on with other business. I could understand some of it. After about two hours of heated and animated debate in French and the occasional "NEXT!" the meeting ended. We finished up in the cool basement that also served as a bar, Hallelujah!
then made our way back to the dinner table where a feast of traditional Congolese food was served. Salty Cod fish, spinach and mushrooms, rice of course, some kind of turkey and then something else that was chewy - not sure...and cavasa...(sp?)then bananas.
Wine was poured, jokes and stories were told (in French or Lari) punch lines delivered with great force and MUCH laughter. Songs took over the night , one after the other with smiles of recognition and delight. More laughter. I had no real idea of what was being said or sung but laughed my ass off anyways and so enjoyed the company of these Congolese.

For a few moments perhaps they were able to dissuade the images of orphaned, sick and dying children with no food, shelter, no basic survival essentials and destroyed villages......the images that surely haunt their minds, the reason they started ACP. ACP is a glimmer of hope that exists for this neglected crisis.
More to come about this organization...