December 2014 Festiva de Drumsticks 2 is huge

Festiva 2 + Beneficiaries and More Good News

Sticking Up For Children is finishing 2014 with great, new partnerships. Our second annual Festiva de Drumticks took place on December 3 at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center in New Orleans' Central City.

We had fine music from several of our long-time supporters, such as drummers Alexey Marti, Alfred Roberts, and Johnny Vidacovich and clarinetist Evan Christopher, and Cyril and and Gaynielle Neville.

We had Senegalese kora-player Morikeba Kouyaté and saxophonist Matthew Shilling, Matthew, as you may know, has taught young people sound-recording through his New Orleans Youth Sound Experience, one of Sticking Up For Children.

We also had many Tables of distinguished and smiling guests. Each Table received a shadow-box with drumsticks-as-art painted by orphans at F.E.P.E. or students in the Make Music NOLA after-school programs.

It was a great night! Thanks above all to the artists and volunteers who made it happen. Many more photos by Keith Hill and Henry York can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/130011842@N07/sets/72157649750445871/

Also, we have news that the prestigous Stella Jones' Gallery. located at 201 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, will host throughout the month of February 2015 a show of drumsticks-as-art by orphans at the Foyer Espoir Pour les Enfants in Port-au-Prince. Stella Jones is herself much impressed by the orphan artists.

New signers of drumsticks include Jimmy Cliff and William Parker.. And Oliver Lake contributed a very evocatice piece of his mixed-media art.

Also, we've connected with the St, Luke Foundation's primary Hospital in Port- au-Prince by working with Karen Buck and Michael Harris on a benefit at Café Istanbul of December 16. The St. Luke Hospital is administered by Haitians and employs more than 1000 in Port-au-Prince. It originated from Haitian orphans as they became young adults. Check out the smiles and accomplishments at http://stlukehaiti.org/haitian-leadership/

Or watch:

Finally, end-of-year contributions have allowed Sticking Up For Children to provide land and sea transportation for a donated 29-seat schoolbus from Carbondale, Illinois to the F.E.P.E. orphanage in Port-au-Prince and to buy at least one 3-D printer for our partners.

Thank you all!