Sunday 2 February 2014

There is more...


Last night, as part of our Culture and Identity class, we had a field trip to Skid Row, where we met General Jeff, a community activist. Skid Row has one of the largest populations of homeless people in the USA.

I was deeply affected by meeting General Jeff. He is from South LA, and moved to Skid Row about 7 years ago to work in the community and be a voice for the community. He worked in the music industry as a successful rap artist before deciding to move to Skid Row, and give his life to the community and people there. He has now become a pillar of strength and voice for the community, saying things that few others dare to say, and being a positive influence to the extent that few dare to or even think of trying.

My initial feelings and thoughts when starting on the tour - was irritation, questioning why we were doing this - a few students taking a tour as spectators to this community which holds people with very real problems, and very real pain. However, after spending our time with General Jeff - I knew that I had missed the point earlier. The point is that although this community is filled with crime, homelessness and more - there are many positive things going on in the community, and many people working to effect change in the lives of the residents of Skid Row. 

Homelessness has a face, and has a name. Poverty has a face, and a name. Each person who lives at Skid Row, whether homeless, mentally-ill or struggling with addiction, has a face, and has a name. This is true for people and children around the world who live in poverty. At what point do we stop walking past the people around us who need us, at what point do we look past the stigma of homeless and poverty, that the person we see is a person we see is a person with real needs, real life experiences and real pain. When do we stop and engage - not helper to homeless, but person to person, not superficially, not just a 'hi' or 'God bless you', but a genuine seeking to know and understand. These are questions I am posing at myself - questions I know I need to work out in order to do this work in a way that truly empowers rather than causing harm to communities.

I need to learn how to approach this work through thought-processes and dialogues that engage issues at both a macro and very micro level. 

I am learning that things are not always as they appear to be, and as people portray them to be. Just as General Jeff emphasized yesterday, "There are two sides to every story". We need to be willing to listen to the communities we are working in, otherwise it is so easy to miss the point, and more importantly, miss the people.

The last two years have been full of seeing, and thinking, and being inspired by the great work that people and organizations are doing here, and around the world. But yesterday, it was the closest experience and encounter with the kind of work I feel myself being drawn to more. I do not know what shape this will all eventually take...I just know that in terms of my life's work, that there is more, and a deeper work that needs to be done. That my current frame with regard to social transformation and youth development is way too limited. I know there is more...

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Dream For the Future


Allow me to dream for a moment...with no boundaries, no criticism...just to dream. If you could dream of a future for your nation, what would it look like?

Every family has a home.
Every child has food.
Every child is love and cared for. Every child is safe.
Every child goes to school and has access to the best education.
Every child has hope, and has value placed on their lives through loving relationships with the people in their lives. Every child has the opportunities and support they need to become who they were meant to be and fulfill their life's purpose.

Communities come together and strive to bring about change - uniting for change on the premise: Every child is our child.

A nation who shares, because they understand that its in giving that you receive. A nation that works together for the common goals of firstly our children being taken care, then our communities' needs being met. A nation that works to take care of the homeless, the old, the young person without hope for their future. A nation that is not scared to stand up, and get our hands 'dirty' by stepping out of what makes us comfortable, and meeting the need of someone we encounter, or taking the time to have that conversation with someone who needs it - to learn or be encouraged.

If we can raise a strong generation - a generation that is culturally aware and does not hold prejudice, a generation that has hope...then we can construct a future.

The things you teach a child from young, rarely departs from them - teach a child to hope, and to love. Teach a child to dream. Teach children the importance of working together and being part of a bigger picture- that we are stronger standing together than scattered and just taking care of 'me and mine'. Teach a child to share. Teach a child that she/he is valuable.

This goes beyond just music or social organizations- this speaks to people. This speaks about a movement of change, a re-awakening that realizes that our children ARE the future. This speaks to organizations, businesses, education, government, and most importantly ordinary people- this speaks to every sphere of our nation. A nation that realizes the significance of standing together, supporting eachother - because after all it's not about us - it's about paving the way for the next generation, for our children, and children's children. 

This battle is not just our governments', our community leaders', our schools' or even our churches'/religious groups': this is a personal fight for all of us. When you lean in to help with social transformation and development in your community, and therefore your country - you contribute to the future of your own children and family.

Every child is OUR child.

"Build as if you are building for your own children..." Erik Holmgren, a leader I respect and who inspires me, made this profound comment once when I was in the Sistema Fellowship at NEC. I will never forget this sentiment, because it is so true, and so necessary. 

"Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do". - Steve Jobs






Tuesday 7 January 2014

Sunshine and greetings from LA...




Greetings from LA...

I trust that you are well and that you enjoyed your festive season. I hope that your year ahead is a meaningful one, and that the dreams in your heart for this year come to fruition.


I am excited about the year ahead - It's going to be a good year. It has been great to spend the last 6 months in Los Angeles. When people said that there is no winter here, I thought they were exaggerating, but they were right (to my big surprise!). So, during this festive season, I have been exploring different parts of LA, such as Venice Beach, downtown LA, Griffith Park and Observatory, and LA museums. I have also spent my time writing a mini concerto for flute and orchestra called "Remember, South Africa", which is about remembering our freedom, and will be played as part of my final music project.







“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” Phil Collins

This quote summarizes my experiences of the last few months as part of the Masters of Arts in Teaching Program. The highlight, for me, is being immersed everyday in the YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) at HOLA El Sistema program, which has an incredible family-like culture of positivity, love and excellence. Every MAT student is both a mentor and a mentee, creating a unique cycle. In the picture above, I am playing alongside YOLA students in the wind band concert at the Disney Hall Amphitheatre.


Another highlight has been watching the Los Angeles Philharmonic rehearsals and concerts. We have observed conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Bramwell Tovey, Itzhak Perlman and Esa-Pekka Salonen. This interesting juxtaposition of being submerged in an El Sistema program, and being exposed to the work of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and how the partnership between these entities functions has been both fascinating and inspiring. 


In this coming term, I will be coaching a woodwind chamber group, organizing team building activities for students at YOLA, helping to mentor a student leadership group and to prepare students for their side-by-side concert with the Simon Bolivar orchestra from El Sistema, Venezuela. At this concert, they will be playing Tchaikovsky repertoire together with the Simon Bolivar orchestra. I will also begin to do research around the positive impact of music on children's growth and lives, as well as what combining youth development and the arts looks like.
These pictures were taken when some of my MAT colleagues and I played alongside YOLA students at various concerts and events. Our time with YOLA students are always fun and inspiring.

I would love to hear about how you are doing, and any thoughts on the topics I am researching are most welcome.

Warm Regards,

Monique

About Me

My photo
Monique Van Willingh is currently a Sistema Fellow at the New england conservatory of Music (Boston, USA). The programme studies the model of the Venzeulen programme, El Sistema, which uses music as a vehicle for social change. Monique graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance (with Distinction in Flute), and in 2011 with a Classical Honours from the University of Cape Town. Monique is a resourceful flautist, who is proficient in both the Classical and Jazz genres of music. Monique was the 2010 winner of the Fine Music Radio and Pick n Pay Music Award in the Jazz Category and was also awarded the ImpACT Award for Young Professionals in Jazz Music by the Arts and Culture Trust (2010). She was recently chosen as a finalist in the SAMRO Music competition (jazz category) and received the SAMRO/Bonhams Award at the competition. Monique was a member of the National Youth Jazz Band (2010), and in 2009, she was selected as the Principal Flautist of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, which toured Europe in 2012. Two passions central to her life are music and youth development.