Join me in helping the Tacoma Refugee Choir end our season on a high note!

This is an invitation to join my fundraising team by making a simple donation! In the weeks leading up to our May 30 concert season finale, we are raising funds to sustain and expand our multicultural arts programming into the future.

I was introduced to the Tacoma Refugee Choir by their former Administrative Asst, Christina Brewer at my Unity Church where I experienced unconditional love in the form of non-judgement, acceptance & periodicals like Wee Wisdom, Highlights & The Daily Word since the '80's. Just the concept of supporting immigrants & refugees resonated with me. Particularly because of the challenges my maternal grandparents faced migrating for jobs from their small island of Siquijor PI as teenagers to marry in Hawaii & lose their first two newborn sons from what they would call a curse but could've been a virus such as SIDS. So, they continued their migration to Central California to become tenant farmers in Morgan Hill & went on to raise 8 children. That area now known as part of the Silicon Valley has an offramp on Hwy 101 named "Ten(n)ant Ave". Along with my father's experience as a teenager in Luzon PI warding off the Japanese invasion of WW2. He was later recruited by the US Army & served in France during the Korean War training the troops in guerilla warfare. He was stationed in California & met my mother. Then there was my own experience integrating a new neighborhood in Southern CA called Pico Rivera, Home of the Ford Motor Plant back in the 50's & 60's where I experienced exclusion & taunting, as kids will do for a multitude of reasons, because of the color of my skin. There but for the Grace of God, the love of a large Filipino Family & Educators, Professionals & friends that were ready to accept the changing times; I was able to thrive.

I am proud to be a member of the Tacoma Refugee Choir where I had the joy to experience Erin Guinip, the founder & former Artistic Director, The TRC meets & rehearse weekly to support each other & learn our music by rote memorization. On occasion I wear my mother's Philippine "camisa" & sing out the joys & sorrows, but mainly joys of my choir mates, families & homelands in their native languages. We have performed at Benaroya Hall with the Rainbow City Orchestra & the Madaraka Festival & many other venues across the state of Washington, including other states such as Ohio & Texas for Chorale Conferences. The TRC will be at Folklife Seattle for the first time this Memorial Day May 25th.

Currently under the direction of Orlando Morales, we have taken our mission statement which is "Creating spaces for authentic expression, interconnection, & healing through song & music" into the public schools where he & other choir members teach music to students who find themselves in similar predicaments - A foreign country, feeling alone & in need of community.

It really does take a village to change the norms, prejudices & outcomes of a biased society. I know that I am grateful for my "tribe". Please join my team so that together, we support this work, amplify refugee and immigrant voices, and help continue to make Tacoma a welcoming and connected city. For those who have donated in the past, Thank You for that!

Find out more about us here https://www.refugeechoir.org