BIPOC Community Sing in PDX

THE VENUE:

This event will take place at the Historic Alberta House, an event space intended for all, with a focus on reaching and engaging voices from our community that have been disproportionately impacted by social, economic, and racial injustices in Oregon.

The building is ADA accessible throughout the first floor (where all activity will take place).

EVENT DETAILS:

6:30-7pm arrival, we will sing from 7-9pm

This is a no-alcohol event

All ages welcome

$10-40 sliding scale

Pay what you can. No one turned away for lack of funds.

We request that you REGISTER ONLINE IN ADVANCE through Eventbrite. We will absorb fees, so there are no hidden, added costs for you. This will just help us track attendance and better prepare. You are also welcome to drop-in and at the event (cash, Venmo, or Paypal).

Your contribution covers venue rental fees, sustains our song leaders and this offering, and allows us to give back to the original caretakers of the land on which this event will take place.

DESCRIPTION:


We invite you to this queer and POC-led singing gathering FOR OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY to experience the power of song as medicine, as a tool for liberation, and to simply fill your well of joy and connection. We believe singing is a birthright and welcome all levels of experience. We teach songs on-the-spot, usually through call and echo, that are sourced from the modern community singing movement or have come through the song leaders themselves.

We may sing some songs in Spanish! 
¡Cantamos algunas canciones en español!

We aim to create an integrated space rooted in understandings of our historical context and current social realities. No matter your gender, sexual orientation, abilities, or housing status, you are not only welcome here, you belong here. It is one of our core values to utilize song to resist societal oppression and support liberation from the inside out.

We are not perfect, but it is our intention to respect and uplift all beings, human and non-human, seen and unseen. If there is a way we can better care for you, your values, and your experience in this space, please let us know.

We hope you will bring the wholeness of who you are to this embodied experience of singing with full permission to be in movement, grief, laughter and more.

This singing event is for BIPOC-ONLY. You self-identify, no questions asked. Stay tuned for all-inclusive Sing People Sing! events in the coming months.

Our gathering is focused on singing and will have designated percussion support. You are welcome to play subtle percussion instruments and request that you ask permission or wait for a clear invitation to play percussion before adding. We may also have moments of community drumming and singing. In such a case, drums will be provided and clear instruction given at that time.

REGARDING COVID-19:


If you are not feeling well, please stay home. Masking is not required for this event. We encourage you to mask and distance to your own comfort level and will hold a culture of respect for the choices everyone makes to take care of themselves.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & TITHING:


We acknowledge that the land upon which we will sing is the traditional territory of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, Grande Ronde and many more tribes.

A portion of donations will go to the Native American Youth and Family Center (nayapdx.org) to support our enduring indigenous community.

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED:

Water and hot tea

Chairs

Restroom facilities

WHAT TO BRING:


A water bottle or travel mug, if you can

A notebook, if you like to jot down inspiration or song information

A blanket or warm layers, if you want to get cozy

Your voice

Your open heart

Your whole truth

YOUR HOST AND SONG LEADER:

 (non-binary using she/her in English, elle in Spanish) is a queer, Puerto Rican-Iranian American, Earth-loving singer-songwriter, percussionist, and song leader based in unceded indigenous territory known as Portland, Oregon. While holding transformational space, Shireen leads infectious, soulful, and groove-based community songs, often engaging her participants in rhythm, because she believes strongly in music’s power to propel cultural revolution. She also teaches drumming, leads workshops, and facilitates grief ritual as part of her community-based music empowerment project Shireen Amini Music Medicine.

Host or Publisher Shireen Amini Music Medicine