Voices for Solidarity Concert 2019

Through storytelling, harmony, dancing and music, the Dream Project’s Voices for Solidarity concert was a wonderful success.

Over two hundred people gathered in solidarity to support not only the Dream Project, but also our diversity and complexity. The quality of performances we witnessed were breathtaking.

Dulce Carrillo, Coordinator of Community Engagement at Arlington Public Schools graciously served as our Master of Ceremonies. After a delicious reception provided by the parents of the Dream Project, we kicked off the program with the beautiful and harmonious tunes of the GenOUT chorus—the youth choir of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC. These incredibly talented young men and women came out and performed with passion and love—and it was blatantly obvious. The audience responded with love. They loved the courage, talent, and passion of every singer on stage.

Marcelo y su Charango promptly took the stage with his group—Sounds of the Andes. What followed was an astounding set of instrumental music that transported the audience to the Andes and taught them a little about the culture there.

The final performer was Cheick Hamala Diabate, who promptly flew us across the Atlantic from the Andes to Mali with his graceful N’Goni. The sounds of the N’Goni took over the entire venue and through clapping and dancing the audience thoroughly enjoyed their performance.

Throughout the night we had three of our scholars take the stage: Monica, Darwin and Ricardo. Both Monica and Darwin shared their powerful stories and how their involvement with the Dream Project became a tremendous help in their path to success. Ricardo closed the night, by leading the audience in singing Imagine by John Lennon.

The contrast in between all of our performers shows us how diverse and unique different cultures are—and it teaches us that regardless of nationality, sexual orientation, race, and anything else we are able to gather in solidarity and have an incredible night together.

What a successful night!