By Lee Ann Sides Garrett
Salisbury Post
It’s a sea of singing faces. About 78 children ó black,white, disabled, and children from troubled homes ó all gathered together for Music and Arts Camp at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
“It’s as if there were no walls dividing them at all,” says Rob Durocher, minister of music at St. John’s.
The camp is a collaborative effort between Soldier’s Memorial AME Zion Church and St. John’s. Children from The Arc Rowan County and Department of Social Services Youth Services Bureau also attended.
The camp culminated Friday with a performance of “The Silly Skyscraper,” a program about the Tower of Babel.
“We wanted to reach out to the community and offer an opportunity for our diversified kids to experience arts and music,” Durocher says.
The children, divided into four groups, spent the week participating in activities that included arts and crafts, music, movement/dance and drama. All the activities prepared them for their performance on Friday.
Debbie Leazer, movement/dance teacher, taught the children movements modified so even wheelchair-bound kids could do them.
“They’ve adapted some things for the disabled kids,” says Jane Jackman of the Arc. “Organizers changed so the kids didn’t have to.”
“The community support has just been fabulous,” says Paula Bohland. “The Civitans provided scholarships for some children to attend and lunch for the program on Friday.”
The set for the final program included a Tower of Babel built by Kathy Painter, set up to actually fall. Painter says building it “was a challenge.”
Durocher says the camp’s theme, Many Names, Many Faces, reflected in both the program and the children.
“It’s our children showing us their many names, faces and abilities,” he says. “God’s love is evident in the children’s faces.”
“Getting to see the children blossom has been wonderful,” says Pastor Grant Harrison of Soldier’s Church and director of the “Silly Skyscraper.” “They rise to the occasion and learn quickly, helping them to grow and interact with kids they didn’t know.”
Bo Steele, a young boy with cerebral palsy, skipped some of the fast, complicated lyrics to a song. But the chorus of “Build It” and “Babble” provided repetitive lyrics. “Build it!” Bo sang loudly, a smile spreading all the way to his eyes.
“What a great opportunity for the kids with disabilities,” says Jackman. “Music is such a great way for them to learn and have new experiences.”
Durcher says putting a program together in a week was a challenge. But perfection was not the goal. He says its all about the experience for the children.
“It’s the process, not the product,” Durocher said.
Participant Shay Steele said arts and crafts was her favorite part. Crafts included tote bags and visors. Visors were used in the program to identify “builders” as north, south, east or west, the groups that spoke different languages when the tower fell.
“It’s fun and exciting to get to meet new people,” says Shay.
Harrison says he hopes this is the start of something.
“Sharing between these churches is something that should be modeled by the community,” Harrison says.
“The beautiful thing about this is it’s children who would not have ordinarily come in contact with each other,” says Rosemary Kinard, Durocher’s assistant.
But if you ask Shay Steele, differences like that aren’t all that important.
“We’re really not all that different,” Shay says.