Naropa University Sponsors Benefit Concert - World Music for Haiti

BOULDER, Colo. (March 1, 2010)—Naropa University, the Colorado Musicians Consortium, and the Boulder Weekly will join the world community in providing aid and assistance to Haiti in the wake of the devastating 7.0 earthquake that wracked the country and left many dead.

“World Music for Haiti: A Rich Tapestry of Diverse World Folk Music,” a benefit concert on March 13, 2010, to raise money for relief efforts will be held at Naropa University’s Nalanda Events Center, 6287 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and has a $15 suggested donation; $10 for students, seniors, and children. All proceeds will be donated to help Haiti recover from this tragedy.

The concert will showcase some of Boulder’s finest musicians performing world folk music. The performers include Sandra Wong, Jayme Stone, Grant Gordy, Sheldon Sands, and many more. For more information, please contact Sheldon Sands at sheldonjsands@gmail.com, (303) 807-8735, http://www.coloradomusiciansconsortium.com/CMC/Home.html.

Three organizations have been selected to receive the donations: Hope for Haiti Children's Center, Doctors Without Borders, and FINCA International. These organizations are working to address immediate medical needs, create jobs and rebuild infrastructure, and help families recover from the trauma. All three organizations were given a four star rating by www.charitynavigator.org.

Many other people within the Naropa community have used their resources to reach out to Haiti. One such example is Amber Gray, a Naropa Somatic Counseling Psychology alumna and activist. Gray has been using her organization, Trauma Resources International (TRI), to raise funds to donate to the Haiti relief effort. On January 29 and 30, 2010, Naropa University’s Somatic Counseling Psychology Department presented the 14th Annual Somatic Arts Scholarship Concert: “Divining Gravity.” During the performance donations were collected for the Somatic Arts Scholarship and TRI.

Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. Naropa University comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

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