EdWord Galan brings people together by reigniting public space with funk music
EdWord Galan graduated from Naropa’s Interdisciplinary Studies program (‘18) where he focused on music, peace studies, and the psychology of health and healing. He tailored his studies to help propel him into his work and immersed himself in every activity, club, and course he could.
Galan took a “Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship” class with Kate Malachuk and President Charles G. Lief at Naropa, and this intersection of business and social impact is right where he is today.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Galan and his business partner Aaron Myers, wondered what things would look like when the world opened up again and people started to reengage. They began brainstorming how they could bring people back together in a way that’s safe, fun, and funky while also supporting local businesses.
They started riding around Boston with a bicycle and a speaker inspiring people to reconnect through funk music and dancing in public spaces. Lifelong artists and dancers themselves, Galan and Myers believe in the power of music to bring people together. In a world divided by polarities, Galan sees art as the through-line.
One of the most effective ways to bypass intellectual and ideological differences is through interactions on a dance floor—the interactions we have when we’re out of our head, just having fun, enjoying life, and being in the moment.
In July of 2021, Galan and Myers’ fun idea became an incorporated business —A Trike Called Funk. They now have a mobile marketing and musical front-loading tricycle with a hood, grill, and speakers to bring the party everywhere they park. They set the DJ controller on top of the tricycle and a portable stage out front.
They partner with local, value-based organizations throughout Boston, such as Artists for Humanity and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, to amplify the group’s objective by engaging crowds experientially.
Funk music is a hybrid style of music and a powerful embodiment of Galan’s mission Galan hopes his work will help people “see more nuance in the world and move away from polarities” by providing opportunities for connection that catalyze civic engagement. He also hopes it inspires others “to tap into their own power.”
