Do you enjoy soaring voices, catchy hooks and vibrant choral music? Stroll by the Cora McCorvey Health and Wellness Center Great Room on the second Monday of each month to hear all that and more. Older adults and others in the Heritage Park neighborhood began gathering in March to create a compelling musical experience.
The program, a free community gathering of song, socialization and performance known as Sing Out! is located at 1015 4th Ave North, Minneapolis. The singing group meets once a month from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Special guest Kat Perkins, local talent featured on the television show The Voice, will be at the May 8 event, singing along with the group to such hits as “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay”, “Proud Mary”, “Lean On Me” and many more.
The group is lead by resident artists, Michael Matthew Ferrell and Jason Hansen of Alive & Kickin, an empowering arts organization that redefines aging through music, story and song. Alive & Kickin was joined by Augustana Care in 2017 to create a program that would celebrate authentic musical voices and experiences in the community.
“This is by far my favorite day of the month,” says Ferrell, who spends his days working alongside Jason Hansen at Children’s Theatre, Duluth Playhouse and Theatre Latte Da. “Our mission is to change lives through our musical message of contemporary song and stories. We come together as a community to sing at the top of our lungs, listen to the music and celebrate being alive. We inspire everyone to embrace the aging process. Alive & Kickin is in the building and we are ready to rock!” says Ferrell.
Funding for Sing Out! was provided by grant from MN State Arts Board after a successful launch of the program last year. “This is truly something special, to see people of all ages come together as a community to sing, listen to the music and just be social and enjoy each other,” says Gail Skoglund, Director of the Augustana Open Circle adult day program.
Upcoming guest artists include the following:
- May 8th, 2017 – special guest Kat Perkins
- June 12th, 2017 – special guest Jennifer Grimm
- July 8th, 2017 – special guest Dieter Bierbrauer
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Alive & Kickin is changing what it means to grow older, one rock song at a time. The nonprofit organization, founded by Ivey Award winning Director/Choreographer Michael Matthew Ferrell and co-creator and Musical Director Jason Hansen, started as a talented and inspirational group of performing seniors 65 – 92 years “young.” Today the organization provides arts programing and programs across the state with a musical message that empowers and enlightens multi-generational audiences. For more information on additional programing, gigs, volunteer opportunities and more please contact www.AliveandKickinMN.org.
Augustana Care provides housing, health care and community-based services to older generations and others in need—and helps those we serve live the lives that most inspire them. The principles that guide our work are as follows:
- To value older generations’ talents and experience
- To provide the care residents need, when and where they need it
- To connect residents to the people and things that mean the most to them
- To support residents and families with spiritual care that speaks to who they are
Learn more about Augustana Care at www.augustanacare.org.
The Cora McCorvey Health & Wellness Center is a fully accessible senior health and wellness center. It uniquely brings together distinguished partners in one convenient space including health clinic services; exercise classes tailored to older adults; adult day services, a state-of-the art learning lab, home health care and arts programming, all under one roof. The wide variety of services and recreational opportunities serves as a central meeting place for community members to socialize, improve their health and live longer, more rewarding lives.
