submitted by Nancy Crotti
Common Ground Meditation Center is holding its third annual Festival of Giving, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, September 7 at the center, 2700 East 26th St. in the Seward neighborhood.
This family-friendly event will include performances by local musicians Larry Long, Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott, Dean McGraw, Marc Anderson and Alex Goldfarb. Ann Carter will lead simple folk dancing with music by Linda Brietag and friends. Spoken-word artists Louis Alemayehu and Kevin Freidberg will also perform, accompanied by Fernando Silva on the flute. Sawatdee, Birchwood Cafe and Peace Coffee and others will provide food and drink for purchase. Admission is free.
Nonprofit organizations that fight hunger and homelessness, assist neighborhood youth and promote public health will have information for visitors and will gratefully accept donations. The festival raised $10,000 for community organizations during each of the past two years’ festivals, according to Mark Nunberg, the center’s guiding teacher.
Participating nonprofits include:
— Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership
— St. Stephen’s Human Services
— Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy
“Once a year, Common Ground invites the wider community to gather around the joy of giving. We bring together great music, activities for children, delicious food and a chance for people to make connections with these wonderful organizations that will be on site,” Nunberg said. “If you want, you can have a conversation and get to know about the important work these nonprofits are doing to make this world a better place. It has been a real joy to be at this event the past two years.”
For more information, email festivalofgiving@commongroundmeditation.org or call Common Ground at 612-722-8260.
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