Building Community with the Spirit of Music!

Down By Riverside, Inc. uses music as a tool for creating deep, intentional connections between people. We consider these connections to be non-religious spiritual relationships that create feelings of being part of something both larger and more important than ourselves alone.

Initially, we are working on two types of programs: 1) in-school community-building music workshops and 2) pot-luck music concerts that focus on economic, social and physical accessibility and music that engages the spirit.

Our goal is to build a brick-and-mortar venue for our work that reduces or eliminates barriers to musical participation like accessibility, economics, child-care, and transportation. Currently these potluck concerts will happen in whatever venues are available, from backyards and living rooms to rental halls, churches and community centers.

In-School Community Building Workshops

Accessible Concerts Centering Music that Engages the Spirit

Our in-school workshops use music to teach definitions of community and spiritual connections, how music can be used to create these connections and how specific types of music have connected people in history. Our first workshop featured Teaching Artist Willie J. Laws Jr. with our founder, Hendrik, hosting.

Music needs to reach people where they are: without enough money for entertainment or eating out, without cars, with their children, thirsty for community and connections. Down By Riverside Concerts will center music from many cultures and belief systems. We have started a series of Spirit of Music Potluck Concerts every Second Sunday of the month from 4-6:30 PM at the UU Church of Medford. You can get tickets, both free and giving a donation, here: https://givebutter.com/Pta4Cn We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier. EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free tickets to our events. See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.

Please find out more about our Board of Directors and Advisors.

Please contact us at info@downbyriverside.org