Why Partners In Health?
Partners In Health is a health care organization based on the principle that all people—including the most oppressed and impoverished—are entitled to the highest standards of health care. Health is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Through service, training, advocacy, and research, Partners In Health seeks to raise the standard of care for the poor everywhere.
The work of PIH has three goals: to care for their patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. They bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need and work to alleviate the crushing economic and social burdens of poverty that exacerbate disease.
I recently read the book Mountains Beyond Mountain by Tracy Kidder.
The book is a biography of sorts about Paul Farmer and Partners In
Health, which is the organization he and a few others founded. Like
many other readers, I left this book with the feeling that there is
more I can be doing to help others in my daily life. Kidder makes it
very clear that not everyone is set out to do the same thing as Paul
Farmer with their lives; not everyone is meant to be a doctor and
help people specifically and solely that way. However, Kidder
encourages the reader to seek out (what I think is) that innate part
in us all that wants to help others.
I love making music. I justify doing this as my job because I hope
my music helps other people in some way. I’ve gotten through some of
the toughest times in my life because of the music others have made.
It’s fair to say that music relates to most of us largely on an
emotional plain. This is great and valid and true, but when I want
to help the hungry, needy, sick, poor, and disenfranchised, just how
well does music translate when if it is left strictly emotional level?
Our world is currently structured in a way that operates on currency
and commerce. This project is my attempt to turn our (you the listener and me the
writer) emotional connection into a currency that can be donated,
spent, and used within this commercial structure.
As I mentioned before, you do not have to pay for the songs. I
simply encourage you to consider those with different and perhaps
more immediate needs than your own and give what you can to support
their cause. I also encourage you to read Kidder’s book. You can
follow this link to it on
Amazon.com:
Mountains Beyond Mountains.
Why Musicians On Call?
Musicians On Call is a non-profit organization based in New York City (and Philadelphia) that has many facets,
though I will only elaborate specifically on the part that I am involved with since I am most personally
connected to and have first hand knowledge about it. The program that some of my friends and I volunteer
with is called Bedside Performances.
Bedside Performances are live performances given by volunteer artists who play songs in-room
for patients undergoing treatment or who are unable to leave their hospital beds. The volunteer musicians go
into the hospital and do a round (so to speak), much the way a doctor or nurse makes their round through a
hospital floor. The patients are first asked if they would like to hear some music. If they say yes,
the musician enters the room and plays a song for them. If the patient is not capable of answering but
has requested music before, the musician enters and plays for them.
Having done a few rounds myself over the past year, I now deeper understand the emotional connection music
has and how important a program such as Bedside Performances is.
If you are a musician based in New York City or Philadelphia, PA, I strongly encourage you to get involved. If
you do not live in either town, but are a touring musician with concert dates in NYC or Philly, you too can
be part of Musicians On Call.
Musicians On Call also puts together CD libraries at a few select hospitals. You can donate your CDs to
their libraries by following the instructions on the Musicians On Call site.
