The third Solution Salon 3/21/09

[Janna Besh]

I almost cancelled the third event, because I have a bad case of bronchitis. We thought some people would still show up and some did. It was FREEZING cold outdoors . So we met indoors. Even though I was sick I went to the Vallejo Saturday Farmers Market that morning and bought vegetables for the soup . While there, I met a singer who had a beautiful voice. A blues band was playing and he was singing to them from across the crowd. His name was Squeeze. I asked him to come to the next event and he said he would come and sing a song about " Change". I am hoping he really does show up. I had met another singer earlier in the week and also asked him to come. We will see what happens. I am expecting the fourth and final Solution Salon to be the best turn out. I have asked the Mayor to attend, but I am not certain that he got the e-mail I sent him. I have been asked to speak to a group before the event on the 28th and am happy to do that. I have met some wonderful people in doing this and find it quite remarkable. We were so delighted and also humbled by the great article that Lanz Christian Banes wrote for the Times Herald, that was picked up by Green For All about what we are doing. That was absolutely wonderful. We are struggling still to build the website, and it is coming along, perhaps it will be up tomorrow. We had a terrific young man attend the Salon named Jeremy Medina. He had brilliant ideas and has a non-profit called Com 1. ( Community 1) He is a teacher and teaches life skills to troubled youth. He had a lot of good ideas. He will be our first official Board member. Another friend wanted to find a solution to approaching youth on the street. And developing opportunities for them. Within these works these changes CAN occur, but I cannot do it alone. I feel, a tiny bit, like a woman with a teaspoon trying to move a mountain. There has been a lot of violence on the streets lately. When I first began this project, the very night I started,working for these changes, a man was shot about a block away from our house. The shots rang clear! How can we truly silence this violence, without getting young people involved ? How can we end racism, without talking about it, doing something about it ? How can one woman with one teaspoon move a mountain? So, I humbly ask you to join me in these works. Bring a spoon. I know I don't have all the answers, but I make a pretty good soup! Blessings to all who read this.