January 4, 2003 - Give Peace A Dance Benefit for Traprock Peace Center and AFSC/Western Massachusetts
Photos copyright Charlie Jenks, 2003 charles@mtdata.com
Traprock Peace Center, 103A Keets Road, Deerfield, MA 01342; 413-773-1633; fax 413-775-7507
Return to Traprock Peace Center Home Page

A benefit dance and concert for Traprock Peace Center and Western Mass. AFSC, initiated and hosted by Joanne Lutz. Joann decided to celebrate her birthday by giving this benefit on Saturday, January 4, 2003 at the Northampton Center for the Arts. Over 100 people came out after a big snow storm to dance to great music. Sunny Miller and Jo Comerford, Executive Directors of Traprock Peace Center and AFSC/Western Massachusetts, urged us to celebrate our community of peace makers while being mindful of the suffering of the people of Iraq and our capacity to stop the march to war by doing all that we can do. See Photo Album below.

Simba, Southern Vermont's Premier world beat dance band, performed funk, reggae, Carribean grooves, and Latin jazz and John Sprague offered his wonderful inprovisational music. As a special treat, George Bush and Saddam (or folks who looked a lot like them) showed up. They wowed the audience with their dancing and surprised all with their ability to put their differences aside and to join in the spirit of the festivities. (The graphic to the left was the inspired voluntary creation of our friend Jade Barker, a web site designer and local activist.)

Traprock and AFSC both set up great literature tables. AFSC collected signatures on a peace petition and Traprock photographed 'Families for Peace' from a variety of towns in Western Massachusetts. Traprock and AFSC are grateful for the gift of this benefit, which raised needed funds.