How to Make Massive Good
"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."
Fred Rogers
What inspires you? What drives you to want to make the world a little bit better? In a climate like the one we are currently living in – with seemingly one gut-wrenching news story after another about some "leader" making yet another unfathomable decision – it can be extremely difficult to believe....or even remember that there is still MASSIVE good in this world. But, I'm here to tell you, there is.In my other life, I have the incredible blessing of working with some really amazing people and organizations who are, everyday, doing the important – feet on the pavement – work of making our world and our communities a better, or at least more liveable place. I feel incredibly humbled and fortunate to have the opportunity to be but a tiny wheel in their cogs of good. Some of my clients teach others how to tap into their creative sides. A few of them teach others how to manage and maintain successful businesses. Some of them provide desperately needed relief to families with children who are suffering from life threatening health issues. Some of them help young people understand that they matter and that the way they treat themselves and others matters. And yet, others are using art and music to infuse communities with hope and provide access to some of our most basic human necessities like food.One such organization, Massive Amounts of Good (MAOG) has made it their mission to "devote its energy to passionately advocating for the hungry, needy and socio-economically underrepresented members of our local communities. MAOG is focused on making a positive impact on a diverse group of individuals, directly within their space in our culture, through the utilization of the creative gifts and energy of its community." Their leader and Founder Dr. Turner Berg looked at the community around him, saw a need, and found a way to meet that need utilizing some of the spaces he knows best; creativity and heart. Tapping into his long relationship and history with both philanthropy and the music and arts community, he spearheads this organization which partners with other nonprofits to create the perfect storm of awareness, collaboration, buzz, and results, that ultimately benefit the entire community.
“By design, we thrive off collaborating with existing nonprofits who share our mission to support the needy. We harness our creative community to generate awareness, create media, raise money, and serve those most in need in our communities. Our events combine the creative process and creators, with charity. We hold concerts, raise money at festivals, volunteer, organize food drives… just about anything someone in need in our communities may benefit from, we are interested.”Dr. Turner Berg
Dr. Berg, alongside his team (which includes Shannon Pitzele and Reed Grimm – as well as a cast of other well-known Minnesota musicians and artists) will be doing some massively good work at Revival Fest in Harmony Park over Memorial Weekend. They will be hosting all kinds of shenanigans, most notably including a drum circle with MAOG's very own Dr. Turner Berg and Lovin' Spoonful drummer, Mike Arturi. The drum circle is set to take place on Sunday around 1pm, immediately following Mark Joseph and the American Soul (whose most recent album includes some backing vocals by yours truly).So, if you're heading down to Harmony Park for the festival, keep an eye out for this gal and make sure to stop by and visit MAOG in the Harmonium or visit their website to find out where in the world they will be next and how you can get involved in the great work they are doing. And before you leave home, stock up on some non-perishable food items to donate to MAOG or plan to leave a monetary donation to help them continue their essential work of making our communities a better place for all to live in and thrive.Nothing gets me quite as jazzed as seeing how people, regular humans, come together to meet the needs of the least provided for in their community. We are so, so powerful and so able to fashion the world we wish to see. So, how will you do it? How will you pick up your piece of our little world? Will you add to the beauty of what is good in it? Because I'm here to tell you, the beauty can ABSOLUTELY overshadow the ugliness. The light can ABSOLUTELY drive out the darkness. We can wait for a leader. Or we can BE the leader. It doesn't have to be big. Sometimes it only takes one small, conscious step each day to create massive change. One foot after another. With a full heart. And a hopeful smile.
What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?George Eliot