Mom with Parkinson’s aims to uplift others as ‘Slim Shaky’
Diagnosed 10 years ago, she has stepped out of her comfort zone to rap about the disease
Making a rap video was far from any life plan for Joni Lowe, but then again so was being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago.
Lowe really stepped far out of her comfort zone to co-star in a rap video, “Slim Shaky,” that was written, filmed and edited by her son, Sequoia Lowe, 23, for a senior project while he was a student at Western Connecticut State University.
“My dear, sweet son has lots of patience,” the 54-year-old mother said, noting Sequoia helped her work on the “attitude” and “tempo” needed to rap.
The title, “Slim Shaky” is a play on words related to the popular character “Slim Shady” featured in rap star Eminem’s videos. In this version, “shaky” is a reference to one of Parkinson’s most characteristic symptoms — the tremor.
For Sequoia, part of what was so “compelling,” about making the video with mom was that rapping was so far “out of her comfort zone,” yet she persevered.
“It was cool to see that commitment,” Sequoia said. “She cares a lot about uplifting people and celebrating them for who they are.”
Now nearly two years later, the video is set to go live on Jan. 14 at 10 a.m., linked to a fundraiser for Parkinson’s research with Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The video/fundraiser can be accessed at slimshaky.com.
The video had input from the entire Lowe family, who live in Brookfield, making it all the sweeter for Sequoia. Dad, Robert, and 22-year-old sister, Daisy, did backup vocals. Daisy also appears in the video on a park bench as a personification of the disease Joni has named Penelope.
“There is a lot of love in our
including as a regional center and for young people and in educational endeavors.
In terms of education — the Gawlickis both earned MBAs — the foundation focuses on students from preschool through high school, as the couple said they believe that helping young people achieve a strong education — whether academic or technical — also will help draw young people back to the city to live, work and improve the quality of life there.
To date the foundation has awarded more than $8 million to more than 50 organizations.
“We had the means to give back,” Ted Gawlicki said.
An example, he said, was working with ReadyCT, a policy-driven organization that in part focuses on education and opportunities, to place Hartford high school students as interns at more than 40 area businesses. The intern program was well-received by the students and the businesses, and is an example of real and measurable progress the foundation can achieve, Ted Gawlicki said.
The foundation also has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club, Hartford Promise and many others.
“It does give us tremendous satisfaction; we really think we are making a difference,” he said. “There is a lot of good stuff going on.”
In another example of its work, the foundation gave $500,000 from 2021-2025 to the Wilson Gray YMCA on Albany Avenue in Hartford and the Y-BELL Power Scholars Academy education program.
Valencia Williams, executive director of the branch, said the grants do “make a difference in the work that we do.”
For example, Williams said, there is a program for girls ages 8 to 16, “Girls Creating a Future,” which focuses on social competency and positive relationships. A similar program is “Young Men with a Purpose,” which aims to engage male youths to be leaders, make positive choices and manage mental health challenges.
“We have been impacted by loss of residents to violence,” Williams noted.
Williams said the foundation’s support works well with the YMCA’s goal to be a critical part of support services for residents in the Albany Avenue neighborhood and “to replace lost traditional support.”
“The Gawlickis are able to add critical programming that our young people need,” Williams said.
Throughout the YMCA programming, including with education, babysitting services, is teaching about healthful lifestyles and eating, as the north end of Hartford tends to be a “food desert,” Williams said.,
“This is a place where we are open to all; we want to strengthen our families,” Williams said. “We are seen as a neighborhood support.”
Jeff Williams, associate vice president of development for the YMCA of Greater Hartford, said another program supported by the foundation is the Y-BELL Power Scholars Academy program in Hartford and East Hartford, which aims to lessen summer learning loss and the achievement gap for students in kindergarten through fifth grade,
Williams said the YMCA partners with CREC/University of Hartford Magnet Schools and East Hartford Public School to offer the program in the two communities. It includes literacy and math instruction taught by certified teachers and “structured enrichment activities, including STEM, the arts, physical education, and life skills,” he said.
The summer 2022 program served 216 students in Hartford and East Hartford and participants gained an average of a month in math and stayed level in literacy, Williams said. The average daily attendance rate was 79% and retention rate was 86%, he said.
Williams noted that the program surveys showed, among other things, that 83% of teachers reported students grew more confident in their ability to learn and 100% of parents reported “feeling valued in their child’s learning during the program.”
Mary Gawlicki said a positive aspect of what the YMCA does for city youths is that “they look at the whole child.” This means education, physical and mental health and recreation, and working to engage parents, she said.
The couple also noted their support for the YMCA preschool program and summer education program, which aims to help students retain reading and mathematics skills.
“Our ultimate goal in all our philanthropic actions to (support education) and have (students) come back and work and strengthen the Hartford community,” Ted Gawlicki said.
However, the couple said, they also hope to inspire others to join them in their goal to help Hartford’s young people succeed. They also have supported many health organizations, and other non-profits in the Northeast.
“We want to be an example,” Mary Gawlicki said.