Looking at what I can do for my community
Legendary songwriter Johnny Cash once described his songwriting as a give-and-take process with the world:
“Creative people have to be fed from the divine source. I have to get fed. I had to get filled up in order to pour out.”
It is a simple adage but one everyone can learn from, not just creative people. The pace of life can cause us to overlook what is really important. On the cusp of a new year, in the post-Christmas wake, I find myself reexamining what I can be doing for my community.
It’s a weird combination of events all cultivating into one existential soup. Between the tragic events in the world and many people I know personally going through some immense loss, there has been many heavy conversations comforting friends through this time. As a result of these talks, I can’t help but examine what I’m doing for the world around me.
Most of us, out of necessity, think about ourselves throughout the day — making sure the bills are paid, taking care of kids, maintaining the daily responsibilities of life, etc. Although there’s no offspring in the picture for me, somehow I need to do something greater to fill my cup.
Inspiration can be discovered from, seemingly, unlikely places or sources in a community. In keeping tabs on various music news, I found this recent development out of Oregon to be inspiring. A grant program titled The Echo Fund, created in conjunction with Music Portland, aims to keep classical, jazz, world and various educational musical programs through creative funding.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting: “The program is intended to help working musicians in Oregon by helping pay for creative, non-performance projects. The proposals can range from music production and promotion, to distribution of physical albums. MusicOre-
gon, a nonprofit that supports independent and contemporary music in the state, administers the Echo Fund.”
Recognizing the value their local musicians can bring to their community and potentially to the world, Portland is attempting to help sustain local arts in effort to keep them from being lost forever. Meara McLaughlin, executive director of Music Oregon and partner organization Music Portland, stresses the need for sustaining and building local culture.
“Portland will lose its music center, it will lose its heart, if we don’t create cultural change from fans and businesses and governments,” she said. “It’s worthy and we need to create new methods to make sure that it remains in Portland.
“Nashville is ‘Music City,’ because they decided to be, and the government and the tourism sector really leaned into it. Austin is the ‘live music capital of the world,’ because they branded themselves so, and then invested in it. And I think we need, as a city, to acknowledge that music built this city.”
One example of a Oregon local who benefited from this program is Vicco González, a vocalist and guitarist of the Portland-based band Caicedo.
According to OPB: “He formed the band a decade ago in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. He describes the group’s music as an eclectic combination of many genres, including pop and Brazilian tropicália music. The band, which performed at Portland’s music venue Mississippi Studios earlier this month, plans to professionally record an album at a Portland studio thanks to a grant it received from the Echo Fund.”
“It’s very, very welcoming,” González said. “It’s getting to know people that are actually devoted to music and to their craft. Being involved with this community is very humbling and beautiful.”
Obviously, the differences between our city and Portland are vast. However, one simple yet deep notion we can take away from this initiative is that we, collectively as a population, create our community. As an Antelope Valley native, it’s warmed my heart to see our artistic community blossom through various government, community or personal support from individuals.
As times have become tough economically and personally, it’s important to remember we control the fate of our community. We are all important and every one of us can create a unique impact on each other. There is no social cause we can’t tackle with enough support from each other.
Throughout my writing and involvement in the music community, I’ve always tried to highlight or support worthy causes. Much as my own musicianship and creativity evolves, figuring out how I can make a bigger impact on my community has come to the forefront. Going into 2024, it’s a path that will surely unfold as the new year goes on. Something, I hope our own community will continue to support on all levels for generations to follow.