By Natalie Bryant-Rizzieri | Founder & Executive Director
Dear friends,
This is a special time of year when the snow and cold has quieted the world and collectively, we are moved by necessity toward interiority, to gathering around a fire and propping up our feet.
In that stillness, I imagine our group homes as two fires that are burning brightly and warming a small gathering of people in snowy and inclement weather. Our residents and staff members are gathered around the fires. Their hands tend and stoke the fire with care, beauty and proficiency. One resident walks off in search of more wood. Friends and neighbors and you are huddled close to the fire—absorbing warmth, light, the dance of flames. There are some people in the distance who notice the fires from afar. They are curious and come closer. But finally, they are finally drawn into the fire circle by the beauty of the songs.
Our residents sing often—for one another, for visitors and for friends. They sing to celebrate and they sing as a balm when their hearts are hurting. They sing without heed to the quality of their voice. They sing with vigor, abandon and vibrato. One day, I arrived at one of our group homes and was still outside, paying a taxi driver. Something beautiful caught my attention but I could not yet place it. It took a few moments to realize that the residents were singing and a scrap or two of melody was floating out into the street as a greeting, as a benediction. May you hear their voices today, however faint.
And may you receive scraps of songs wherever you are, as a benediction for this holiday and Christmas season.
Sincerely Yours,
Natalie Bryant-Rizzieri
Founder & Executive Director
Our full winter newsletter is attached!
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By Natalie Bryant-Rizzieri | Founder & Executive Director
By Natalie A Bryant-Rizzieri | Executive Director & Founder
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