There are moments when a room settles into a shared rhythm. Our Earth Week event this year, Songs for a Sacred Earth created one of those moments.
Our evening gathering created a space to connect in a reflective and relational way. Participants were welcomed into an experience rooted in relationship with the Earth and with one another. We designed the program alongside Colorado Jewish Climate Action, Iliff School of Theology, and The Center for Earth Theology; and it was brought to life through shared intention and care.
The evening opened with Eitan Kantor, who brought the room into a shared rhythm early on. Through call and response, he invited participants to sing together while offering context for the Hebrew, creating an experience that felt accessible even for those unfamiliar with the language. One participant reflected on how meaningful it was” to be guided into something new in a way that built connection across difference.”
That sense of shared experience carried forward through the night. The themes introduced through song continued through the poetry of Rumi, through an indigenous drum circle and through each offering. As the program unfolded, different traditions and expressions were held with care, allowing people to find points of connection even in what was unfamiliar.
By the time the evening moved into the closing NOENEMIES song circle, that foundation was already in place. Participation felt natural. People joined in, listened, or simply stayed present, each engaging in their own way.
Through music, poetry, and story, participants were invited to listen more deeply. Some moments were still. Others asked for participation. The shift between listening and joining created a flow that allowed people to engage in ways that felt natural to them. Throughout the evening, there was a clear intention to uplift lived experience and cultural wisdom. The artists and practitioners who shared brought forward perspectives shaped by relationship to land, community, and tradition.
This care extended beyond the stage. All ticket proceeds supported the event itself, including stipends for those who shared their work. This was a deliberate choice, reflecting our commitment to honoring creative and cultural contributions in tangible ways.
One of the clearest reflections of the space came through participant feedback. Every survey response indicated strong agreement that people felt welcomed, included, and seen. This aligns with what could be felt in the room throughout the night.
Attendees shared thoughts that “the experience was life-giving, inspiring, and motivating,” and that this is “truly such important work in these times we currently find ourselves in.”
“In a time where life can feel like an echo chamber, and where groups are made to feel like we’re in some sort of fight between another. This orientation was so uplifting and strengthening, and the Hope that was built in community is a great thing.”
As the evening came to a close, there were invitations to continue. Some participants expressed interest in upcoming gatherings. Others lingered in conversation or took time to reflect before leaving. The experience did not end at the program’s close.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this gathering, and to those who showed up with openness and presence. The beautiful photos from the night were taken by Bahar Samani; see the full album here.
– Jolie Brawner, Director of Programs at the Alliance Center