Halo, Inc. February 2 11:00 am - 2:30 pm

HALO—Harmony’s African-American Legacy Organization—used Barbershop singing and directed, audience-centered dialog to engage us in conversation about socio-political issues surrounding race and community. Our Adult education hour expanded into a 3.5 hour event - with a lunch!

As in barbershop, leaning into the tension in a discussion before moving to a resolution allows constructive dialog. The lead, base, baritone, and tenor voices each have a specific function. Whose voice is the focus of the discussion? What role can the other voices play? The metaphor was particularly powerful in teaching us ways that discussions can be derailed if the voices don’t stay in their roles. Small groups practiced having discussions about race questions while keeping their roles in mind.

Plenty of Dutch Neckers attended, along with members of other local churches and synagogues and a few folks from the wider Presbyterian community. It was a joyous occasion. Listen to tenor Shana Oshiro describe the event at this link.