Contact: Anyone interested in giving a donation for the Mercy Housing Drumming Program, please contact Lindsay Wilson, Community and Resident Initiatives Coordinator II. Here is her contact information, followed by a letter with the details & budget of the drumming program:

Lindsay Wilson

Community and Resident Initiatives Coordinator II

415.474.2680 (phone)

415.474.5094 (fax)

lwilson@mercyhousing.org

www.mercyhousing.org

111/205 Jones Street Apartments

March 16, 2004

Submission for Donation

Community Drumming Program

Mercy Housing System mission is “to create and strengthen healthy communities through the provision of quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for individuals and families who are economically poor.”

111 Jones Street Family Apartments is a 108-unit building that is owned and managed by Mercy Housing. It has 108 units and serves low income families with dependent children, singles, and elders. The property is comprised of 8 efficiencies and 64 one-bedroom units to serve the elderly and small families, and 16 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom units to serve families. The site is located in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco just bordering the Civic Center Plaza area and the downtown shopping district of San Francisco.

The Tenderloin neighborhood is an area that has been stigmatized with crime, drug usage, homelessness, and the notion that it is dirty although the demographics of the area show that the majority who live here are families with small children. It is a diverse neighborhood with Asian, African, Arabic, and Latin American influences. There is a contradiction in what goes on in the streets to what goes on in people’s homes. City agencies and local non-profits are constantly looking at ways to bridge the divide between the street life and the home life.

It is the aim of 111 Jones Street staff and residents to create enjoyable programs so that the residents may remain open and expressive even though their environment demands them to close up and push feelings deep inside. A yoga program started a month ago and positive effects have already started showing through certain residents. These residents have become more outgoing and self-confident. They have started to talk about concerns and thoughts that they had suppressed before.

The goal of the drumming program is to create a cathartic effect similar to that of the yoga classes, yet through a different medium – music. Because music is attractive to all ages, ethnicities, and genders, the drums and instruments will be an ideal means for people to gather and express themselves devoid of their differences.

Timeline of the Program (2004)

The program will last eight months (35 calendar weeks) and will sustain a group of 10-15 people. Depending on what funds are available (or the chance of a volunteer instructor), the program will be extended. The classes will take place once a week for two hours. However, the drums will always be available for residents outside of the program for parties, events, and for usage beyond the eighth month length of the program. The instruments will be stored in the Community Room closet.

Again, the ultimate goal of the program is to bring residents together to make music and express themselves. The instruments will be available for the instructed classes and also in unstructured environments such as community parties.

April 30, Friday – Introduction to the Program – A celebration will take place with volunteer drummers

May, June – Expressing yourself through rhythms (rhythms in terms of moods and emotions)

July, August – Learning the rhythms of different cultures

September, October – Learning the origins of the different instruments (each class will introduce a new instrument and end with an open jam on the drums)

November, December – Performing with your instrument (if the group decides that it would like to perform for the building, these last two months will give them time to develop a short performance)

Program Needs

20 instruments total with 10 of them being different kinds of drums. The other instruments can be something like shakers, sand blocks, and gongs.

Literature on the origin of the instruments (1 copy of each book)

Literature on different drumming styles (1 copy of each book)

Funds to pay an instructor (see Program Budget)

Program Budget

Paid Instructor Volunteer Instructor

Instruments $750 $750

Literature $150 $150

Instructor Salary ($25/hr) $1750 $00.00

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Total Costs $2650 $900

If you are interested in helping this drumming program, please contact Lindsay Wilson, Community and Resident Initiatives Coordinator.

Ph. 415-474-2680

Fax 415-474-5094

lwilson@mercyhousing.org

www.mercyhousing.org

Mercy Housing Drum Program

Would you like to share the gift of drumming? Do you have an old but playable drum that you can donate?

Mercy Housing of San Francisco is seeking to create a drumming program for its San Francisco based, low-income housing community. They would love & appreciate playable instruments to uplift the residents.

This program is an ideal opportunity to share the wonderful benefits of drumming and music with others.

Donations of any new or old- but playable - percussion or other instruments are welcomed and appreciated.

If you would like to help or learn more, please visit the resident drumming program of Mercy Housing or contact Artdrum.com.

Thanks for your care