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Do-Gooders |
Photo: Good Deed Doers, Amy Dawn Kotel, Prakash Laufer and Jahara (Sarah) Conz.
by Iemanja Brown
NORTHAMPTON, MA - The Do-Gooders, a loosely-organized, loosely-defined, and thoroughly effective community group in Northampton MA danced into being a year ago, arising out of two events in the life of founder Amy Dawn Kotel. When she first moved to Northampton, Amy's fellow dancers drove her to the beautiful hills that surround the Pioneer Valley to share the sunset and gave her a note that said "you are loved." Later, when she decided to move into the center of town, her friends raised money to pay her first month of rent when she could not afford it. These two actions showed Amy that she was appreciated and important in her friends' eyes and she wanted to share these feelings with others.
She gathered equal-minded locals to brainstorm ideas for positive action in the community, each coming with his or her own vision. They have been holding fundraising open mics ever since. The proceeds of these events have been donated to Katrina Relief, Safe Passage (a local support center for victims of domestic violence) and The Northampton Survival Center (a food pantry). The Do Gooders are gaining much community support, with each event drawing in more performers and a larger audience.
Evolutions, a vegan coffee house in Florence, MA, has offered space for the open mics. Amy says of the group's members," everyone is a leader and everyone supports one another." In this spirit, the group attempts to accomplish each idea that is raised in their bi-monthly meetings. By the request of a fellow do-gooder, the group organized an open mic in a nursing home.
Amy recalls this experience as especially rewarding because it allowed her to sit and hold hands with some of the elderly who she encountered. The Do Gooders is growing in size and vision. They plan to work more in nursing homes as well as bring their mission into inner-city settings.
Contact: Amy Dawn Kotel, a good deed doer
adkdancer@yahoo.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA - The Do-Gooders, a loosely-organized, loosely-defined, and thoroughly effective community group in Northampton MA danced into being a year ago, arising out of two events in the life of founder Amy Dawn Kotel. When she first moved to Northampton, Amy's fellow dancers drove her to the beautiful hills that surround the Pioneer Valley to share the sunset and gave her a note that said "you are loved." Later, when she decided to move into the center of town, her friends raised money to pay her first month of rent when she could not afford it. These two actions showed Amy that she was appreciated and important in her friends' eyes and she wanted to share these feelings with others.
She gathered equal-minded locals to brainstorm ideas for positive action in the community, each coming with his or her own vision. They have been holding fundraising open mics ever since. The proceeds of these events have been donated to Katrina Relief, Safe Passage (a local support center for victims of domestic violence) and The Northampton Survival Center (a food pantry). The Do Gooders are gaining much community support, with each event drawing in more performers and a larger audience.
Evolutions, a vegan coffee house in Florence, MA, has offered space for the open mics. Amy says of the group's members," everyone is a leader and everyone supports one another." In this spirit, the group attempts to accomplish each idea that is raised in their bi-monthly meetings. By the request of a fellow do-gooder, the group organized an open mic in a nursing home.
Amy recalls this experience as especially rewarding because it allowed her to sit and hold hands with some of the elderly who she encountered. The Do Gooders is growing in size and vision. They plan to work more in nursing homes as well as bring their mission into inner-city settings.
Contact: Amy Dawn Kotel, a good deed doer
adkdancer@yahoo.com
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