Can't stop the Mu๐ผic
From top left: Jammer stars Phoebe. Petra. Vanessa with former StarJam tutor Kate Bain.
Bottom: Sophie Williams (they/them) leads a team of past employees and volunteers of StarJam in a performance at Sunday's Can't Stop the Music community concert in Te WhanganuiaTara Wellington.
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I volunteer for the charitable trust StarJam which recently closed after 22 years - you may have read about this in the news.
Like so many organisations in the disabilities sector, StarJam has been negatively impacted by funding restrictions and cutbacks nationwide and has been struggling financially for some time now.
However, last week when StarJam announced rather abruptly "The Board of Trustees has made the heartbreaking decision to cease all operations and begin the process of liquidating the StarJam Charitable Trust. This means that, effective immediately, our workshops and programs will no longer continue and staff will cease employment" it is fair to say that the community felt, understandably, blindsided.
What happened next in Te Whanganui a Tara, Wellington is something very beautiful.
The Wellington workshop coordinator, Sophie Williams (they/them) swung into action before they were cut off from the workshop community.
"THE WELLINGTON CONCERT WILL BE GOING AHEAD", they wrote to the community in a final email, "Same timings, same location, everything the same except it is now a general community event run and paid for by a general member of the public (Sophie)."
So, on Sunday the now-unemployed Sophie and other former StarJam staff and workshop volunteers, the Jammers (the participants with disabilities) and their whฤnau from the wider Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington district - Karori, Petone, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Kฤpiti and Wairarapa - all gathered as planned at the Lower Hutt Event Centre and the concert went ahead.
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"When StarJam closed, the concert was 4 days away and at the time I honestly couldn't stop to consider that it wasn't going ahead. If this was going to be the final thing (or the start of something new) then it needed to happen," Sophie explains.
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Sophie's dad flew up from ลtautahi Christchurch to add his support. First timer volunteers even showed - a young Victoria University student, Angela, used her cloud conjuring skills, blowing up dozens of white balloons and affixing them on either side of the venue's rainbow-decorated doors. ๐ฅ ๐ โ๏ธ
Jammers arrived at the Lower Hutt venue late morning, faces were painted, costumes were fitted, and a final walkthrough for Jammers ensured that everyone was prepared for a fun event.
At 2pm, dressed in all the colours of the rainbow, past employees and volunteers opened the community-run concert with a Sophie-choreographed number, and then each workshop performed their rehearsed showstopper to loud cheers from the audience of fellow Jammers, whฤnau, volunteers, and friends.
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"The concert was beautiful and inspiring, and at the same time heart-wrenching," Sophie said after the concert. "I think I was hugged over 100 times and was asked over and over by the Jammers when StarJam was going to be set back up and I hated that my only answer was 'I don't know'."
One passionate parent was able to get incredible support from Ignite Financial Advisors who sponsored ALL of the venue costs!
THANK YOU IGNITE!
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Staff, volunteers and whฤnau also put their hands into their pockets to help.
My own whฤnau got a "Hey it's Christmas and I know we don't usually do presents, but this year I have something beautiful that you might like to donate to" text from me โค๏ธ We are confident that thanks to the determination and commitment of our community we will cover the costs of the concert.
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"StarJam has been part of my life for 7 years. I've been through a lot personally during that time but no matter how bad my week has been, Thursday evenings have made me feel happy, connected and inspired. I've seen jammers grow from shy, and unable to do a spot-the-talent or even play games, into confident performers who are able to always be themselves. I've watched them develop friendships and seen them mature and grow over the years. It is such an honour to have been able to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for them to make friends and express themselves creatively." - Kate Bain, tutor, Porirua Jazzy Jammers
"My best part of the week is 6:30 on a Wednesday." - Dynamite Dance Jammer
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The weekly workshops are a crucial source of community and positivity for The Jammers and their families and whฤnau, and Sophie is indispensable to the Wellington community. The Jammers canโt lose their workshops and the community can't lose Sophie or beloved tutors like Kate Bain; already some of our venues in Wellington are saying they will help in any way they can.
Volunteers and whฤnau will find a way ๐
Our community is strong โ๏ธ ๐ โ๏ธ
โStarJam gave my daughter manakitanga, joy, and confidence. When she first started, she was anxious and wouldnโt go on stage. Now, sheโs front and Center, thriving, meeting her people, and free to be who she truly is in an inclusive and supportive space.โ - Parent, Porirua Jazzy Jammer.
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Latest update:
SUFFICIENT FUNDS RAISED! 14 November 2024
Thank you everyone!! We have reached our goal already with external sponsorship (Ignite Financial Advisors) and cash donations on the day.
The support from the community has been incredible and I cannot thank you enough for supporting in anyway you could!!!!!!!!!
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/cant-stop-the-music-the-concert
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Thank you for reading.
Ngฤ mihi nui.
The biggest lessons in life so often come from the most humble people in the most unexpected circumstances. Humanity, you canโt stop the music. ๐ต