On a sunny recent Saturday afternoon in the courtyard of City Hall, music reverberated around Center City. When passersby rushed to see where the melodies were coming from, they got more than a concert.
It was an event called Hearing Philadelphia, a concert meant to remember the souls lost to murders through sound, songs, spoken word, poetry, presentation, hugs and shared resources. That included Moms Bonded by Grief, Positive Movement Drumline, Philadelphia Obituary Project, and Souls Shot Portrait Project.
Under the direction of William “Bill” Dougherty, the concert provided a valuable reminder.
Music is therapeutic and will change one’s mood and outlook on life. Put on your favorite song and watch how your mood will change, you will most likely sing the words of the song and might even dance to the beat.
Hearing Philadelphia does the same with percussionists, string quartet and vocalists who play in open spaces throughout the city.
Terrez McCleary, the founder of Moms Bonded by Grief, educated the community about her organization. She started it in 2017 after the murder of her daughter Tamara, who was only 21 years old. She left behind a daughter that Terrez and her husband raise.
“This is a safe space where we help one another going through this emotional journey after the loss of your child. This year is an important year for my granddaughter as this is her senior year of high school,” Terrez said as she fought back tears. “Her mother Tamara should be here with her enjoying these moments but instead I am.”
Positive Movement Drumline was drummers throughout the community who aim to stop the violence, bring unity and strive to keep positive minds. They encourage and inspire young people and adults to find a safe haven through drumming, while spreading positivity throughout the community by showing leadership and raising awareness to decrease gun violence in Philadelphia.
Souls Shot Portrait Project gets to know each victim of gun violence by pairing an artist with each family. The artist gets to know the victim through his/her family and presents a portrait of their loved one. This process is very emotional for the artist and family. The portrait is presented to the community at an event sponsored by Souls Shots each quarter of the year.
Victims were represented by his/her families through portraits, and speeches. There wasn’t a dry eye in the court yard as the Drum Line played a melody and the people in the court yard chanted, “we love you and miss you.”
This was very emotional and moving. I closed my eyes and imagined my son, Niam, walking up to me, giving me a hug and waving bye to me as he walked away. I opened my eyes and continued chanting those words over and over again so I could continue to imagine seeing my son once again.
The community need more gatherings like this in Philadelphia to continue to make others aware of the on-going pain and obstacles families face on a daily basis.
We need find a way to make more teenagers aware of their choices in life before he/she revert to pulling a trigger. We as a community need to reach back and educate our younger generation so that we can save them from themselves.
Kimberly Kamara is the author of “Where’s My Daddy,” a children’s book aimed at kids who’ve lost a parent to murder. The book was inspired by her family’s continuing journey of grief after her son, Niam Johnson-Tate, lost his life to gun violence on July 5, 2017. Kimberly has two daughters and lives in Germantown with her husband.
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