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Our Second Year: 2007

Photo of almost everyone together after the event The administrators and coaches involved in this project were firmly committed to a second year. We invited the 2006 students to return for one more year, as many indicated that they would like to do so. We also reached out to new schools and communities as well. Once again, our dedicated staff consisted of: co-directors Gert Johnson and Paula Weiss, and storycoaches Marni Gillard and Mary Murphy.

The 2007 Children at the Well Program was held on Sunday, March 25, at the Niskayuna NY Reformed Church. We had sixteen students, from grades six to ten, representing:

  • An Nur Islamic School
  • B'nai Shalom Reform Congregation
  • Congregation Beth Shalom
  • The Hindu Temple Society of The Capital District
  • Maimonides Hebrew Day School
  • The Muslim Community of Troy
  • Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School
  • Schenectady Hindu Temple
Photo of listeners smiling Wonderful stories were shared from all these faiths.

A local musician, Paul Strausman, created the following song and performed it with his daughter Raina to conclude the performance part of our program.

Here in Our Circle     © 2007 by Paul Strausman

Born at the dawn of time
Passed down from heart to mind
Here where our stories all entwine
The past and the future meet
In all of our hopes and dreams
The circle of wisdom is now complete

Photo of tellers and listeners smiling Chorus:
Hand to hand
(Here in our circle)
Heart to mind
(Here in our circle)
The stories are yours and mine
Here in our circle
Spinning through time
The promise is ours to keep
The well is so rich and deep
As we sow so shall we reap

Photo of blessing by a Hindu priest Chorus

Time builds the bridge we cross
That carries us back to the source
Voices from the past are never lost
The promise is ours to keep
The well is so rich and deep
As we sow so shall we reap

Chorus

Click here for the music as well as the words to this song. We thank Paul Strausman for giving us permission to publish his song here.

This is a pdf file (62 KB). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here

Please click here to see our program.

Our event also included Hors-d’oeuvres, a Human Treasure Hunt, blessings from several faith traditions, and a pot-luck supper with informal story sharing at the tables.

To read an article by one of the students participating in this event, please click here.

Photo of storycoach Marni Gillard and some tellers

  • A Children at the Well “kit”. It has always been our intent and our prayer that our Children at the Well project will become the first of many; here in this area and elsewhere. From its inception, we have been developing a guide to help other storytellers and interfaith organizations in the U.S. and abroad who want to develop their own Children at the Well project. Click here to view this kit .

    Photo of tellers and others listening

    It is the shared stories that are breaking down the barriers and building community among us.