WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Center for Transformational Practice will hold its first benefit concert from 7-10 p.m. on Friday at The Engine Room at 188 S. Main St. in White River Junction.
The concert features Reverend Sekou and the Freedom Fighters and is set to begin with opening remarks by Northern Universalist Chapel Society Minister, Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley. Sekou, an activist, theologian, author, documentary filmmaker and musician, will perform a mix of Arkansas delta blues, Memphis soul, 1970s funk and gospel in “One Love for Climate Migration.” Tickets cost $25.
The Center for Transformational Practice is a White River Junction based nonprofit that was founded by Hartford Selectboard chairman Simon Dennis nearly 10 years ago.
Its mission, according to the organization’s website, “is to support the transition to a just and sustainable culture by advancing inner transformation as the foundation for positive social change.”
The center is involved in climate activism and social change work. It helps organize regional groups with similar missions and features speakers from different parts of the movement in its “Tend the Root” lecture series.
“The community-wide approach toward change is shifting in a direction of incorporating inner transformation as key to this work,” Dennis said.
In addition to being a fundraiser for the Center for Transformational Practice, the purpose of the concert “is also to bring forward a social message about a different aspect of the connection between personal transformation and social change that we might not normally connect with here in the Upper Valley, which sort of brought forth the emphasis, more southern intersection between personal liberation and social justice that is to some extent associated with the black church,” Dennis said, adding that Sakoo “brings forward that intersection in a powerful way.”
Editor’s note: For more information or for tickets, visit transformationalpractice.org/rev. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com.
