You may have noticed that I use two names. It’s kinda a thing for fun, but there is some meaning and purpose behind it too. I chose the name Leaf in 2019 at a retreat workshop at Esalen after meeting someone who called themselves “Cricket” who was tending a fire at Breitenbush Hotsprings. I was reading a book called “Coyote Medicine” by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD at the time, and also completing Family Medicine Residency training at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis; that was in 2018 as part of a retreat that Pamela Wible, MD was leading for physicians.

Anyways, now, in Minneapolis, there is a kind of a cultural movement developing, and the timing couldn’t be better. In response to the excessive and extreme use of force by masked federal agents in our city, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Minneapolis citizens have banded together with the cultural expressions that we want to share with the world. Singing and art making. Community building and watching out for our neighbors.

Over the last couple months, there have been several mass demonstrations of 1000s of singers meeting at the massive, historic churches in this town to learn protest songs, and then to take those songs to the streets to sing together as we march. We marched through the neighborhoods of South Minneapolis, by the bakeries and houses. We marched through Downtown Minneapolis, by Orchestra Hall and the hotels where ICE agents were reportedly staying. And we marched today on Lake Street, again through a commercial district with lots of historical cultural elements for Minneapolis like the Heart of the Beast Theater and the Midtown Global Market.

Singers come by the thousands for this unique experience of sharing our concerns and our determination through songs, ones that are taught in the moment call and response, and with repetition so that newcomers can catch the tune.

Today the Star Tribune reported on our singing march and you can find that article here:

https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-singing-resistance-seeks-to-heal-through-love/601582250

So thanks for reading. I am using this page, WaterbirdMedicine.com, for reporting on this emerging Singing Revolution Movement, and also for coordinating with folks locally who want to be plugged in.

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