I really wanted to post a blog before I left. Due to the craziness of preparing for this trip I of course left this to the last minute. So I apologize if this is short, but I need to get to bed soon before I leave tomorrow.
I just wanted to reflect quickly on my time here in DC and leading up to participating in the Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer program in Cape Town, South Africa. As many of you know I came back to the DC area from my 2 year term at Telarc records before getting laid off due to the poor economy. When I came back I spent 3 months ambitiously looking for other music business opportunities. I finally decided that pursuing volunteer work in South Africa was the best option as the job market proved to be impenetrable. I'm really excited about this opportunity as I've wanted to travel and experience Africa for many years. Although I'm extremely excited about this opportunity I have to say that I'm going to miss all my family, friends, and the DC area a lot.
When I first left Cleveland I wasn't totally looking forward to the idea of coming back to the area. I was in the mindset that I wanted to stay in the music industry and to do that I needed to be in New York or Los Angeles. I also felt that I've experienced DC to a large extent being that I grew up in Potomac, Maryland so I wanted to experience something new.
I soon realized shortly after that I really hadn't experienced DC as an adult. Understanding that realization, I grew a much larger appreciation for DC than I ever thought I would. I got reacquainted with old friends, made new friends, enjoyed time with my family and went out to experience all that DC had to offer. It turned out to be a wonderful experience that I definitely do not regret. At this time I just want to say thanks to everyone for welcoming me back with open arms. That might sound a little cheezy, but seriously, I mean it.
Not only did I get to reacquaint myself with my hometown and set up a trip to South Africa, but I also pursued a 2 month internship at the Smithsonian American History Museum's - Jazz Appreciation Month Program. This internship was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to develop a proposal for an educational program called the Jazz Mirror Project. It's a program that will take students from South Africa and students from DC and have them communicate via webcast to have discussions about jazz and what it means to their cultural heritage. So far the program is in the submission stage. We have submitted proposals to different arts organizations and the State department for funding. The really exciting thing about the project is that if we do get the funding I will have a full time job as the project coordinator.....not something I expected! haha. So even though I didn't pursue a career in New York or LA I might actually work with music once again in a different context, but we'll see what happens. I should know around September.
Finally, this past week I found out what my actual volunteer work will specifically consist of. I know a good deal of you have been asking me what I'm going to do while in SA. So to assure you that I'm not using your donations to run off and party it up in Cape Town, I figure you all deserve to know. I'll be working 5 days a week at the JL ZWANE community center in the Guguletu Township outside of Cape Town. It's a very underprivileged area where the schools are extremely undeserved and can't afford good materials for education or after school programs. The JL ZWANE community center provides educational programs and after school programs to help sustain this need in the Township. I will be working with their music and drama department called SIYAYA, in teaching voice lessons, music appreciation classes, and marketing music. It's pretty much right up my alley...so I'm pretty damn excited to say the least.
Well time to wrap this up because I need to get a couple last minute things together before I head to bed and get ready for the 24 hours of travel time I will be spending tomorrow....woohoo! Thanks again for everyone's support. Whether you donated or just listened to me rant about how psyched I am about traveling to South Africa. I will be posting hopefully every week when I get down there, so keep a look out for "Kevin Tackles South Africa"!!!
p.s. feel free to contact via e-mail at kevin.gschwend@gmail.com Thanks!!!
