Ah! Relaxed, enjoying the Feeling of shared accomplishment.

We did it! Once again, our heartfelt gratitude for the way you became WE and stepped it up past struggle into success.

Saturday we were so blessed by the weather, this ample air that felt clean and tall..... by the evocative Goodness that oozes and swarms when people feel invited, included, and inspired.

There was Sone, who owns the laundromat next door to the staging parking lot, smiling extending hands with bags full of soda for us to share-- A Gift.

So many Gifts....
the funky robot with noise-making buttons
the Gracespace girls dancing the dragon in sync to the Footbeat
the SLLIS kids twirling ribbon batons and strutting their banner
the foamy headed monsters beating sweaty drums
the noahs' ark of bike brigades
the step - hip - thrust - smirk of the Roosevelt Band's dancers
the waves of recognition -- all the neighbors whose doors we'd knocked on the week prior,
front row seats
to Thistory

We look forward to sending you our 'evidence of process' -- even if you didn't 'sign up' for a zine but would like one -- let us know your address if you'd like to receive one!

May you receive all that you give and tenfold,
With love,
Lyndsey

===========================
p.s.
The press has been generous -- here are a few recaps and pictures.
Let us know if you find a link to add!

Flickr Pool (thanks Ben!)
http://www.flickr.com/groups/cincodemayostl2010/pool/

Sarah's Blog
http://artwanderlust.blogspot.com/2010/05/characters-animating-streets.html

PUnching Kitty
http://punchingkitty.com/2010/05/10/cinco-de-mayo-on-cherokee-street/

MetroMix St. Louis
http://stlouis.metromix.com/events/photogallery/cinco-de-mayo-on/1938100/content

Your Local Messenger
http://sbpmessenger.com/clients/sbpmessenger/cinco-de-mayo-peoples-joy-parade-celebration-p353.htm...

STL Today iParty
http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp...

RFT
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/slideshow/cinco-de-mayo-on-cherokee-street-29860464/

We approach Saturday's starting line full of the calm confidence that your radical giving has sparked! Together - we- you+you+you ---- exceeded our goal! Squeezing out bright chroma of fresh tubes of paint during Saturday's costume shop -- we relished a sense of Pure Plenty. ! THANK YOU, from our corazones contentas!

There are so many beautiful moments in the last weekend's creative chaos.
Watching neighbor Jermaine soak up the creative and caring collaboration with community artists Bob Hartzell as they turned his bike into a red shark. Opening the door for the first customor, a savvy county kid who'd found us online, who bounced in on his BMX unicycle to make a glo-in-the-dark star studded sleeveless leather jacket (all found in the Finder's Hive!). My favorite piece of strange poetry is the technicolor banner that reads: "Unicorns and Vampires and Jaguars, OH MY!" Oh Dorothy. You aren't in Oz anymore ;) !!! The kids worked seamlessly, helping each other, helping clean up, relishing the chance to be creative all day long. . . .

Going door to door last week, walking the parade route, Sarah and I encountered so many smiles ----- first people looking suspicious thru cracked doors, when they saw the parade flier, burst thru with memories of last year's craziness. We are so blessed to be part of this experience of opening up to each other, to the zany and honest treasures we have hidden within that we can bring freely when there is a safe space to express. May Saturday once again unite us in childlike playfulness and carefree sharing..... we hope to see you there in living color! ! !

Thank you for your role in making this Possible. Your generosity is amazing, and so fun to receive.

With love and gratitude,
Lyndsey

p.s. Here is the press release if you'd like to share it with friends!

=====================================================

Hear Ye! Oye! Please join us for the 2nd Annual “People’s Joy Parade”: An Art Processional Celebrating the Diversity of Zocalo Cherokee. You are very invited to participate and /or watch this Wowzer of a feel-good street celebration. On the heels of our exceedingly successful grassroots fund-raising campaign, we are energized to share the home made costumes, gigantes, and songs, grown out of our workshops! Don’t hold back from getting involved you can show up in costume the day of, help us carry Gigante puppets, be a facepainter, or volunteer.

Saturday May 8th 2010 starting at 1:11pm as a part of the Cherokee Street Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

Meet at the Black Forest Parking Lot at Noon to march. We will be walking on and around Cherokee Street. Parade Route is online at http://cincodemayostl.com/parade.html .

Including:

Aeriality of the Bumbershoot School

C.A.M.P. Costume Shop Kids

Carver Motor Scooters

The Carmen Mirandas

Celestial Theater

Cherokee Real Garden

Cinco de Volvo

Footbeat Choir led by Celia Shacklett

Fort Gondo Float

Grace Space Girls

Gigantes of Wesley Fordyce

Harris Stowe Drumline

IRE Moped Crew

Luchador Collab-O-Mask Artists

March of Femicides led by Amanda Madoux

Members of the Banana Bike Brigade

Roosevelt Marching Band

Show Me Rhythms

St. Cecilia’s Dancers

St. Louis Language Immersion School

And The Procession of Artists Featuring

Lauren Adams

Artica Founders Nita Turnage and Hap Phillips

Augratin Press

Melissa Breed

Irene Compadre

Digger Blaque

Bob Hartzell

Emily Hemeyer

Bill Krantz

Deanna Kiel

Minerva Lopez

Laura Mart

Katie Mac

Ariane Moore

Mark Pagano

Mike Pagano

Sarah Paulsen

Billy Paulsen

Jake Petersen

Rebecca Rivas

Bill Russell

Travis Russell

Eric and Mina Repice

Lyndsey Scott

Jenny Shriner

Mike Stasny

Amy Van Donsel

Ann-Maree and Jason Walker

Ben West

Peat and Kris Wollaeger

Davide Wolk

Willy Zep

Why: Because… parades recognize the importance of the people who make up a community and it’s sort of like the Music Man come to life.

Contact ***TO PARTICIPATE: If you want to march in the parade, please contact coordinator Sarah Paulsen at pintorasp@hotmail.com or visit http://stlcamp.org/peoples_joy_parade_2010

C.A.M.P. = The Community Arts and Movement Project 3026 Cherokee Street

First - I can't describe how encouraging it is to get project pings each time you all donated. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the best, it helps us to imagine you each participating and cheering us on every step of the way. We are so excited to be over halfway there -- about $700 to our goal with a week and a half to raise it!

Here are some highlights from recent parade prep activity....

Today Sarah and I got to spend the afternoon at Roosevelt High School with Art Teacher Michael Paradise, in costume and in conversation with students hearing how they'd like to participate and sharing some brainstorming. We shared our video with them and they shared some drawings with us.

Sunday : Sarah and I donned our 'business costumes' (green and red dresses respectively) and shared our beautiful parade posters (Gracias, ALL ALONG PRESS!) up and down the street, into the laundromat, onto porch stoops, and focusing on meeting our latino business-owner neighbors. They had some great float ideas and gave us history feedback as to who exactly the contested figure on the fliers is.... and why he is not smiling.

Saturday: Sarah, Wesley, and Digger hosted the gigante-building....... in the works is a giant orca, a mermaid, and !a child-munching diablo! - not for the faint of heart.

Last Friday: With the help of a gracious volunteer (thanks so much Mary!), my students at the Spanish School of SLLIS prepared for their role in making shining stars and green ribbon batons.

Last Thursday: Sarah and I had the opportunity to host the Marian Middle School (see photo) in a street beautifcation project, hanging up a temporary project to add some color to drab plywood in time for the parade.

Last Wednesday: GraceSpace Girls at CAMP (see photo - starting CollaboMask) schemed their entire plan to hatch Pink Dragon 2.0..... watch out!

+++++++++++++++++++++
COMING SOON ! ! ! ! ! This weekend is the time to perfect your costume!

Saturday is our Costume Shop at the Finder's Hive and we are especially looking for clean plastic 5 gallon buckets to turn into drums -- do you have any or suggestions or where to score?
Your hands are welcome in helping host as many happy costume makers as possible.

Attached (click the listen bar below) - hear a FOOTBEAT rehearsal (AY AY AY AY!) and get your groove on. The last scheduled singalong before the parade is SUNDAY MAY 2 @ 5pm. It's a feel good hour or two, a great way to get in the spirit!

Thanks again for your support -- of the parade and everywhere you scatter your encouragement.

Yes!
xoLyndsey

I’d like to share with you how we’ve been stirring up some energy this past weekend. Saturday we had our first Gigante workshop and began preparing a giant mermaid and orca puppets, with a few other surprises. Sunday we had our second Footbeat choir practice. In the spirit of community healing and merrymaking, we took our singing outside to soothe the arguing groups we heard from inside our practice room. Our Ohh Childs traveled down the street bringing out curious faces and peace signs from passing cars.

Already we’ve got several individuals and groups confirmed to walk in the parade including:

Artica Founders Hap Phillips and Nita Turnage, Members of the Banana Bike Brigade, Carver Motor Scooters, Digger, The Footbeat Choir, Wesley Fordyce Gigantes, Galen Gondolfi and the Fort Gondo Float, Grace Space Artists, Harris Stowe Drumline, IRE Moped Crew, Bill Krantz and Celestial Theater, Latin American Motorcycle Association, Amanda Madoux and The March to acknowledge Femicides, Rebecca Rivas, Bill Russell, Show Me Rhythms, St. Cecilia’s Dancers, St. Louis Immersion School, Peat Wollaeger and the Luchador Collab-O-Mask Artists.