"Choir is so antithetical to the prison system at large. For so many of these woman, they are entering prison with immense trauma.. What we're seeing is great healing and a lot of skills that are being built around leadership and being in community with people that are different. There is a change in mindset, because as a choir member, you are listening to other people and understanding your voice is contributing to something that is greater than yourself. The experience is helping woman get through their time in a way that's healthier but also hopefully making a difference in their lives once they leave."
Amanda Weber is passionate about uniting music, art and community through her work as an artist and collaborator. Weber's recent focus has been the Voices of Hope, a women’s prison choir at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee. Founded by Weber in October 2015, the choir has grown from 15 to 50 singers and collaborated with over 200 musicians from the Twin Cities metro area.
Weber’s interest in using music as a tool for social justice grew through her work at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC, where she founded Bethany’s Women of Praise, a choir for homeless women, in 2008. In addition to her work with marginalized populations, Weber is active as a conductor, singer, pianist, and composer. She currently serves as the Interim Director of Choral Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
To learn more about Holden Village, visit: http://www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org. The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. For questions and inquiries, contact podcast@holdenvillage.org.
