Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Sit For Peace Invites Meditation on a Better Community

The Sit For Peace meditation flash mob is scheduled 5-6 p.m. Sunday, October 25, at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 600 N. East Street Bloomington.

The event is sponsored by The OM Tribe, a non-profit organization that promotes yoga and meditation.

The goal is to assemble 2,000 people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs to sit for one 20-30 minute meditation focused on peace. Children are invited, and a coloring meditation will be available for them.

The mediation will be held by candlelight on the BCPA lawn, and participants are invited to bring a battery-operated tea light candle (and possibly additional candles to share).

 “'We are a group of citizens who are taking time to show our commitment to peace by sitting in group meditation,” the group states. “We truly believe that peace in the world, peace in our community, begins with peace within ourselves. Working toward peace is a unifying concept that can bring us together, and meditation has long shown us that the positive benefits are far-reaching beyond personal benefits.

“Help us spread the word by sharing this with your friends, family, co-workers, clergy, book clubs, schools, etc. Let us all take time to send a wave of peace across our planet!”

 

Kerry: Laramie Project Opportunity to 'Remember, Discuss, and Learn'

One local mom has far more than merely a role in McLean County Diversity Project's upcoming production of The Laramie Project, an examination of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard and how it mobilized Americans to fight bullying and for LGBT rights and protection.

For Kerry Urquizo, the production goes to her very heart and family's soul.

The play is scheduled at 7 p.m. May 19 and 20 at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. See flyer at right or visit www.artsblooming.org for details.

Shepard, 21, was a student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, torture,d and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming on the night of October 6, 1998, and died six days later at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo., on October 12, from severe head injuries.

Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with murder following Shepard's death. Significant media coverage was given to what role Shepard's sexual orientation played in the killing. During McKinney's pretrial and trial, testimony was given that the pair had pretended to be gay in order to gain Shepard's trust in order to rob him. McKinney's prosecutor argued the murder was premeditated and driven by greed, while McKinney's defense counsel argued that McKinney had only intended to rob Shepard, but had killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance. McKinney's girlfriend told police that he had been motivated by anti-gay sentiment, but later recanted her statement, saying that she had lied because she thought it would help him. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder and each sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (commonly the "Matthew Shepard Act" or "Shepard/Byrd Act" for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law. Following her son's murder, Matthew's mother Judy Shepard became a prominent LGBT rights activist and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Shepard's death inspired notable films, novels, plays, songs, and other works.

                        Matthew Shepard

                        Matthew Shepard

Urquizo, who helps operate a family-owned food truck in the Twin Cities, reflects on her memory of the Matthew Shepard tragedy and the impact it had for her as a mother:

There are moments in life that change us and define who we are. The moments can be both horrible and amazing but they still shape us. There have been some powerful moments in my life that have led me to this point - writing an article about how being a part of the Diversity Project’s production of the Laramie Project has changed my life.

The first moment that changed my life was in October 1998. I was in my dorm room watching the news. There were images of Matthew Shepard flashing across the screen. The ones of his parents - his beautiful mother - sobbing in disbelief. And then, there it was 'the fence.' The wooden fence with grass blowing in the wind at its base. I was shocked and changed by the brutality of it. I had never heard of anyone being tortured for being who they are. As I watched the news, I began to see that people were starting to have conversations about this tragedy in a meaningful way. It was a lesson I would never forget.

The next moment that really defined me was when my son came out to me. He was only 12 and he knew. He told me he wanted to tell me because he didn’t want another minute of his life to go by without me knowing who he was. I was so proud of him. He had figured out who he was at such a young age and felt comfortable enough to tell me. Although I was so ecstatic that he could share who he was with myself, my husband, and other children without judgment, I was also extremely scared. The image of the wooden fence flashed in my head. I was terrified he would be harmed because he was gay. I knew that there were people out there that still didn’t accept others and didn’t want to be a part of the conversation. Every day since he came out, I have worried that something could happen to him.

The last moment that brought me here is the day I took my son to audition for the Laramie Project. He is a three-year veteran Diversity Project scholar. I was waiting in the hallway for him to get his chance to audition. At one point, Tricia, the director, asked me to come in and read a few lines. The last play I had been in was over 15 years ago.

Kerry Urquizo

Kerry Urquizo

I am a busy woman with a food truck, full-time job and three kids to manage. But, I did it, thinking there was no way they would hear me read and actually give me a part. Well, I was cast. Going to practices with my son, I met fantastic people from the cast who had open conversations about why we are doing with this play. It helped me to feel less worried that something would happen to my son. I saw that telling this most important story would help others learn that we as people cannot repeat this hatred towards each other. I started to hope that people would start to have the images of the fence in their heads and continue the conversation.

I know that I cannot protect my son from the harm of others - but I can teach him to remember those who spoke out before him to make it easier to be a gay man in the U.S. Also, he can be a part of events like the Laramie Project to help people remember, discuss, and learn.

As Maya Angelou said, “To know better is to do better.”

Kerry Urquizo

Local Musician, Food Truck Open for Los Lonely Boys

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                                                Marcos Mendez

Twin Citians will be offered a taste of local Latin food and music at Thursday's Los Lonely Boys concert at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal's Marcos Mendez, who also chairs the community advocacy group Conexiones Latinas, will open at 6:30 p.m. for the Texas band, which won a 2005 Grammy as best Pop Vocal Duo/Group. Mendez plans to perform blues, roots, rock, and some Mariachi tunes "mixed in for good measure."

Oogies Food on Wheels, a mobile restaurant, will serve Mexican-inspired foods from 5 to 7 p.m. outside the center. The food truck was launched last year by Kerry and Felipe Urquizo, with help from their three children, Oskar, Olivia, and Gus. Kerry works at Heartland Community College and Felipe is a cook at a local restaurant.