Jam sessions push for peace

BY MARIA GALLUCCI
The News
August 12, 2009
(oops! skipped a few stories)

Long after sunset, they slink into the empty Mexico City park. It's quiet at first when the beat of a bongo cuts through the silence. The heavy bellow of a long wooden horn soon follows, joined in by a strumming guitar, clapping hands and a chorus of voices.

They've all come out for a Wednesday night jam session in Colonia Condesa's Parque México as part of a movement against violence led by the grassroots group In Lak'Ech, whose name is a Mayan phrase which loosely translates to "you are my other self."

"The basic idea of In Lak'Ech is that the only way to stop violence is through non-violence," said Jens Gould, who helps lead the impromptu mid-week concerts.

"The movement proposes to create a stronger community, because 99 percent of [Mexico] isn't violent, but the problem is that those people aren't organized."

Gould added that robbery, kidnapping and other destructive activities affect so many communities because most people are afraid to get to know one another. Neighbors remain strangers, and unknown faces stay a mystery.

By hosting events like the Wednesday jam, In Lak'Ech aims to turn dark, sketchy places - like a public park at night, for example - into safe, friendly spaces where anyone can come out and chime in.

The civil group last fall began hosting community activities in cities like León and Monterrey and by organizing weekend singing sessions with around 200 participants in Mexico City's Polanco neighborhood, and several local musicians composed songs specifically for the event.

Now, the singing sessions take place each Sunday afternoon near the Fuente de los Cantaros (Fountain of Pitchers) inside Parque México. In Lak'Ech that day also hosts painting activities for children, provides chess sets for matches and organizes dance classes for any curious resident or visitor passing through the park.

Bright and early on Wednesday mornings, the movement also organizes jogging groups to huff and puff around the park. At 10 p.m., a spontaneous hodgepodge of instruments finds its way around the fountain, which in recent weeks has included flamenco guitar and dance, African drumming, saxophones and a complete percussion kit. Everyone is welcome to bring their own instruments, sing along or clap quietly from the sidelines.

"It's been a really grassroots thing; people invite other people who invite other people," Gould said. "Before, there was no one out there on Wednesday at night, and now there's fifty, sixty people."

"People are saying now, 'I feel safer now about crossing the park than I used to.'"

More info on In Lak'Ech, visit www.inlakech.org.mx