So welcome everyone. My name is Angela Mills and I work for the town of Amherst. This is a meeting of the Amherst Cultural Council. I want to thank everyone for their work and let everyone know that this meeting is being recorded and will be posted to the town of Amherst YouTube channel shortly. And Julian, would you like me to make you host or mad host what works best. You can make me host Matt had his hands full. Okay, perfect. I will start by reading the statement pursuant to the chapter 20 of the acts of 2021. This meeting will be conducted via remote means members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so. On the town website via the recording in progress now. No in person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. In the event we are unable to do so for reasons of economic hardship and despite best efforts. We will post the video on the town website. The comprehensive recording of the proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. Thank you all. Okay. To Angela's point. Can someone keep an eye on the attendees area just in case somebody does join I probably will not be noticing that that area during the call. Would that show up as like an additional participant. Is that how we would know. Somebody would just be there. Yeah. So I also have to take a roll call to assure that audio is working for everyone. So starting with Cody. Are you muted Cody. Yeah. Very good. Thank you, Rachel. I'm here. Christie. I'm here. And Matt. Here. Excellent. Okay. So, unless anyone has any urgent topics, I think we'll hop right into from where we left off. I have to find. Okay. We left off with the next grant would be gallery a three. So Christie, are you in the same position that you were in last year. And we need to table this one because we don't have a quorum to discuss it. Okay. That's fine. Hey. Okay. And that gets us to the next one, Rachel, are you got you that got the time going for us. Yep. Thank you. This is ghost and ensemble incorporated applying for rewild experimental ensemble music by sky, McClay, Pauline. Oliveros Miriam. Philanon and Ben Richter. And this is happening in two weeks at UMass. That's my dog. I can't see the whole thing. Sorry, folks. I'm having a lot of difficulties at the moment. Can anyone else see the name of that location at UMass that I am not recognizing. I'll get it. My computer is acting crazy. All right. All right. They are asking for $2,250 and as far as where we were with them as a group, they were a 2.0 overall. So this group, the ghost ensemble, it's a non-profit contemporary music, nonnet, and they're based here in Amherst. This is their first ever Amherst event. And it's going to be presented presenting brand new compositions alongside landmark work of experimental classical music. This is a composer Pauline Oliveros Rare performed immersive orchestral masterwork mountain air. This is its east coast premiere. Another Amherst composer Miriam Philanon will have intricate, electracoustic sharp diamond follows and goes oboist sky mclays harmony friends in which there's an inflating harmony tree sculptures and vibrating tree shaped free read sound creatures that interact in a whimsical yet intense sonic and kinetic counterpoint within the ensemble. This is also ghost ensemble directors Ben Richter's world premiere for Rewild, which concludes the event with a pulsing breathing sonic ecosystem that marks humanity's fragile transient yet vital role with immensity of geologic time. It should be interesting geologic time and musical time. As far as our notes with this folks one folks said hey it's free. Another person said that they love the work but it's a large ask and another person said yeah they're asking for the large amount of money and it's about 150 folks they expect to attend. So with that. Comments and anyone champion fully funding this. I think it's a great project. It's a big ask, but I think we should give them 60 70% if possible is what I would say. I would agree it's really unique if it's if it's possible, and when we talk about percent totals of different types of music. So this this is a totally different type of. Did they say it was classical. I mean it's definitely contemporary, but it seems like. Very classical experimental. You know it seems great. It's just, I'm, you know, I don't think we, oh no, I don't think we can do it all, but I would support us a strong support. Yeah. Anyone else other comments. Is everyone in agreement to try to to do, you know, kind of a more than 50% funding if possible. I'm hearing nothing. Yeah, if possible, that would be good. I think with this one and some of the other few of the other ones had in my notes that. If we can't give them as much as we'd like to give them then, at least if we can match whatever their venue or host is providing so for example in this case you must you know it's like if we can match whatever you masses providing. So. Yeah, so just to kind of go over the fees for this so it is heavy and paying the the artist it's $333 each for the nine. Most ensemble musicians and 200 for the 50 for the conductor and 100 each for the five local musicians so as far as stipends go, you know, that's all very reasonable. 350 other budget is travel and transportation which we cannot do. There's also something about dinner for 200 we couldn't do they're not asking us for that much. And marketing at 2000 I think is is quite high but this is a unique event so and a one time performance like that. And they did say that they would eliminate outside PR if necessary, or they might reduce the number of local guest musicians to fewer than five if they're not fully funded. So I've got 1500 down here which, you know, it certainly warrants that is everyone in line with that as a as a rough number. Yeah. Okay. Any other comments. So next we have the Garden Street brew a cappella group. And this is a local vocal cord bowl number 12. I think the date must be incorrect. This is April 1 2022. We validate that it's happening at Amherst High. They're asking for $1,900, which is the entire budget and expect 850 folks to be served. It's this has been happening since 2006. It brings together high school college and adult singing groups. It's produced by their adult singing group. It was created to showcase Pioneer Valley's local talent. And to be a vehicle for benefiting many worthy causes through ticket sales sponsors programs ads and since 2009 they've contributed all the proceeds to both Amherst and Northampton's music programs allowing them to purchase musical instruments, songwriting keyboards, choral music, etc. And this year they're doing what you want concert enabling all to attend. So no fee to see the show and any income raised from local sponsors and donations goes directly back to Amherst and Northampton's school music departments. The comments here were large ask, but it seems to all go back into the community and that's it. So I will open it up to to comments as far as is there anyone who wants to fund the full 1900 Julian. Yes. I can just give the date. I corresponded with this grantee a little bit she was struggling with the technology. And that day corresponds to a flyer that she sent me during that process about their last project. Yes, my understanding is that they were looking for something upcoming not not something to have at last April. But that's not. I'm going to look back through and see if there is a specific date for the for what they're asking for. Assuming that there is, I think it's a great project I'd like to fully hundred if we can. Yeah, so the only thing that gives me slight pause here is why didn't they ask Northampton for anything since Northampton schools benefit in the proceeds but it is happening here in Amherst. The stipends are, let's see, salary speeds about $100 for college and adult singers group so 100 for each group. And there's a $500 janitorial fee for cleaning cleaning up I guess so it's a pretty thin, thin budget, considering that it is a large ask for us. Oh, you know what, I'm looking at the Roxy Schneider has sent an email uploaded support material confirming from the high school that it's April 1 2023 is there. Thank you. Personally like to definitely fund it considering it all goes back to the community but it is a large ask any anyone have any thoughts. I do agree it's a bit weird since it's not even said in Amherst just a teacher from Amherst so I feel weird. Feel we should not fully fund it? I voted to fund it like half of fund it. That was what I had in my notes. Yeah, all of what you've all said to. Everyone good with around 1000 instead of 19, you know 1900. Okay. I love your dog Christie. Okay, if there are no other comments I'll keep going. There is the next one is the Hadley climate change committee at art and composting and this is in June. And it's a project with postcards and posters around Hadley and Amherst. They are asking for $400 and they would like to create a beautiful display of artwork and photographs provided by the community to promote composting the display will be printed in posters and distributed around town. And they will also print postcards which will be available to the public. Is there anyone who'd like to champion this particular grant. I love this project. I mean I think it's hysterical. The, you know, art and composting such a valley project. I mean I don't think I think the ask is so modest. And it's just so different. I mean I don't think it's. It could be stronger, but it seems like something to support and it's different and interesting and I would support this for, you know, 400 ish. I mean if, if we had to cut a little bit off but I kind of love this. Right. I did a comment that I forgot to read someone said it's good good cause and it's a known grantee. Another person said that it's science and it's beneficial. Someone else said it's not really art.  It's also science though. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Okay, so. I think it's kind of fun that the postcards then would be sent somewhere else and then spread the idea of composting elsewhere. So we're all set. I wish I could do picture and picture with this because I can't see you guys will I look at what I'm looking at. It's probably a way. All right. You need a separate monitor. No, that's the last thing I need. I have one of those somewhere. All right. Then you're in that thing where you're like side profile when on a call. Okay, so next is Hampshire young people's chorus applying for the young people's chorus spring concert in spring of 2023. They are asking for $600 100 children served the only comment was excellent. So this is a known grantee for those of us who have been on a couple of cycles. There's spring concert will be a culmination of a year's worth of work. And they're planning for a Veterans Day retreat for their chamber singers and a collaborative concert at Mount Holyoke College with Hampshire Coral Society November and community outreach shore in January where they visit schools senior centers and retirement homes. They also collaborate with Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble in February. And they do a handle and hide in society concert in March all of these events will lead up to this event for the young people's concert in April or May which we plan to hold an Amherst likely at Grace Church or south church. And they make a note that most of the children live in Amherst, but six other neighboring towns are also represented and they rehearse and frequently give concerts in Amherst. Great project funded. Yeah. This is this is one that you know, same. The only concern is, you know, they, they don't have a date and a location and and yet that's been tough to do in the pandemic and we know that they are good for it, I believe, Matt. Oh, just the same.  Yeah. And I mean, all of that work they're doing. And, you know, it's only just this small amount that we're funding so they say it goes a long way. Any other comments. All right, so now we are, we have Steven Henderson, who is applying for an accident that accidental wedding which will be performed April 10 2023 at the Amherst senior center. They're asking for $325 and the audience should be 40 people. So it's two talented and experimental actors will deliver a 45 minute performance at the senior center and their, their guests volunteers and staff can attend at no cost. This is an original performance. It's hilarious, exciting, highly interactive, two medieval characters reenact variety situations related to the accidental marriage of one causing problems for both with volunteers from the audience we see in action the riotously ridiculous circumstance leading to the current predicament. It's a memorable event. And due to the highly interactive nature of the show, see attached resume. And as far as this was a 2.64 so it was pretty well supported and no, no comments were posted to share. Does anyone champion fully funding this one. I, I'll champion fully funding this one I do want to look at one thing before I do. I think I just did but I I just, you know, I just know it is another senior center project that we are. Right. Yep. Yep. So, I'm just looking at what their plan is if they receive less than I guess look looking at this I mean it seems like really high quality programming for the senior center and and at somewhat less cost and the stipend supports more than one person so from from that perspective I might prioritize this one versus some of the others. Yes, I agree. Okay. All right, so it's a small ass so let's hope we can do the 325. Any other comments. Okay, moving ahead. Joanna has see social fabric to a community rug making project. This is happening in December. At the bombics Center for the arts and equity and Florence. They're asking for your total budget is $1,212 and 50 cents and they're asking us for 1,212 but not the 50 cents. And they expect to serve perhaps 200 folks. Last year this artist led an art project at a pe gallery they created a felt rug over the course of three weeks and then auctioned it off to support the food bank of Western Massachusetts. This is the second project along those lines and it's going to be held at bombics instead. What we're making is a communal activity it utilizes shared rhythms and dance like coordination of bodies and the collaborative aspect is what she finds most exciting and in the moments of complete community where creativity physical activity and resources are shared and something is able to be produced that one person would alone never have been able to have the capacity to do. We've used colored scraps that they've collected through the year and as well as donated sheeps wool for the decorative surface of the rug. Comments that we had about this that it was a great project, but with diverse funding sources, it should should not need even close to the budget to the full budget funding from Amherst, and another person that's very funny specific amount of money to ask for, and someone else said that it's a large ask and another person said okay but it's in Florence. So, can I just explain my comment was one about the diverse funding sources. It just didn't add up so they asked us for the entire budget amount, but then they listed off a whole slew of funding sources so you know it's kind of hard to understand. I didn't really know how to take that. I think it looks like a great project but you know I think we should give them a proportionate amount of money to the number of funding sources that they're asking. And I agree and you know I'm looking at the budget right now and and there's a $200 $250 stipend from bombics that is not in here or accounting is not a strength here and the funding doesn't make any sense and I mean they applied to all these other cultural councils. I mean, anyways, they can't make it. I would say under 50, under 50% is what I would. I would agree. You know, I was thinking around 400 if we have 400 already have a 250 stipend from bombics that gets them to 650 and then whatever any any other councils bring to it. I was going to also again match the stipend that was already offered to them. That was what I had in my notes to the 250. So, that's my two cents. I agree just that total amount is not the portion of funding and support.  Are we all all good with that approach. Yes. Thank you. Next is. Hilltown families Inc, which will be followed by Hilltown youth, which are two different groups just that way up front. Hilltown family suggests is the title and it's every Thursday and 2023 for 52 weeks and it will it's an event. They're saying this taking place online at hilltownfamilies.org. They're asking us for $700 and they serve 25,000 folks. It's an award winning community based education network, and it supports educational and entertainment interests and they, the Hilltown family suggests it's a published online media that encourages learning through participation in nature based resources and local and cultural local cultural opportunities this week. We call them published, you know, they put put this out 52 times a year once a week, and they're trying to strengthen a sense of place through shared community experiences. They curate a seasonally based list of learning ideas and opportunities for each week. To integrate audiences connect residents to local culture, etc. And this funding would support cultural councils with research development outreach. And the online hosting the venue is is a website. So comments here was does this count as art. It's very, it's important and would love to fund. Another person said it's an online newsletter. Another person said this is not a public event. So, as far as the the numbers for this it was 2.43. So there's there's support, you know, I'm going to just sum up that they really probably do promote a lot of our grantees and yet from what I'm seeing here I'm concerned this doesn't meet our actual guidelines. So it's great work but is there anyone who feels that it does meet our guidelines. Julian. Yes. Yeah, we have at least past two years we funded it. Which that's not proof that it meets our guidelines necessarily but I mean there's precedent there. Why would why would it not be meeting the guidelines I'm sorry I missed that part. Well it's. It's not a cultural event. I don't know. It's, it supports them.  Yeah, I feel like it's, it would be funding a newsletter. It's a, it's, it's a, to me that's what it seems like and I've voted against it, both years in the past, funding it at all. So, I don't think, yeah. Our guidelines don't specify that these things need to be events I mean, we certainly support operating budgets for a number of things. I don't know. So I mean I'm fine with the will of the group I just, I would caution us to not, you know, say that it doesn't meet guidelines until we, we can specify which guidelines stop you. But it's, it's not a cultural, we're funding a communication that's not for a cultural institution. It's a fan, I mean it's a social support network. Right, I mean it's not. I don't, I don't see it's, it's like social services, which we're supporting. I mean, would we support a food bank. Well, I just, I mean, I want to make sure this is a compilation of cultural events, specific for families that comes out every week. So I wouldn't compare to social services. It's a form of social media though. So it's, it's a communication it's a newsletter it's you know it's it serves that purpose and I think that's what some of us are questioning in principle that's that's I mean that's how I see it. There's another one kind of like this further down the line that. So, I mean, I wouldn't, I wouldn't mind supporting this with a couple hundred dollars, but I just think we have other things which have direct, not mediated, but direct cultural impact on Amherst residents. That's what I would say. Yeah. I don't want to over invest myself and you know arguing for the poor against this site I certainly understand the concerns but I will definitely say that, you know, we I look through it every week. Identify things to bring my family to cultural things and, and when we first moved to town, you know, many, many, many people said, you need to get on this thing this is the best way to. So it is a, you know, an avenue to culture that I think is got a huge distribution base and certainly brings a lot of public benefit. So, you know, I mean I think a small funding if that's sort of the way the group is leaning tonight is fine is fine. I would caution against denying it though, you know, unless we have a really ironclad guideline of being violated. I guess, you know, my kind of sticking point with this is, well, really valuing what what they do again, you know, it seems to really not be in in line with the kind of things that we're funding and I certainly wouldn't want to then need to fund a whole bunch of other, you know, kind of social media type groups like like this that are publishing a calendar. Is that time, Rachel. Okay. I agree with what. Okay, so moving on to the next welcome Lea. I'm so sorry my, my work ran over I'm a dance teacher and my boss is a back injury that's like a whole thing was that the family newsletter. Got it. Okay. So, next is hilltown youth performing arts program. This is a theater group. And this is for their summer workshop. And they are asking for $1,000 serving 200 folks. I'm not sure where it's being held because it was a rather long paragraph for the location. They do recovery intensives in groups for teens in Hampshire County. They have strong numbers and Amherst. There's an okay third. This season is the 13th outdoor traveling summer spectacle with an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Coraline written by our student and faculty and it will be performed on our new campus in Heath for the first time. Does anyone know where the new campus is Heath a town or a location. It's a town. Okay. And so this is their, they provide a year round after school program and summer arts program intensive training artistic and professional skill building and leadership development to youth from underserved rural areas and Franklin County and beyond. They inspire transformative growth teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment and challenges young people to build thriving sustainable communities throughout their lives. Their summer programs begin with a seven day pre workshop recovery intensive for young people overcoming trauma addiction anxiety. Depression other behavioral health challenges and they work to incorporate aerial fabrics flying trapeze zip lines white water rafting dance. Music yoga meditation journaling and equine therapy. A five week program that culminates in an outdoor performance this year at Heath. And overall we scored this as a two point as a two and comments were that it's it's a large grant but should be fully funded if we're not about this kids were coming from addiction and through the arts then. What are we about and another person wanted to make sure that the performance is open to the public. Yeah, but loves this and hopes it's not outside the guidelines and does there, I guess, one person already in the comments champion fully funding it so who would like to speak to that Christie were you saying something. Yeah. Yeah. No. Thank you. Other than fully funding it is there anyone who would like to speak to how they would like to fund it. I remember seeing this project in the past to oh sorry Cody you want to go ahead. If you're muted Cody. I was just going to say I voted to have to have funded because they're applying also to multiple. Yeah, I thought this was really cool. I want to find it, but I forgot they were applying to multiple council so I would definitely support to have funded it. Yes, and as I mean their total budget by the way is almost $100,000 so and the salaries and fees you know it's it's a very large staff to do this so well it's a large ask to us for the benefit it brings to the to the community and there are kids from the family members to, you know, will be participating. I don't think it's an unreasonable ask it's more just how much can can we really take on and can can they be successful with less than full funding from us and I believe they can, you know, but I don't think it's an unreasonable ask. I had stepped away but I would definitely champion the full thousand and to your point thank you for that was the point I was going to make as well as that, you know, fully fully funding our request is very much a very small part of their of their overall budget and yeah I just it's just wonderful like the materials that they provided the website. If you explore what this organization does, and who it does it for. You know I just think it's a really, really wonderful thing and I think $1,000 is an eminently reasonable amount for the for the public benefit that it yields. Yeah. Are we all agreed. Yeah, great. Thank you. Okay, so now we are. We have a grant from Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble for their choral concert the sky and the fountain. It will occur May 20 at the Buckley Recital Hall Amherst College. They're asking us for $750 and expect it to serve about 350 people. So this is as we're merging from winter into the flow of spring and and yet the grip of cold has not faded from our memory. The sky is dead and the fountain is love and life. So this is John Tabiner's elegy song for a theme opens fire of saints who have found the well spring of life and Randall Thompson's Odes of Horus celebrates spring inspired body. To the bright and wondrous fountain and Eric Whitaker's five Hebrew love songs. And the intimacy of humans portraying that love within the embrace of nature and Hubert Howell's Requiem suspends us on the currents of loss grief and buoyed by faith. The Lord is my shepherd. He shall lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. It's contemporary music from recent decades up to the present beautiful moving and inventive. As far as our overall rating for this it was a 2.0 comments were the ticket costs which I'll go and look up here in just a moment and that it might need to be adjusted for music totals, but it seems to be high quality musical classical musical performance. So the ticket cost is we have that. We're at time. We're at time with just introducing it. I don't know. Maybe I did I do. Yeah, we probably should. I'll start again. Yeah, we're allowing other five minutes or something. So the ticket cost is 20 general admission 15 for seniors and $10 for students and they'll offer free tickets to Amherst High students. They hope to sell about 300 and program ads. So anyone champion fully funding this. Does anyone want to speak to partially funding this. I think, you know, we probably are coming back to the same percent of music and classical music and is a like they are getting ticket revenue. But I don't think we should deny that my think we can give like five, maybe like 550 600. I don't know. I'm really about it. Yeah, you know, I mean with with the ticket sales in there, because we do, they are offering access free to Amherst High students. I don't know how many truly will take advantage of that. Just trying to see if they applied to anyone, anyone else. You said no other agency is funding the concert. So I mean, as far as salaries for this caliber of music is 2,500 just for the conductor. And it's a small small ask to us overall. I think one thing that's interesting is the scores of music is $940 and that's a real number there's a there's a real expense but they are they are also budgeting for any PR advertising or writing I should say and you know they'll probably get quite a bit of support so I would support as Leo was saying, you know somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 or so to bring this kind of music. We also have to look at total of classical music and you know which which ones we are going to support more, you know, more so. Any other comments. Just that they're a strong organization and pretty well known to us and so you know I mean I lean towards a close, you know close to fall but I, I could see an 80% kind of a thing. I'll bump it up to. One of this is final so I'll bump it up to 600. Just, I think we just are anticipating that you know there's a lot of music so we have to spread it around. Otherwise, you know, it is a good organization and amazing work. Any other comments. Okay. Next we have cat Milo for the fairy festival, and this would be the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and it would be at the Lake Wallace sensory trail belcher town. Cat is asking for $3,000 and expects to serve about 200 people. It's a festival it's a full day of activities exploring and celebrate celebrating the magic of nature. There's greeting from the fairies upon the audience entrance to the trail and little fairy houses and gathering spaces along a stroller wheelchair accessible path. There's a section of space dedicated to activities such as tea parties wish writings and introduction to herbalism and local foraging dancing and music. There's a section dedicated to building houses for fairies and other little creatures. All the materials are free for participants and as much as possible will be recycled and sustainably sourced and people can learn how to make homes for little fairies. There's a section dedicated to building homes for bats birds and bees. The very festival strives to engage their community into caring about and caring for local nature resources through magic and fun and our overall rating for this was a 1.71 and the comments were very, very good. I'm going to go down another and this would be so amazing and another person said this was lovely last year but the funding request doesn't match the event. Large large ask and did this grantee complete paperwork for 2022. Yes, I just got that today. So, I don't think that we can discuss funding it but Matt, you attended if I may. Yeah, I have a special platform here because I believe I'm the only one who attended last year. It's very festival and I think that gives me some cash a on this topic. We did funded at 750 last year. You know, I would say that that was that was a generous grant for the, you know, for the production itself. You know, I mean I want to give her credit for give them credit for paying their participants paying the folks who are staffing the tables. It was it was a somewhat underwhelming event, but it was a very lovely vibe. You know my child enjoyed it.  I would I would support funding more than last year's amount, which was 750. You know, but but not much more, but but I do think it was a wonderful cultural thing and in terms of the belcher town piece I would just say that it's quicker to get to belcher town and it is to Northampton, you know from downtown neighbors. So, I think there's something to be said there as well. But, you know that being said I'm not, you know I'm certainly not going to champion a full funding and I do think this ask is pretty excessive. Belcher town as far as you know that that town beach and finding an appropriate venue, you know, it's not like you can do this just anywhere. It really wouldn't be suitable to try to hold this at Puppers pond. And it is ADA accessible that's like, it's like if we want it to be accessible and then we also want it to be close there is given take there. I'd support, you know, the same funding as, as last year and you know this is their second event they pulled off a first one. Now they're going for a second and then kind of see, see how they do with taking what they learned from last year and approving it before I would actually put more money towards it. Because even at 750 it's it's it's a lot of money but how well attended do you think it was from what you saw there Matt. He might not be able to speak. I would support level funding, but not an increase. Yeah. Yeah. Are we all all agreed. Yes, I would support actually less than last year. Personally, that's what I would vote for because I feel like just to offer a different perspective on versus. I think we have stronger projects, but level. I mean I have no problem with level but I. Okay, I put max at 500 personally. I could be persuaded based on knowing, you know, again, all the projects that are out there that that that 500 would would continue to encourage, you know, is there anyone else who feels particularly strongly about staying level. Yeah, I think I mean personally I would I would recommend staying level but you know I understand the skepticism, but just But having seen the event having seen the enthusiasm you know it is. I mean it's that there's a celebration of sort of gender diversity and queerness and I mean, you know it's got some aspects to it that I think are distinct from some of our other grants. You know I think that the level funding is a very reasonable proposal because I think they should maybe try to stretch the amount they got last year a little bit further. I'll come back to this one when we're actually doing the final numbers. I do have to say that $400 per workshop for the five workshops is that per person because that's a rather high high level of stipend for someone who doesn't have like kind of, I don't know an international CV. So, and that they're there to stipend so 2000 of the budget goes to the folks running workshops during the festival 400 per workshop for five workshops and then there's another organizing stipend for 400 I think that would be for cat and then there's another 1600 in the budget for staffing the festival which is 25 an hour times eight hours and eight staff and the size of what you were saying happened last year Matt I don't. That sounds like a really, really large. Staff to run something that was probably much smaller. I don't know. Yeah, I mean we could look at the final report, you know, and the numbers there I mean I was, I'm giving you kind of a humorous skeptic like subjective explain you know I had a, I had a 20 minute experience at the very end of the day when we got there so I, that's not an objective. You know. Unless anyone strongly objects I'm going to bump it down to 500 and then we can see if we can find more to put there once the numbers are all in. Is that okay with you Matt. Sure. Thanks. Okay. Then we have Jonathan keezing and his event is raise your voice, and this will be July 15 the Jones library. The grant is for $500. So this is Jonathan keezing caravan puppets will perform a program of puppets gets titled find your voice the show features for classic international stories presented as age appropriate skits audiences are treated to a wide variety, or a wide diversity of puppets and puppetry styles with beautiful staging original music. The stories are interactive and all have positive messages. And for for this, our overall score was a 2.21, and the only comment was that it was magical for kids, especially, and it is free. Is there anyone who champions fully funding this project. I'll go ahead and speak and say as far as fully funding this project, you know there's not just the stipend to come and perform but there is all the craft and in making the puppets themselves. So that is an art form to. If, if we didn't have to balance the budget, I would fully support this. Any other comments of why you would like to fund this at a different amount. Does anybody want to fund it at all other than me. I agree with any 500 is a reasonable ask. I think it makes sense. Yeah, I agree. I would fully fund this. Any other comments. If we're done discussing this one I have just the more of a general question to post. Go ahead. Okay, I'm going to stop the timer. So I, I guess I am curious when we're each because I am thinking through this as we're all talking is that are we just commenting on each application on its own merit without kind of thinking about the total amount. For example, let's say if I went through the entire list of applications when I was just doing the scoring on my own. I didn't do this but I was just saying that like, if I was adding up as I was going. Would I then come back and reevaluate everything or is that part of why we're doing what we're doing now. So I'm just having this group discussion and then when they come back and then adjust the individual. Because I think we're, yes, in principle, we would love to fund a lot of this. Yeah, but I just don't know like, in terms of the conversation. So I'd say it's multiple things happening. So one thing is whether or not, you know, certain grants even meet the guidelines. So when you look at the total number of what's requested. So that that comes down. Because some don't meet guidelines. And yet, we are trying to look at each grant based on its own merits. Absolutely. That's kind of the first round and then going back and yet we can't help. Excuse me for a moment. Help but like look at how much music we have and how many things are are going to be at the senior center and serving, you know, that audience once we start talking about it it becomes part of this so. But yeah, the the main goal at this stage is overall value and. Sure. I can see that we're already kind of looking at some and saying all right we know we're going to have to bring these numbers down so it's, you know, kind of fluid Matt you had something to say. Well yeah I just wanted I mean that's been the process every year I've been here and I know, you know, even a part of it, Rachel where where we kind of go through and do an initial assessment and just get a feel for what do we have you know what I mean. We have a total amount asked, which is, you know, grossly above what we have to offer. So we have to go through and do what we're currently doing which is sort of finding out what we actually have in terms of meeting guidelines in terms of some people have duplicated grants something some people have just asked sort of like the moon shooting the moon. So I mean this is a this is the process and then, if you as you'll remember what we what we do is we. In fact, last year, after we went all the way through, we actually sent out a draft, a draft balance budget. And then we had two full meetings of additional deliberations, where members tweaked that draft balance budget, because, you know, ultimately what we're doing right now is we are eliminating some, and we're prioritizing some as being full funds, but the vast majority of these are going to be And that's where I think the more nuanced discussions sort of come in so I mean I think we're just trying to follow that same exact process that we've done the past couple years, and I would I would say that once we get through this initial 89. You know, Julian and I haven't really talked about it but I think, you know, to me anyway it makes a lot of sense to then send out a proposed balance budget. And then, don't discuss in an open meeting, you know, well I was hoping that that one would be 80% and not 40% and you know all the like there's I think it's a lot of rich content, content discussion that happens at that stage to so unless there's a strong objection I think that's what we're intended to do again this year. I would agree. Are we good to continue. Okay. Our next grant is for Daniel Kerouac. It's a concert for seniors at the Emmer senior center asking for $250 it serves 35 people. The overall scoring on this was a 2.71. And this is a one hour concert of music suitable for seniors center populations easy listening pop and light rock from the 40s 70s on piano accompanied by vocals. The location is at the senior center and or a site event to be determined by the council on aging. So, with this there, there weren't any particular comments but I am wondering as far as, you know, do do we truly have a date and time for this. I mean, I touched an email from Hailey Bolton who runs the senior services with a date and time. Okay, okay. And I mean I think it's not the big formal letter that some folks have submitted but definitely it's, you know, it's going to. Okay, okay because it wasn't on this sheet here thank you. So, yeah. We'll open the discussion on this. I think it seems fine, but I think we're going to have to put all the senior center ones together. Yes. I mean there's nothing wrong with this proposal. And, but I think we have to put them all together and put them all together in round two and decide, you know, are we going to fund them all to 75%. Or, yeah, you know, or give them all the same amount of money. Yeah, no matter what they ask for. I think there were some events that seemed much, much stronger and more engaging, you know, this one is perhaps, you know, less, less money than those but I at this point agree there's just really no way to deal with it since there are so many of them other than to to take them as a whole. You all agreed. I think another criterion related to that is which of these events at the senior center is actually putting money towards because there are a few of them that they're actually, you know, contributed paying for part of partially. So I don't know if that's something we want to take into account to during that. But that's definitely a good point as far as the ones that they see enough value and partially fund versus the other ones it's like oh well we'll send you a letter of support and you can get paid and you can come on over and you know we'll have you know some entertainment and where are they putting. Yeah, I got I didn't notice that so I mean that's if you if you can take note of which ones there. I did not notice them putting I thought I saw them say they don't have an entertainment budget but certain depth that's definitely important so at least where you know they were saying we're putting 150 towards us ourselves. There was at least a couple that I remember but yeah that's something we think you better. Thank you very much for noticing that and bringing that up because I think that's going to be very important for us to go through these. Any other comments here. Okay, moving on. Now we have Rachel leader with clubs coming to in August of 2023 and coming to mass, you're asking for $750 to serve 275 people. It's a plasma festival in coming to Massachusetts, and for one day and they will be seeking to enrich the Western Massachusetts Jewish cultural and artistic community with a vibrant traditional context for celebrating and ancestral ritual knowledge transmission and meaningful community connection. It's a secular event and is open to the general public. They expect about 275 attendees of all ages for a full day. There's a site that a large number of people in Amherst into our interested in Jewish culture and they aim to bring out many Amherst residents. They will include Jewish music and dance, yet is language yet is spectacle theater. It's a wood fired oven baking and concerts performed by local klezmer bands. The overall rating for this was a 2.14 and the comments were very profunding a Jewish cultural festival seems unique. Someone else said the Amherst nexus is addressed and it's a great event seems special other person question coming to maybe partial funding. It's a great site that there was a huge Jewish community at Amherst. So does anyone support fully funding this. I just want to say I thought this was a really good example of like oftentimes. When we look at things that are far away. I thought they did a good job of like explaining. I noticed that not a lot of grants do that and I liked how they were like, really specific to Amherst. They did apply to several surrounding councils. Not not everyone in the Commonwealth but you know the ones that truly would be meaningful for this. And just to give an idea of the budget. It's a $9,250 budget, you know 1500 of that is just equipment rental. Another thousand is the space rental. The musicians are getting paid in the range of 200 for several of them, the visual theater folks. That's 500 a six piece klezmer band 1200 so that's you know 200 a piece sound engineer 300 1500 of it is snacks and organizers 1000 so it is. Pretty much, you know, other than the equipment rental the space rental going to to support creative folks. You know, I would support fully funding it. I know we have a lot of music but this is not music this is a destination cultural event. And it would be nice if it was in Amherst but that'd be the only reason that I wouldn't want to fully fund this. I could get behind a full, sorry, a large partial. I wouldn't put this on a list of slam dunk full full funding. I could also be fine putting it at 500 I mean like I said it's it isn't coming to this not an Amherst if it was an Amherst, you know, then it would be bringing people, you know into our restaurants and stores and is everyone in alignment about 500. Yep. Okay, thank you. Any other comments. All right, thanks thanks for letting me keep moving us along, you know we're, I think we're not even quite halfway yet so. Don LaPair has hope I said that right has an event LaFever. It's a listed as spring summer and fall of 2023 at various music venues community concerts and they're asking for $600 to serve 1000 folks. I'm just looking at at the comments here as even before we're getting into this there's no location there's no venue. They only applied to Amherst cultural council and multiple people saying there's no venue so. Yeah, they're suggesting venues like farmers markets and community centers but I don't believe that this meets our guidelines does anyone else. We are all in agreement this does not meet our guidelines. Yeah, I agree. Okay. Thank you. All right, so then we have Ken Longstreet, say free concert by Jeff Gavioli and his bad news jazz and blues orchestra featuring Cindy Reed. This will be June 25 at the. Sweet. Somebody say the name of the park for me. Sweet sir. Sweet sir. What is with me today. And it serves. They're asking for $1500 serves 200 people. She needs to go out of Japan. Sorry about that folks. It's a free one and a half long one and a half hour long big band concert. And they enjoy a reputation of being, you know, the most exciting and busiest big band in Western Massachusetts they were nominated in the winter winner of the best live jazz. In the 2021 and 2022 Hampshire Gazette readers poll. And they were finalists in the 2020 poll. And it's a I'm just going to breeze through this 19 member band. And with a lead vocalist and somebody, let's all move to the comments someone said well they're very confident. And it's it's a large ask but I would mention that I did see them perform. When I guess a couple years back when we worked with the cultural district and they are not out of line to to in their confidence of what they deliver and it was you know the kind of thing where they they played music but you know people people, you know came and danced and you know it really we're just hoping to be out of the pandemic and it was they really delivered and brought a lot of joy for people of many ages so you know if this is a musical event that I would support, maybe not fully funding but but strongly considering we have a lot of music events. Would anyone else like to speak to, if they'd like to fund this and how. Yeah, I would support like a. At least I feel like 1000, maybe I know that's a lot but I also saw them when we worked that event and it was just like people really loved them especially because I think they have a relationship with the Amherst district cultural cultural districts they will go to like those events and like when people are outside like, there's so many like couples dance and like, like older people get really into it and it is like this very beautiful community vibe. And it is, it is for performance in Amherst. Yeah, as far as Matt were you going to say something. Yeah, I, you know, excellent. The only reason I would keep it at a to in a high partial is just if we're going to go through and apply the whole sort of big band criteria, you know in terms of diversity of acts I would just, and you already said you've already mentioned that. But you know I, I support everything you all said I think that definitely a high partial. Yeah. Any other comments. I support 1000. Okay. Yeah, I'll, I'll put 1000 down unless anyone else feels strongly and you know we still have to go back and look at all the music and you know, it might be that we, you know, take from something that's not immediately an Amherst and top this off or or I don't know. Any other comments. I feel like Rachel wants to say something. No. I was looking. Okay. She's wanting to take time. All right, then moving on. Thank you. So we have. Delia Bridget Martin as and this is salsa contacos Latin dance. And it is scheduled for this upcoming year at Mexico Lito taco bar and Kendrick Park in Amherst. They're asking for $1200 and expect to serve about 400 folks. This is a volunteer led group that holds Latin dance event biweekly at Mexico Lito bar and Amherst. They also hold a series of salsa socials in Kendrick Park in the summer sponsored by Amherst Park and recreation. The project would be an extension of our current work because we would be able to also have guest instructors come teach free Latin dance lessons to the community. And many people have asked for the lessons. The dance lessons would be followed by a social dance where all members of the community are invited to stay and listen and dance. They've drawn much attention in the last year and they have teachers from Boston Hartford Pittsfield areas that want to come back and teach. And they'd love to host these teachers. And they would want to compensate them fairly for time and travel. We can't compensate for travel. And I'm saying that I lost my place. And they are also saying they'd like to rent out a larger venue for more popular events. So comments here are no, no date. Isn't it ongoing. I mean they're planning like this ongoing thing over the summer. So with that fully agree. And yet that's where we kind of get into needing to, especially with the direct granting kind of look at what the venue is or their letters of support and the budgeting. So if the venue, wait, is it by the venue is the Mexicalito taco. Yeah, I'm a little confused because there's the Kendrick Park part of it and then Mexicalito. I mean, but that's very close. I wonder if those two are like, if it's like a, because that's the taco place I think is where, like, Rayos used to be. And very jolly dances there. I mean, have you ever been there when they have the dancing. It's like, very fun. The Kendrick Park I think is like across like it's I wonder if I black sheep, isn't it. No, I think that's that sweet stir. These guys are there already out there. I don't know if they're doing this specific activity but there's already a salsa group that meets on Kendrick Park it's right across from Mexicalito the new taco bar. Wonderful. But Julianne I take your point about the 160 for travel. I would support fully funding minus the travel the unallowable expense. Yeah, I mean it is in Amherst. They do get donations. They said that their current donations are around $50 every other week. I don't understand quite about if it's at Mexico Lito at a commercial restaurant. Let's see Mexico Lito bar and Amherst currently hosts our socials on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 830 to 11pm free of charge. And then Kendrick Park and Amherst is sponsored by the Amherst Parks and Recreation Department currently hosts our salsa and free of charge. Yeah, I mean I think from that perspective. Amherst are both totally open to the public and totally benefit Amherst residents. And I support it. I mean, other than the travel which I guess we can, you know, not fund. I just think this is, it's different cultural it's a particular group but it's attracts other people outside that group. I think this is just a fun summer dancing in the park kind of thing that I would support, you know, as much as we can. Yeah, I agree and because their total budget is 3560. The travel part is not an issue. Because that's not, you know, if we fully funded at 1200 if we could write. They're covering that out of out of other funds. So I'd be fine with 1200 and seeing if we can keep it there. What I would say we should do, and I support that Julian, but we need to let them know that, you know, the 160 they budgeted for travel. They can't use our money for that. So when they submit their final paperwork. But I mean I think that's a, like you said, 160 is there overall, but we should, we should tell them that explicitly. I think there's several grantees that fall into that same thing, whether it's food or transportation and yeah, we'll have to be clear about that. Or maybe we just add that into the letter as a blanket thing that, you know, if you'd had those kind of funds in your budget, they're not applicable, not to submit. Okay, any other comments. So now we have next Robert Masala life appreciation through drawing and painting spring and summer 2023. It is being held a local park and community asking for $1,000. I have a comment here from Matt and if this is true then that's good. We still have no final report. Is that correct from last year. If you can speak to us. I literally just opened up the spreadsheet to double check that. Okay, so this is this is one that we might have discussed in our example. I have a question when, when we kind of reviewed different grants and why they might be strong or not this is a repeat of last year's grant. That's materials for 12 participants to do on plan air, you know, watercolor and oil painting with this artist and we questioned last year whether it was truly open to the public if it was just 12 many of us like that it was participatory and treating teaching people how to to make art. But if at this point we have no final report for last year's session. I, I'm going to question again, whether it meets our guidelines. And it simply would be that the public benefit isn't isn't there if we don't have the report from from last year and this is the small numbers report. Right. Yeah, so I can verify that it's not in there. I would like to, you know, technically they have until the end of December. So, you know, maybe we but but tentatively I think you know assuming that we don't have a final report we can't fund it but I will just say that I follow a lot of his work.  He does extraordinary work with this Casa de los artistus program, you know, I mean, and it is very, it's very much, you know, anybody can paint on playing there. I mean really is a laudable program. So, I would just say that, you know, if, if Robert's final report comes in, in the next couple of weeks, you know, I would want to provide some funds for this although I think we had the discussion last year around, you know, if you're if you're charging folks to participate then, you know, I don't think this is like a scholarship type. Suggesting here that this was going to be for the the materials so within the budget. Okay, no, I take it back. This would be free for participants. Yeah. Yeah, so I mean you know I have to say the quality of his work if you you know if you just Google Robert Mosla and sort of look around at some of the stuff he's doing. It's pretty extraordinary and very much participatory, you know in painting so. But, you know, if they don't, if they don't get the report in then it's kind of hard to support, you know, sending more money their way. And it's also like we're paying $100. It's like it's like we're doing tuition grants for 12 people to have $100 per, you know, and I don't know that it's going to people of need.  Yeah, that was my question to is like who. Yeah, how does that work and also, whether or not the report comes in. Should that affect that impact, how we decide on whether or not this is, you know, providing the public benefit that we hope to offer through our grants. We've been on our reservations last year and I just think if we were to look at everything that we can fund for the money that they're asking and it's, it's, it's still hard to justify broad public benefit with these funds in my opinion. I do take that point, you know, but I want to respond to the question about the report so I think that that's something that the town has been pretty clear with us about. You know that that if folks are not because because it's cash in hand, if folks are not documenting that they're using their funds. You know, it's really a question of, if we give if we send more money after somebody who has not documented that they've used the first money.  And then somebody has shown us that they're not necessarily, you know, that they're not necessarily going to use the money that we sent them. So I do think that has to be kind of a, and then we'll keep an eye on it obviously as, you know, the year unfolds but we do have to keep an eye on that. Yeah I understand that but I was talking, I guess, specifically about this application, in particular because it is only for 12 people and the amount that is being asked for so for me it's irrelevant in this case whether or not the report comes in because I don't think that would sway my thinking in the way that the public benefits offering and or you know what I'm inclined to to vote on. I was going to say adding on to the 12 people. It's just so low and then when we start to like do, like if we have funded it then it feels like I would need to look at how the budget is laid out but then is it like we're funding six people and then that feels like we want to fund it even less than if it's like two and a half so it feels like it's like this weird thing where it's like, if we don't like that and then we have funded it's like the public benefit shrink so much that it becomes like complicated like that. So it makes me wonder. I don't know. Yeah, I think public benefit challenge all along and I would be fine to wall he's a fine artist I've seen his work and you know I appreciate that. I think there are a lot of artists who are out there and engaging the community in a in a much more. Open and accessible way, even with this being free though it is it is just just a few people so. And at that we are 730. I just make one last response to that and I don't want to labor the point on this particular grant but I do want folks to just consider. When we talk about public benefit, you know there's a benefit of being an audience member sitting, you know, passively or relatively passively and watching or listening to something and participating so I mean, and I'm certainly not going to, you know, if anybody has a veto car, I'm not going to argue or support this grant forever. But I do think that anything that's participatory with the audience, you know, a smaller number for more rich experience is something to factor in. I fully agree and that that's how I was, you know, willing to to put some support to this last year at all was that it was participatory but it's still seeing the same one again strikes me as being, you know, just a few people and, and you know, $100 ahead, you know, so I think there are other participatory events that offer a lot more value to a lot more folks would be my comment. So, thank you. So, since we had a quorum tonight, are we canceling tomorrow. Yeah, I think this isn't it's nice to see you guys and hang out but you know three times in a week is a lot so we'll pick up again next week. Just, I agree with that I just want to get a count on how many meetings we have left. It is a little tight because we have 45 or so more more grants to go through I am going to let everyone know that the next one after this from Nancy meager. She asked us to, to what do you call it revoked rescinded canceled her her application there she said she wasn't ready. So we will be picking up with Pamela means next time. Yeah, she withdrew so so there's only four meetings left with 45 and you know the final one of those is we really we want to be all the way through this review for the final one for voting. So just putting that out there, you're doing an amazing job with the time box and stuff. Thank you, Rachel, you know, yeah. So that's really want to do 15 per for the next three and then perhaps perhaps more but I don't know. Yeah, yeah, right I mean so 15 per, you know, three times 15 is 45 minutes. So in only six minutes or grant her application. Yeah, I mean that really is what it boils down to if you're doing the time thing specifically and, and I think it's working great I mean I think you're doing an amazing job facilitating and the timing is great. But, you know, it's just we just got a lot of grants and a short period of time. Yeah, I mean the flip side is if we can't get our business done we've got to add meetings, you know after the 14th so let's just all say on track yes Rachel. Let's just have a really quick question. The MCC has that tool in the grant calculation. I don't know if that's something we should be using later because you know how, as your as we approve they, they kind of will the the that function will add up. Keep it running tally basically. Oh, I'm doing that in Excel right now. Okay, with the numbers that we've been talking about or at 30. I'm just curious about something that. Okay. Thank you about halfway through. So we're, we're in the ballpark I'd say we're, we're, you know, I don't know what our total and we none of us know what our total amount is because we still have to look at some other admin uses of funds and stuff, but I'm not worried seeing that we're at 33,500 for what we have, you know, estimated. We're meeting next week. Next week. Okay. It's been wonderful. Thank you all. And see you later. Thanks everybody.


Democracy is defined as a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of the state, typically through electoral orientatives. A wise man broke this down even further, called it the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Why is it a very profound definition? What is most important in my view is the last part of that definition, a government for the people, to my mind. A government for the people means a government that has people at heart. As a matter of fact, it's generally believed that the government has three main functions. First, the protection of lives and properties of a citizenry. Second, enabling an environment for wealth, acquisition and distribution. And third, the pursuit of happiness, whatever that means to every individual within the ambits of their fundamental human rights, of course. That said, can we come in and say that we're in democracy in Nigeria? Let's start with security, protection of lives and property. Just last week, another container accident in Nigeria, Legua Lagos, Nigeria, killing nine passengers, nine souls lost. I say another because this is not the first incident in this same location. What about the countless cases of kidnappers and whole communities being ravaged in the northeast? Every Nigerian does not feel safe anymore. And the question remains, how many more lives need to be lost for enough to be enough? What about the economy? Is it just inflation or the recent currency change that has plunged many individuals and businesses into frustration? It's not enough to have money in the bank now. Now you must queue for hours at the cash machine or join a multitude of more first-time customers inside the banking house to get that money out. Should we talk about fuel? The first three months of scarcity with price hikes and kills all over Nigeria. Let's go back to democracy again for a second. The government of the people, by the people, and for the people, became the top five global economies by GDP, the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Of all these countries, only one or two of them are actual democracies, meaning they are not necessarily elected leaders, but the leaders and the governments they have. They think about the people and they put the people at heart. I help advocate that Nigeria finds and defines a democracy that works for the people. That is a government that works for the people. We have a government. It was elected, the government was elected by us, the people. But they don't send us the people. That's it. So which now goes to the definition of the government? Let me go to the economy there. And look at your line of thought. The government was elected by the people, and not for the people. But the truth is, the government that I elected actually did business with the people and have completed their business on the election day because some people got paid to give them the votes. And now they have to pay back those money at their own interest rates, at their own preferred time. So it is about them. And that is where the issue of cover has come in. I think far beyond the democracy, as a people, what are the ideologies? The party we are talking about, can we say categorically, the PDB, is it APC, is it any of those parties registered in Nigeria? What ideology do they present outside their individual interests? That is where the problem is. With the A-light, I was the company at the back door. How many of us are actually engaged at the local level, holy units, what level, to educate those vulnerable people who do not know the difference between A and B? But only answers to money, because it's difficult for them to even have 30 square minutes in a day. And when they have someone, we give them the opportunity to have five square minutes with just a few minutes, the key in. So these are things we should be asking ourselves before we start condemning government. I think we should condemn ourselves for not doing enough to get things right as it used to be. It is expected to be right. Let me just quickly ask you one question. Whose work is it to educate the people? Is it my job or the government's job? That's just the only question that I have. Whose job is it to educate the community? The community leaders. We don't need, what is government? Government has different names, but the community is out of stock of the community leaders. No, government is on the bottom. So who's saying, I mean, I understand what you're saying. So I understand that, you know, governance, as a matter of fact, is elections that are grassroots, that require grassroots strategy. Government itself is never bottom up. It's always top bottom. So for instance, a community that wants to do something that feels like it's great, if it's not constitutionally acceptable, it's on its own. If it doesn't have the wealth with it, if it doesn't have the funds, the people, the required elements and machinery to do what he wants to do, he can't do it. So government is always top bottom. It's never bottom up. However, so it's important that we understand. So is that a question of blaming government? Let me tell you exactly what the problem is. It's a systemic problem. See, I did some work with some people that gave me some exposure to how government works over the past couple of years. I assure you, there's actually structures and systems in place that were designed for the people to benefit. The problem is the people that manage these structures. For instance, that community that you're talking about, many of them are selfish.  Some people were not elected. Some people were appointed. They didn't spend any money. Commissioners are not elected. They are appointed. Ministers are not elected. They are appointed. So at what points do we now take responsibility for what you've been given? The responsibility, I mean, the position that you hold. The problem is service. We don't realize that leadership is service and service from the word servant.  The problem is we have put the thing upside down. So the person that's supposed to serve is being served. So it's an upside down thinking to say that, oh, the government in itself is systemically dysfunctional. And that's where you start from. Once a system is problematic, you put the people, we've had some of the best minds to be commissioners and ministers in Nigeria. Why didn't they work? If you want to look at the government, it's even not the elected government. The most corrupt sector, as we speak today, is the civil service and a little of the public service. Because it is the civil service that will actually educate and enlighten the public servants how they can steal. They are the one not making things work. And they are not elected. They are actually paid staff who will go steady. I know you will understand what I'm saying. And for us to wave forward is to please try to educate ourselves from bottom up, which is not expected to be. But this is how we have to get out of this mess. Okay, I think for me, my thoughts on this would be that I truly would just say that indeed for Nigeria at this point in time, it is indeed an SOS or gently need a government for the people. Because without any gains saying or any doubt about it, governance in Nigeria needs to be looked at, restructured or redefined. Because somehow we cannot have the kind of situation and the crisis that we have going on now. And we say that, oh yeah. So I would like to agree with you that, what is democracy as we are practicing it? What exactly is it that we need? Nigeria may need to actually define and understand what their own level of democracy is going to be and how it's going to work best for them. Because something, somewhere in the system seems to be broken. And maybe that's why I could say, look, at this point in time while we're still defining it, please let's find strength, let's get financial literacy and then maybe try to find access to the redesigned Naira that is somewhere roaming in the streets of Nigeria. Anyway, hidden. Very hidden, I would like to find it. So both old laws and new laws are hidden? I think some things are hidden somewhere and then your ATM cards are also hidden. Your ATM cards are also hidden and your transfers are hanging. So somewhere, please, let's be strengthened because Nigeria may not happen to us. Anyway, the end always seems to come too soon on the advocate. However, the advocacy continues on our social media platforms on Facebook, plus TV Africa, hashtag the advocate NG, or on Twitter and Instagram, and plus TV Africa, the hashtag the advocate NG. To catch up a previous broadcast, go to plusTVAfrica.com forward slash the advocate NG. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel plus TV Africa. Till next week, same time on this station, let's keep advocating for a better society. Bye.


He was gonna answer the phone real talk I knew he wasn't gonna be scared to tell me where he was it real talk. I knew He didn't mind break and breathe So if I told him a nigga wanted a feature and he said give me 25 hundred I knew I could tell him a low I charge them three and he gonna be like cool. You just I give you a five hundred out.     He wanted D4L chain Good kid man. Like what advice would you have for a guy like that trying to trying to push that brand forward? He just he just getting rights back to his father's, you know, all right. Well, I could say two things. Okay, I say one Before the advice, I'm gonna say this cuz this what I want my son.  Your daddy was a real nigga. Okay.   Your daddy was a real nigga That's that's that's love. Yeah, nigga.  So a lot of them niggas told Feel me. Mm-hmm.  I'm making up a talking.  Yeah, like and when I'm saying that I'm saying it Bruh dude was a player Like he just was cool to be around hang around.  You feel me like yeah, bro Solid solid