Hiawatha students learn about culture through stories and song
Longfellow resident and folksinger Larry Long is helping children understand different cultures through stories and song. Through his “Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song” (EWCS) program, he is working with students at Hiawatha School, who interviewed three community elders and worked with them to create songs based on their stories.
The celebration will take place at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13. It is sponsored by Community Celebration of Place in partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. Sanford Middle School will also have an EWCS celebration at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12.
Created 30 years ago by Long, his EWCS intergenerational program is supported through his non-profit Community Celebration of Place. The program uses story and song to overcome barriers sometimes imposed by age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and class.
Long, a Smithsonian Folkways recording artist, has come back to Hiawatha to do his EWCS program several years in a row.
“My granddaughter goes there now,” he said. “She’s in kindergarten. I live in the neighborhood. It’s my neighborhood elementary school. There’s a special connection there. I come back because I love Hiawatha School.”
Even though Long has been doing his EWCS program for 30 years, he never tires of meeting new people.
“I’m always humbled by the people who come through the door,” he said. “Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song helps teach resilience. The elders share some tough stories. It reinforces life can be tough sometimes, but you can persevere and learn from your mistakes.”
The EWCS program has definitely changed since Long first started doing it.
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