What Was Said  In May and June the Community Engagement Network hosted Conversations addressing the topic Benchmarking Equity. While we did not take the advisability of benchmarking as a given, the premise of the discussions was that without some form of accountability, statements committing to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can easily be as toothless as “thoughts and prayers” about gun violence. – Doug Borwick
America Slow Dance  That’s the name of a variation on “America the Beautiful” that I wrote for Min Kwon’s America/Beautiful project.
But wait … what IS that? – Greg Sandow
Hello, Toscanini. And Hello, Doris Day — Hiding out from 2021 in the 1950s  On many days lately, the last places I’ve wanted to be are 2020 and 2021. I’ve been retreating to the 1950s, creating in my apartment a musical time capsule. That’s thanks to Brooklynites who have been clearing out their closets while stuck at home, finding all manner of LP records and depositing them in second-hand stores, where I’ve stumbled upon them at giveaway prices. Those neighbors have allowed their past to be my present. – David Patrick Stearns
Mark George prepares youth through music education  The President & CEO of the Music Institute of Chicago shares about the evolving responsibility of preparing youth for society through music education. – Aaron Dworkin
Queer Cutlets at Judy’s Cafe  Stuck like a plum in a pound cake for a decade at The Philadelphia Inquirer, I wondered where to eat. A colleague knew I needed a spot to eat that would make me feel like myself, so he took me — so I recall, maybe he recommended it — to Judy’s Cafe, on South 3rd and Bainbridge in, yes, Queen Village. – Jeff Weinstein
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