Hand in Hand
The idea for Project Empathy was borne out of a conversation in January with a friend who teaches in China and was experiencing the threat of the coronavirus firsthand. In an attempt to comfort his students who, like him, were quarantined in their apartments, he sent out a message of empathy and encouragement to his kids that was obviously well received.
A few days later, I remembered a song my daughter had written in middle school that she used for a project to show how music could be used as therapy to help children in difficult situations. I sent the song across to him in China, offering it as a tool for when he next connected with his students. He came back with a request that it be presented in video format so that subtitles could run across the screen simultaneously so the kids could understand the intent of the song.
I elicited the help of two creative friends in Austin and Project Empathy was borne.
We started small by recording my daughter's voice and coming up with an idea of how to film her, but deep down I knew it could be so much more. I knew that if we involved more children on our end it would give them an opportunity to grow their empathy muscles, which would in turn make the project mutually beneficial to both parties.
I asked the middle school choir director if she would be interested in creating harmonies and performing alongside my daughter, she agreed. I asked the principal at the elementary school if the children might be interested in drawing pictures or writing letters expressing empathy to be included in the project, she said yes. I asked neighbors if their children would be willing to be extras in the filming portion of the project, and they gave their consent. Soon, this joint effort to creatively express our empathy through music and art became a connection point for our small community.
And this is what we present to you. A labor of love from a small community in Austin, Texas, to be shared with children quarantined the world over because of the coronavirus.
Empathy is knowing that we can’t change your situation, but we can offer to enter in to it with you – even from a distance – to say we see you, we feel with you, and we hope our music makes you feel like we are sitting right there with you, hand in hand, waiting for this storm to pass.
As thousands of children face isolation in their homes in the wake of COVID-19, we want to reach out and let them know they are not alone. “Hand in Hand” is a song for children, by children, to say that we see you, we feel with you, and whilst we cannot change your situation, we can sit with you in it offering comfort and hope.
Directed by: Sydney Parrish and Bowen Parrish
Video by: Sydney Parrish and Bowen Parrish
Creative Concept by: Carolyn Grant
Music and Lyrics by: Megan Grant and Trevor Romain
Hill Country Choir Director: Katy Bratton
Music Production by: Emily Devereaux
Featuring children from the Westlake community.