07/05/2017
WO+AH! What a weekend, Haverhill. You have supported and nourished this dream since day one. O+ Festival is so much more than a festival, and the LO+VE resonating throughout our community yesterday was proof of that. Thank YO+U to our amazing volunteers who did so much more than show up, but also believed in the mission of O+ and educated so many of the importance now more than ever. Every venue ran smoothly because of your dedication and care! Thank YO+U Andrew Ryan & Sarah E LoVasco for giving the creative community a stage, a canvas, a place to exchange their medicine of art. Thank YO+U to the twenty bands that performed throughout downtown through all kinds of weather, and at one point, under a rainbow... We loved watching you play and sharing your stories of receiving wellness care! Thank YO+U to the visual artists, Haverhill's own Brian Canty who gifted downtown with a permanent mural, to Stetz Art and Keysi De Los Santos for sharing their talent and time live painting...Look out for an additional piece of work that took place during the weekend! Thank YO+U Golden Artist Colors for donating not only paint, but also eye exams for our artists! Thank YO+U to the wonderful venues and partners; Haverhill Better Block, Chit Chat Lounge, the Acoustic Alley at Tap Brewing Company, Riverside Cycle Haverhill, Giving Tree Yoga & Wellness, and Ocasio's True Martial Arts for opening your space to our musicians and EXPLO+RE teachers! Thank you to the yoga, meditation, gong bath, and martial arts instructors who shared wellness classes with the entire community! Thank You to Battle Grounds Coffee Company for hosting the Literary SALO+N. A Huge thanks to The Common Sage writing group based in Lawrence, Susan Lafortune, James A. Moore, Christopher Golden, Christine Constanza, and all the writers and dreamers involved! Thank YO+U Donna Spencer Collins and the Phoenix Rising United Church of Christ family for believing in just what you heard of O+ and giving your labor of love to see it through. You let us transform your space into the O+ pop-up Clinic, which was filled with incredible LO+VE. The exchange that took place there was magical! thank you Corina Palmer for gracefully taking on the intensive role of Clinic Coordinator! THANK YO+U to the art loving practitioners who donated their time caring for the artists, musicians, and volunteers! You are the foundation of this festival! Thank YO_U Sarah Blackstone and HC Media for covering this weekend! Thank you to the O+ FESTIVAL team, headquartered in Kingston, NY, for sharing your vision with us. Joe Concra, Denise Orzo, Aimee Gardner, Theresa Lyn Widmann, Shannon D. Light, Kathleen Murray, Rob Galeano, and Micah Blumenthal, you inspired us to bring a piece of this transformative event to our town. Your support, your guidance, and your friendship has given us the strength to see this through. Thank you to our sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Co, and thank you Haverhill Cultural Council for gifting us with a grant to cover much of the expenses, including the beautiful AIDS Memorial Quilt. Thank you to the community of Haverhill for opening your heart to O+ Festival. So many of you made this happen. We LO+VE YO+U! This is just the beginning!
