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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Do you have the post-holiday season doldrums? For an uplifting experience, attend the Community Cinema Tuesday evening and view, “For Once in My Life.” This is a film about 29 unlikely people who form a band. Why “unlikely?” Because they all have disabilities ranging from autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy blindness, to behavioral disorders.
If you think of Goodwill as just a place to donate and purchase used clothing and goods, this movie will have you think again. Goodwill Industries includes a manufacturing plant where people of all backgrounds and experience are given a chance to become independent and gain self-respect. Whether sewing American flags or pockets for military garments, the handicapped work hard. Watching a woman deftly stitching a pocket using her only hand is impressive. She looks up, smiles and says, “I have magic fingers.”
The Spirit of Goodwill Band was formed at Goodwill Industries of South Florida in 1981 to encourage social and recreational skills with people who are handicapped. Some of the 29 people had never played an instrument before, never stood up in front of an audience. But, the band was open to everyone. All had one thing in common: A shared love of music and a dream to share their music with the world and prove a disability would not prevent them from performing.
Band director, Javier, proves to be a capable, patient and compassionate leader who weaves together the diverse and latent talents of his group into a functional entity. The joy and excitement emanating from his band is catching. One wants to stand up and dance. In fact, that is what happens when the band performs for a school group touring the Goodwill Industry plant. At first the students, in their staid uniforms and apprehensive faces, sit silent and stiff. Soon the music, the rhythm, the beat excite the group until they are swaying, dancing, laughing and loving every moment.
The Spirit of Goodwill band is “discovered” by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and music impresario Emilio Estefan and the band is invited to fulfill the dream of a lifetime and bring their music to the world. The occasion is the U.S. Mayor's Convention being held that year in Miami with an audience of over 1,000 people from 440 cities. The performance at the Center for Performing Arts leaves the audience cheering and the band hugging and cheering, too.
There are many poignant moments in this film, especially when given insight into the lives of several band members. To learn the cause of a disability, the difficulty families have coping with their handicapped children, the husbands who leave the wives alone to take care of a “not perfect” child, the father whose wife dies leaving him with two disabled children is heartbreaking. The ray of hope is how the power of music has transformed the handicapped and made life easier for these families.
To quote Jim Gibbons, president of Goodwill Industries, “For ‘Once in My Life' provides a message that is consistent with Goodwill's philosophy: The people we serve have the same potential and wants that we all possess. Just given the opportunity we can all do amazing things.”
If you think of Goodwill as just a place to donate and purchase used clothing and goods, this movie will have you think again. Goodwill Industries includes a manufacturing plant where people of all backgrounds and experience are given a chance to become independent and gain self-respect. Whether sewing American flags or pockets for military garments, the handicapped work hard. Watching a woman deftly stitching a pocket using her only hand is impressive. She looks up, smiles and says, “I have magic fingers.”
The Spirit of Goodwill Band was formed at Goodwill Industries of South Florida in 1981 to encourage social and recreational skills with people who are handicapped. Some of the 29 people had never played an instrument before, never stood up in front of an audience. But, the band was open to everyone. All had one thing in common: A shared love of music and a dream to share their music with the world and prove a disability would not prevent them from performing.
Band director, Javier, proves to be a capable, patient and compassionate leader who weaves together the diverse and latent talents of his group into a functional entity. The joy and excitement emanating from his band is catching. One wants to stand up and dance. In fact, that is what happens when the band performs for a school group touring the Goodwill Industry plant. At first the students, in their staid uniforms and apprehensive faces, sit silent and stiff. Soon the music, the rhythm, the beat excite the group until they are swaying, dancing, laughing and loving every moment.
The Spirit of Goodwill band is “discovered” by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and music impresario Emilio Estefan and the band is invited to fulfill the dream of a lifetime and bring their music to the world. The occasion is the U.S. Mayor's Convention being held that year in Miami with an audience of over 1,000 people from 440 cities. The performance at the Center for Performing Arts leaves the audience cheering and the band hugging and cheering, too.
There are many poignant moments in this film, especially when given insight into the lives of several band members. To learn the cause of a disability, the difficulty families have coping with their handicapped children, the husbands who leave the wives alone to take care of a “not perfect” child, the father whose wife dies leaving him with two disabled children is heartbreaking. The ray of hope is how the power of music has transformed the handicapped and made life easier for these families.
To quote Jim Gibbons, president of Goodwill Industries, “For ‘Once in My Life' provides a message that is consistent with Goodwill's philosophy: The people we serve have the same potential and wants that we all possess. Just given the opportunity we can all do amazing things.”
January Community Cinema in the Grand Valley
--Grand Junction
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m. Recital Hall, Moss Performing Arts Center Mesa State College Free campus parking for this event A community discussion will follow the Grand Junction screening with representatives from the Center For Independence, Goodwill Industries and Mesa Developmental Services. --Palisade Saturday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. Palisade Library, 711 Iowa St. --Fruita Wednesday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. Dinosaur Journey Museum, 550 Jurassic Court |
