HELEN'S CONCERT benefiting Newark's Homeless
Helen's concert benefits Newark Empowerment Center (NEC) / Code Purple and  Willa Road Day Care (WRCC)
'Helen's Concert' represents the first benefit of the Newark faith community to raise funds to support a successful program to help the NEC/Code Purple.  

Have fun, hear wonderful music and help the homeless.  

HELEN AND TERRY'S BIO:  New York husband and wife team of "Helen Avakian and Terry Champlin", songwriters and guitarists, will perform their special brand of "folk meets classical" music in a CD release concert, benefitting NEC/Code Purple. Their show will include original folk songs and instrumentals, and a touch of Flamenco. Expect an afternoon of music that will touch your heart, along with a good dose of expressive guitar virtuosity. The concert will be Sunday, August 24, 2 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark, 420 Willa Rd, Newark DE. Tickets $10 For tickets and information, call *Lucille Karnik at (302) 239-0577.  We encourage you to reserve/purchase tickets in advance, as we expect a sell-out.
http://www.helenavakian.com
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ helenavakian
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ avakianchamplin
  (includes a commentary, description, brief bio information on both Terry and Helen)
       Helen and Terry have played together as a duo and with various ensembles for over a decade in a variety of settings including Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Bar Harbor Modern Music Festival, colleges, public television and radio.  *This past year the couple joined Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary to sing and play some of his classic tunes in the grand finale of his show. They also performed with Grammy award winning 'cellist Eugene Friesen who was once a member of the Delos String Quartet in residence at the University of Delaware. From lyrical mystery to fiery virtuosity, Terry Champlin and Helen Avakian's performances are "spellbinding." Their CD, "Musikos Peripatos (A Musical Stroll)" provides an enjoyable journey from Baroque to modern with styles encompassing traditional classical, Flamenco, Armenian folk and even a hint of jazz all in the medium of the classical guitar duet.
       Wilmington, Delaware native, Helen Avakian was voted number 1 "Favorite Acoustic Act" 4 times by Rhythm and News magazine. Helen has received raves from reviewers who call her "a rising star...extremely inspiring,, totally enjoyable! " as well as "incredibly nuanced and dynamic...transcendent." Helen is also an accompanist for the Flamenco dance program at Bard College and teaches at Marist College, Dutchess Community College and for the Fresh Air Fund Program under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation. Helen's album, /Vanishing Point,/ has received much acclaim and radio airplay. She will be celebrating the release of her latest CD, /I Love the Moon/ at this concert.
       Terry Champlin is a classical guitarist and composer whose works have been performed internationally. for all mediums, from orchestra to solo classical guitar. Originally educated as a theoretical physicist at MIT, Terry Champlin switched to music at the age of 21. He has written hundreds of pieces for all mediums, from orchestra to solo classical guitar. He has penned many songs in the folk genre as well. His music has been performed in Korea, Japan, Mexico, Greece and throughout Europe. Several of his recordings have been released on the "Viennese Modern Masters" label. Terry is on the faculties of Vassar College and Mannes College of Music in New York City. (Quotes from:  Vassar College Miscellany News, Linda Shell, More Sugar, Steve and Terri Massardo, talent bookers and hosts, John Street Jam)


WHAT IS THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER/CODE PURPLE?:  The effort represents a coalition of the Newark faith community now involving about 18 churches and synagogue.  All the faith community is welcome to participate.  The Newark program is professionally staffed by the Friendship House in Wilmington.  Friendship House is a non-profit organization committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people in need.  In addition to the Newark Empowerment Center and Code Purple, Friendship House works with over 100 faith communities in New Castle County and operates a network of 3 day centers, 2 feeding programs, 1 emergency shelter, 8 transitional housing programs, and the Clothing Bank of Delaware.
        The Newark Empowerment Center (NEC) hosted by the Newark United Methodist Church and professionally staffed by Bill Perkins, Executive Director of Friendship House, Marc Marcus, Assistant Director of Friendship House, and Mary Berlin and supported by a team of about 70 volunteers from the Newark community.  The Center operation has expanded from three days to four days per week and is now open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1 to 4 P.M.  During the first year of operation from March 2007 to March 2008, 499 unduplicated clients were served.  Many of these clients returned for multiple visits bringing the site contacts to 1,167.  The services are rendered with a "hand-up" rather than a "hand-out" approach.  This approach has demonstrated very high success in helping people make significant improvements in their quality of life and housing alternative.  The daily number of clients seeking assistance continues to increase.  The estimated budget for the second year of operation is a little over $50,000. Services rendered included Hospitality/Home Base;  GO bags/Hygiene kits, Food referrals, IDs (birth certificates and/or DMV). Code Purple Sanctuary was started last winter.  A Code Purple night was declared when life-threatening weather was forecast (typically wind chill below 15 degrees Fahrenheit).  Five area churches participated on a nightly rotation basis to host the Sanctuary and provide hospitality.  Each morning, a plan was suggested for each client to transition into more suitable shelter.  During the 12 nights this past winter, 44 unduplicated clients (57 total nights of shelter) were provided starting with just one person the first night.  'Code Purple' provides sanctuary (we avoid the term 'shelter') has completed its 1st year and was/is declared when the wind chill factor falls below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  On a rotating basis, each church in its turn opened its doors from sunset to sunrise to those people who might otherwise freeze to death.   We work with police, fire, the faith community, post notices on libraries and fast food restaurants where folks might go to seek shelter.  The goal Is not to create an alternative shelter, but to provide sanctuary to keep people from freezing and convince folks to get into an emergency winter shelter within the next 24 hours.  In the morning guests are provided with a light breakfast, meet with a Friendship House (Wilmington) case manager, encouraged to seek emergency shelter through Friendship House in Wilmington, and are provided transportation.  Volunteers provided hospitality, soup and bread, coffee & tea, conversation & games, a blanket, and a pallet on the floor.  Volunteers were trained in boundaries, police and hospital contacts.  In Newark, the new sanctuary ministry took a while to become known, but still served 44 unduplicated clients.  The first three nights saw only one or two people in need.  The last nine nights saw an average of 6 people, including a 70-year-old woman and a 4 year-old child.  This program will continue next winter.