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*Dec 4*: Retrain Your Lizard Brain

What: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness and Resilience When: Thu, Sept 25, Nov 11, *Dec 4*, 6:30-8:30 p.m. ...

Sunday, November 16, 2025

*Dec 5*, Jan 9: Songs for Tending Our Hearts

When it feels like the world is falling apart, when everything is literally on fire, singing in community together heals and centers us—we’re not alone.

Our culture desperately needs spaces where it is safe to feel your sorrow and the weight of the world. Come sing through the small and large griefs in your life and give them space to breathe.

Dates: 
- Friday, December 5, 2025
- Friday, January 9, 2026
Time:  7:30-9p
Where: Yess Yoga
105 E 26th St, Mpls

Song leaders Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson (aka GOOD TROUBLE)
hold care-filled circles for you to find freedom in your voice, de-stress your nervous system, and move your body.

Every voice is welcome! We teach all the songs call and response- just open your mouth and echo back. We’ll sing songs to ground you, heal you, and help you breathe in the days to come.

Pre-register + pay what you can here: https://www.yessyogastudio.com/yoga-workshops/
$5-$20 sliding scale (No one turned away for lack of funds; we want you there!) You can also pay on the door.


**Notes**
Masks May Be Required when Covid is surging. Masks will be available.
- We're in a yoga studio, so we ask people to leave their shoes at the entrance to keep the studio clean. If you want to bring a clean pair of indoor shoes to support your feet that's fine. Thank you!
- We'll be in the second floor studio.  Folks can choose to use the elevator or the stairs.
Seating:  There are a variety of yoga mats, bolsters, and blankets available, plus folding chairs for those who prefer not to be on the floor.  

Transit: Buses 11 and 18 are a block away.  (https://www.metrotransit.org/)
BikesThere is a bike rack out in front of the studio.
Parking: can be kind of tight around here.  Yess Yoga does have a parking lot adjacent to the studio off the alley (map), but it's not huge so leave yourself some extra time to find a spot!  

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Oct 24: The BIPOC Good Cry

 


What:  The BIPOC Good Cry

When:  Friday, Oct 24, 7-9 p.m.

Where:  Meraki Community, 100 W 46th St., Minneapolis
(where Yoga Sanctuary is; former Solomon's Porch building)

More details on Facebook.

*Dec 4*: Retrain Your Lizard Brain




What: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness and Resilience
When: Thu, Sept 25, Nov 11, *Dec 4*, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: New City Center for Healing Justice, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis

How do we rewire our brains from the lies the domination system baked into us? How can we uproot and compost the harms from patriarchy, capitalism, ableism, oppression ugh ugh ugh and root down instead into our dignity, worth, and interconnectedness?

Singing is one way to start rewiring your brain and helping your body live into a different story. One breath at a time, one phrase at a time, repeated over and over in community, til we live and sing our way into a new way of being together, belonging to one another.

This isn’t singing for performance or perfection; this is singing for healing and connection. We’d love you to join us.

Suggested donation $10-50; No one turned away for lack of funds, we want you there.


What to bring with you: 
- A mask!  Those pesky viruses are still going around!  Keep everyone in your community safe.
- Water to drink!
- A yoga mat and/or seating that works for you.  This work invites full body participation so bring items that will support you being on the floor and on your feet.  Chairs are available for those who need them.

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Sept 25: Retrain Your Lizard Brain at New City

What:  Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness and Resilience

When:  Thu, Sept 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: New City Center for Healing Justice, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis 

How do we rewire our brains from the lies the domination system baked into us? How can we uproot and compost the harms from patriarchy, capitalism, ableism, oppression ugh ugh ugh and root down instead into our dignity, worth, and interconnectedness?

Singing is one way to start rewiring your brain and helping your body live into a different story. One breath at a time, one phrase at a time, repeated over and over in community, til we live and sing our way into a new way of being together, belonging to one another.

This isn’t singing for performance or perfection; this is singing for healing and connection. We’d love you to join us.

Suggested donation $10-50; No one turned away for lack of funds, we want you there.

Setlist for Good Trouble's set at 9/20 Coming Together

Dear Friends,

If you're reading this, you might have joined Good Trouble at Pershing Park in Minneapolis on Saturday morning (Sept 20) for Coming Together: Singing for Courage, Resilience, + Hope.  Thanks for joining us!

Here is the list of the songs we sang with links to online recordings:

* no known recording online. Please share in the comments if you find one!


Much 
gratitude to the Fulton Neighborhood Association for sponsoring the overall event and Pershing Park staff for hosting the event and a rain location if needed.    

We would love to have you be part of the community that sings and makes life together, feeling all of the griefs and celebrations. Join our mailing lists (both of us have one) for upcoming song circle announcements by sending your email to goodtrouble@pointsoflightmusic.net with a subject line of "Pls add me to your singing list".

Notes on Instruments

Monday, September 8, 2025

*Nov 20* Dec 9: MSP MMC Gatherings

Fall 2025 Music that Makes Community Gatherings in the Twin Cities Metro


**Confirm dates, times, and locations on MMC's Community Events calendar**

September 2025

Date: September 18, 2025
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Location: University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis








October 2025

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2025
Time: 6-7 p.m.

Location: Zion Lutheran Church, 1697 Lafond Ave, St. Paul







November 2025

Date: Nov 20, 2025
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Location: University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis







December 2025

Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Time: TBA

Location: St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Sunfish Lake




Fall 2025: Dances of Universal Peace in St. Paul (*Nov 2* Dec 7)


What: Dances of Universal Peace, aka Sufi Dancing

When: First Sundays, 6:30-8:45 p.m.
Upcoming Dates: September 7, October 5, November 2 December 7, 2025

Where: Twin Cities Friends Meetinghouse, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul, MN

More details on Meetup.com

Sept 20: Come Together: Singing for Courage, Resilience, and Hope


Coming Together:  Singing for Courage, Resilience, and Hope

DaySaturday, September 20th (rain or shine)
Time10 am - 1 pm 
WherePershing Park, 3523 W 48th St, Minneapolis

Singing together is one of the best ways we have to find hope in hard times and anchor our courage for the work to come. Community singing is open to all: if it would lift your spirits, we hope you will join us.
Every voice is welcome – there's no sheet music and you don't need to "know what you're doing,” just simply open your mouth and echo back line by line.
We'll teach simple, easy to learn songs to help us connect, heal, and create joy together.

Schedule!

𝟭𝟬 𝗮𝗺- 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘆!

Fun with songs, instruments, and dancing scarves with Liz, aimed at ages 0-6 with caregivers.

𝟭𝟭 𝗮𝗺- 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:

For all ages! with GOOD TROUBLE, aka Liz Digitale Anderson and Conie Borchardt

𝟭𝟮 𝗽𝗺- 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗠. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿:

Circle songs, spontaneous singing, and musical improv games: magic created on the spot together!

Come for one session or stay for them all!


What to Bring

  • Your voice, a water bottle, a blanket or a camp chair to sit on
  • Bring a picnic lunch and stay to play in the park afterwards!
  • If it's raining, we'll be indoors in the gym at Pershing Park.

This family-friendly event is FREE thanks to the Fulton Neighborhood Association. 

Fall 2025: Heart Songs (*Nov 3* 17 Dec 1, 15)


What: Heart Songs: Lament, Longing, & Love 

(an online community space for you to bring your heart and your voice)
When: 6:30-8p CDT (05-UTC until Daylight Savings Time ends)

Dates for Fall 2025:

  • September 8, 22
  • October 6, 20
  • November 3, 17
  • December 1, 15, 29
Where: Online: https://zoom.us/j/431161455 (see call-in options on Heart Songs' main page)

Gather for an informal singing time to re-center our hearts in community. Simple songs will be led paperlessly/taught by ear by Conie Borchardt, Nancy W, Sarah M, other song leaders, and you, if you have a song to share.

Join us. Bring friends. (Signup for the email reminder here; select Heart Songs)

Songs will be about the human experience and in that way, spiritual in nature, but not specifically religious.

This is a space intended for self-care, however that shifts for you in every moment. Bring water. Come and go. Sit in a chair, lie on the floor, or stand as you need to.

Friday, September 5, 2025

Setlist for 9/4 Singing for Grief: After Annunciation

Dear Friends,

If you're reading this, you might have attended the Singing for Grief: after Annunciation circle at Creekside UCC in Minneapolis on Thursday night, September 4, 2025. Though this tragedy should not have happened, we take solace in feeling our grief together through song, in community.

I, Conie, was listening to a podcast of Francis Weller and Thomas Hubl, the morning after this, speaking of Grief Rituals and Soul Hygiene and Embracing the Wisdom of Grief, and commend them to you if creating communal space for grief is new to you.

Here is the list of the songs we sang with links to online recordings:

  • Holding Song (Ian Carrick) - Instagram video + Bandcamp audio with parts
  • We Know that Grief is Boundless* (Sarina Partridge) - many of Sarina's songs are on SoundCloud and Bandcamp, but this one is not so we are sharing her website so you can explore the many aspects of MSP local Sarina.
  • The Center Will Hold (text: Brene Brown, from Atlas of the Heart; music: clb) -  Mixcord video 
  • Don’t numb to this (Abigail Bengson) - Instagram video
  • Grief (Sarina Partridge) - Bandcamp audio + SoundCloud audio
  • Stone by Stone (Taya Ma) - Bandcamp audio
  • One Body (Ahlay Blakely) - Instagram video + included in Bandcamp album "Wails: Songs for Grief" 
  • We Belong to Each Other (words: James Baldwin; tune: Annie Rambeau) -  SoundCloud audio 
  • Carry This All (Ahlay Blakely) - Bandcamp audio 
* no known recording online. Please share in the comments if you find one!

Writings included: 

  • from Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. adrienne maree brown
  • "Every bombed village is my hometown".  James Baldwin
Much gratitude to Bree and Linnea of Creekside UCC for welcoming this circle into their space and supporting it so abundantly.  Deep bows to the three therapists who volunteered their time to hold the hearts and voices of those who wanted more support.  

We are so heartened by each of you who attended.  Whether you had close ties to Annunciation Church and School or just have the tender heartstrings feeling our interconnectedness to this tragedy and the ones that have come before it, I (Conie) trust that all of us are doing the work of listening to the pain of grief that is current and present and also that of our ancestors that has gone unheard, unprocessed, and is among the ghosts surrounding us (listen to the first episode above). There is so much work we need to do in this space of communal grief and I'm glad we all took a step towards tending that last night.  

We would love to have you be part of the community that sings and makes life together, feeling all of the griefs and celebrations. Below are a few events coming up that you are invited to. If you'd like to be added to the email lists (both of us have one) for song circle announcements, please send your email to goodtrouble@pointsoflightmusic.net with a subject line of "Pls add me to email list".

Notes on Instruments

  • CajonTab by Louson Drum - Get to know a bit of the cajon's musical history here. (Here's an affiliate link to get 10% off).
  • Shruti Box, literally "sound" or "singing" in ancient Sankrit, replicates the sound of the Tambura, an East Asian Indian drone instrument. Part of the family of drone instruments that show up in many cultures, related to bagpipes and harmoniums. Conie's instrument is from Shrutibox.com, run by Ron Kravitz of https://www.musicinthemoment.com/ in Philadelphia, PA; Ron has recently retired and is pointing folks to https://www.shrutibox.co.uk/. (Talk to Conie if you're thinking about buying new or used).

Upcoming Events

Coming together: Singing for Courage, Resilience and Hope 

  When: Sat, Sept 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Where: Pershing Park, 3523 W 48th St. Mpls
  More Details: Facebook





Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience

  When:  Thu, Sept 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  WhereNew City Center, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls
  RSVP: coming soon.


Songs For Tending Our Hearts:  a song circle for grief and the weight of the weary world. 

  When:  TBA
  Where:  Yess Yoga, 105 E 26th St, Mpls
  Pre-register + pay what you can: Yess Yoga's website:  https://www.yessyogastudio.com/yoga-workshops/

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Setlist from 8/13 BIPOC Centered Sing about Water

Dear Friends,

If you're reading this, you probably attended the BIPOC Centered SING about Water in St. Paul on Wednesday night, August 13, 2025. Thanks so much for joining us!

Here is the list of the songs we sang with links to online recordings:

* no known recording online. Please share in the comments if you find one!

Here's some notes on Instruments


Gratitude to Asha Shoffner of St. Paul Parks and Recreation and the Capital Region Watershed District for organizing this event.  

If you'd like to be added to Conie's BIPOC song circle list, please your request and email to goodtrouble@pointsoflightmusic.net.

May we sing together soon!   

Conie, Aimee, and Asha.


Monday, August 11, 2025

August 2025 Events: BIPOC + MMC MSP


Mon, August 11 - Heart Songs Online



Wednesday August 13 - BIPOC Water Sing

Time:  6-8pm
Location:  St. Paul river location

We are inviting all BIPOC folks to the river to come sing about water!

No registration is required — just show up, bring a chair (if you want to sit), your dinner (if you want to eat), water/something to drink, and any percussion or non-amplified instruments you know how to play.

Email Asha.shoffner@ci.stpaul.mn.us for location info and the link to add songs about water that you’d like to sing!


Monday, August 25 - Singing for Liberation


Wednesday, August 27 - MMC Mpls-St. Paul Gathering




Thursday, August 28 - Sacred Lands SING @ Land Alliance Folk School, near Iowa City, IA

Friday, August 29-Monday, September 1 - Singing Rabbit @ Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Rutledge, MO

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Aug 29-Sept 1: Singing Rabbit, A Community Singing Event



What:  Singing Rabbit, A Community Singing Event
When:  Labor Day Weekend, Friday evening, August 29-Monday noon, September 1, 2025
Where:  Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Rutledge, Missouri

More details here.



Summer 2025 MMC Events

Music that Makes Community - Summer 2025

in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

When: 
Monday, July 21, 2025
6:30-8 p.m.

Where: 
Morningside Hills UCC
4201 Morningside Rd, Edina, MN

--

Elsewhere

Check out the Calendar on the MMC website for more details on what's happening in Kansas City on July 13, Detroit on July 15 and July 17 and beyond.

Setlist from Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging: A weekend retreat for multi-cultural folks from rural space

Dear Friends, 

If you're reading this, you probably attended the Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging retreat for multi-cultural folks from rural spaces from Friday, July 4 through Sunday, July 6, 2025 in Collegeville. 

Here is the list of the songs we sang over the weekend with links to online recordings.


* no known recording online. Please share in the comments if you find one!
** the composer/catcher of this song is not known to us. If you do know, please pass it on in the comments. :)

Here's some notes on Instruments

Gratitude for Episcopal House of Prayer at Collegeville for providing the gift of this Community Retreat.  

May all of these resources support you in your work and in your rest.

Conie and Kathryn G.


Monday, July 7, 2025

Aug 8: Songs for Tending Our Hearts



When it feels like the world is falling apart, when everything is literally on fire, singing in community together heals and centers us—we’re not alone.

Our culture desperately needs spaces where it is safe to feel your sorrow and the weight of the world. Come sing through the small and large griefs in your life and give them space to breathe.

When: Friday August 8, 7:30-9p
Where: Yess Yoga
105 E 26th St, Mpls

Song leaders Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson (aka GOOD TROUBLE)
hold care-filled circles for you to find freedom in your voice, de-stress your nervous system, and move your body.

Every voice is welcome! We teach all the songs call and response- just open your mouth and echo back. We’ll sing songs to ground you, heal you, and help you breathe in the days to come.

Pre-register + pay what you can here: https://www.yessyogastudio.com/yoga-workshops/
$5-$20 sliding scale (No one turned away for lack of funds; we want you there!) You can also pay on the door.


**Notes**
- Masks May Be Required when Covid is surging. Masks will be available.
- We're in a yoga studio, so we ask people to leave their shoes at the entrance to keep the studio clean. If you want to bring a clean pair of indoor shoes to support your feet that's fine. Thank you!
- We'll be in the second floor studio.  Folks can choose to use the elevator or the stairs.
- Seating:  There are a variety of yoga mats, bolsters, and blankets available, plus folding chairs for those who prefer not to be on the floor.  

- Transit: Buses 11 and 18 are a block away.  (https://www.metrotransit.org/)
- Bikes:  There is a bike rack out in front of the studio.
- Parking: can be kind of tight around here.  Yess Yoga does have a parking lot adjacent to the studio off the alley (map), but it's not huge so leave yourself some extra time to find a spot!  

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Summer 2025: Heart Songs (*July 7*, August 11)

 

What: Heart Songs: Lament, Longing, & Love (an online community space for you to bring your heart and your voice)

When: 6:30-8p CDT (05-UTC until Daylight Savings Time ends)

Dates for Summer 2025:
  • June 9
  • July 7
  • August 11
Where: Online: https://zoom.us/j/431161455 (see call-in options on Heart Songs' main page)

Gather for an informal singing time to re-center our hearts in community. Simple songs will be led paperlessly/taught by ear by Conie Borchardt, Nancy W, Sarah M, other song leaders, and you, if you have a song to share.

Join us. Bring friends. (Signup for the email reminder here; select Heart Songs)

Songs will be about the human experience and in that way, spiritual in nature, but not specifically religious.

This is a space intended for self-care, however that shifts for you in every moment. Bring water. Come and go. Sit in a chair, lie on the floor, or stand as you need to.

Friday, May 16, 2025

Jul 4-6: Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging: a retreat for multicultural folks from rural spaces


What:  Redefining Independence + Reweaving Belonging: a retreat for multicultural folks with rural experiences
When:  Friday, July 4-Sunday, July 6, 2025 
Where:  Episcopal House of Prayer, Collegeville, MN

As multi-cultural* folks from rural settings on Turtle Island, we are immersed in a narrative of independence that isolates and weakens instead of making us strong. Out of necessity, many of us understood belonging as fitting in with low amounts of safety, comfort, and autonomy.

In this retreat, we take a step in redefining independence and reweaving belonging by sharing our stories, singing together, and dreaming our way towards a different way of being. We’ll practice belonging to self, while supporting each other’s growth as we practice becoming an interdependent community.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

May 20: PoLiMu recommends Grief + Gratitude Community Ritual

Grief + Gratitude: A Ritual Evening for These Here Times
With songs by Liz Digitale Anderson

Tuesday May 20th
Arrival + settling in 6 pm
Singing 6:30-8:30 pm

IN-PERSON**:  
New City Center for Healing Justice
3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis

LIVESTREAM OPTION:  
*Friends in other places, the event link will livestreamed on Zoom - it's not going to be a true interactive hybrid, but more a way for folx elsewhere to sing along with us and add to their toolkit of grounding and resilience in these times. It's a bit of a trial run for some equipment we're testing out and we'd love your feedback on how this goes!
Register in advance for this event & reminders:

Free and open to all; suggested donation $0-$25

**Masks up for singing indoors please, thank you <3**

**********************************
"What are we gonna do with all this grief?"-- Prentis Hemphill
"We're gonna sing our way, sing our way through."-- Liz

How can singing meet this moment to usher in personal, cultural, and structural change?
How can singing serve our collective liberation?
How can our community bring this vision to life?

These are the questions I’ve been asking over the past few years, and the songs I've been catching and writing to sing together to try and answer them. I'd love you to join me for an evening of teaching some old and new songs and weaving them together in ritual. We'll use the space, somatics, and song to help us process these here times we're living in together.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1213267597158685/

May 30: Songs for Tending Our Hearts

When it feels like the world is falling apart, when everything is literally on fire, singing in community together heals and centers us—we’re not alone.

Our culture desperately needs spaces where it is safe to feel your sorrow and the weight of the world. Come sing through the small and large griefs in your life and give them space to breathe.

When: May 30, 7:30-9p
Where: Yess Yoga

105 E 26th St, Mpls

Song leaders Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson (aka GOOD TROUBLE) hold care-filled circles for you to find freedom in your voice, de-stress your nervous system, and move your body.

Every voice is welcome! We teach all the songs call and response- just open your mouth and echo back. We’ll sing songs to ground you, heal you, and help you breathe in the days to come.

Pre-register + pay what you can here: https://www.yessyogastudio.com/yoga-workshops/
$5-$20 sliding scale (No one turned away for lack of funds; we want you there!) You can also pay on the door.


**Notes**
- Masks May Be Required when Covid is surging. Masks will be available.
- Parking can be kind of tight around this block - leave yourself some extra time to find a spot!
- As we're in a yoga studio, we ask people to leave their shoes at the entrance to keep the studio clean. If you want to bring a clean pair of indoor shoes to support your feet that's fine. Thank you!

May 22-25: MMC in New England


We're be in New England later this month!  Join us for ...

  • a Community SING in Hartford, CT on Thursday evening, May 22
  • a 1-Day Community Singing Workshop in Hudson, MA on Saturday, May 24
  • a Community SING in Boston, MA on Sunday afternoon, May 25
Find all the details to register on the MMC website.

May 18: Street Song Concert


Good Trouble has been delighted to be the co-directors for Street Song, a choir of folks who have experienced homelessness and those who love them. We're having a season finale concert soon with Chorus Polaris and Ken Medema.  Join us!

When:  Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m.

Where:  Westminster Hall at Westminster Presbyterian, 1200 S. Marquette Ave, Mpls

Tickets:  https://givebutter.com/A-Place-to-Call-Home

Monday, April 14, 2025

Apr 22: Spirit of Peace Meditation [In Person]


What:  Spirit of Peace Meditation - In Person!

When:  Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Where:  South Minneapolis, email for location

--

What is this?  Read more about this practice here and join us in practicing seeing the love and light in each other and recommitting our strength to the cause of love.  

*May 13*: Retrain Your Lizard Brain


What: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness and Resilience
When: Tuesday, April 15 + May 13, 2025, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: New City Center, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
Register: Eventbrite.  Sliding scale.  

Masks up please!
See details from previous events here.  

We welcome walk-in registration, so come even if the Eventbrite is closed.  You can make a donation on Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute's GiveMN site with a note "Lizard Brain" and the date.   
--

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Apr 24: Dances of Universal Peace in Dubuque, IA

 


What:  A Taste of the Dances of Universal Peace

When:  Thursday, April 24, 7-8:30 p.m.

Where:  Shalom Spirituality Center, Dubuque, Iowa

RSVP here.

An offering associated with the Blessing Way Aramaic Jesus Retreat on April 25-27.