World Kindness Day Benefit for the Homeless Hospitality Center

In celebration of World Kindness Day, The Connecticut Hope Collective is performing to benefit the New London Homeless Hospitality Center which provides hospitality and a bridge to permanent housing for adults experiencing homelessness in southeastern Connecticut.

This event was organized by Dot Ames, radio host of WCNI, TV host of Gramma’s Attic, columnist for Soundwaves Magazine, organizer of the inaugural New London World Kindness Day events in 2024 and current candidate for New London City Council.

The Connecticut Hope Collective is a group of friends and songwriters trying to put something beautiful in the world by helping our neighbors in need. Founded in the summer of 2024, Frank Critelli and Erik Rabasca co-wrote “Just Get To It” over a couple of kitchen table sessions, imagining The Band writing “We Are The World”. “This song’s been sung so many times” yet people still struggle to pay bills and feed themselves. The single was released exclusively on Bandcamp in December ‘24 to raise money for the Beth-El Center serving homeless and food insecure individuals and families and debuted at a local benefit concert at Milford Arts Council (aka The MAC) in Milford, CT. It’s this spirit of service through music that drives this collective.

With decades of original music creation among them, these veterans of the Connecticut songwriters have released dozens of albums and singles in the last 10 years alone. The Bargain (Frank Critelli, Muddy Rivers, Shandy Lawson individually and solo), Brian Larney, Chris Bousquet aka American Elm/Electric Elm, Inner Groove (Denise Jones & Tom Sekscenski), Lys Guillorn, Still Rivers (Muddy & Chandra Rivers), Erik Rabasca, Bobo Lavorgna (bass) and Jim Stavris (drums) have all played local and regional venues and festivals and have toured the northeast and the country. Some have performed internationally. When the forces align, it is always a spirited performance with community and service in the air.