Local organisations collaborate on Covid-19 support concert

A great big concert, featuring head lining singers and musicians from all around the globe will take place on Saturday 30 May at 7pm – 9.30 pm, and is accessible online. It will support all those behind the scenes COVID 19 heroes, including first responders, and many different families in Cayman that have been hit by COVID 19, including those whose members may be struggling due to job loss, or loss of business.

The concert, which can be accessed at https://motivationalmessages.org/ is the culmination of a series of positive motivational messages for millennials, and is being put together by three different groups, including Organizations collaborating on the project include the Ashley Shillingford Positive Living Foundation (ASPLF); the Salt Light City Ministry, a local ministry focused on young millennials; the Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church; and Cayman Academy PTA. The Motivational Messages team has collaborated with Resilience Cayman, BHAC and the Alex Panton Foundation.

The event will be a mixture of global music offerings and comedy. International artists will include winners of NBC's, “The Sing Off,” ‘Committed,’ ‘Oakwood University Aeolians,’ and ‘Paul Lee’ an artist of international renown who was invited to perform at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle. Other stars performing during the evening will include the Williams Family from Bodden Town, and their angel-voices in four-part harmony, and Reggae artist Conkahra from Jamaica. There will also be a section from Dr. Dexter Thomas.

“As with the motivational message series, the concert seeks to focus on promoting positive emotional health in our youth and First Responders who are facing unprecedented pressures, anxieties and stress linked to the Corona Virus Pandemic. Not only will the concert feature the best in music and comedy, it will also feature a Positive Emotional Health segment by a trained Mental Health Professional,” said Angeline Shillingford, who founded the Ashlely Shillingford Positive Living Foundation for Positive Living (ASFPL) with her husband, Dr. Andy Shillingford in honour of their 14-year-old daughter Ashley who died during the Covid crisis and who battled anxiety.

“It is our desire to partner with the school and community to promote the Christian legacy of Ashley to ensure that as many students are equipped with the emotional tools necessary to live a healthy, productive life,” Mrs Shillingford said.

The whole initiative is being led by Dr. Wrendon Timothy, well-known local youth and teacher advocate. Commenting on the contribution of this Covid-19-based initiative, programme organiser Dr. Timothy, who is also First Elder at the Ebenezer Church, said, “As a church body, other than the food donations we are currently donating to persons in need, we are determined to give something back to the community that is of an intangible but equally valuable nature.”

Persons interested in contributing to ASFPL may contact Mrs. Shillingford at 926-1384.