Notes for Nets: What’s the Big Deal? by Matthew, Faiths Act Portland co-ordinator

If the world is waiting for an interfaith success story, then I can provide one: 

 The driving force behind this year’s Notes for Nets concert was an interfaith group called FaithsAct Portland.  The benefit concert raised $3,500 to help prevent the spread and effects of malaria specifically within the communities of Yirimadjo, Mali. 

I have worked with FaithsAct Portland for over six months.  We have worked together in many ways within our local community, and we have also gotten help to people who needed it half a world away.  We raised enough money to protect hundreds of people from the adverse effects of malaria, a disease that plagues poverty stricken countries in our world.

When Katie and Erin asked for ways that we could raise support to combat malaria I suggested a concert, "Notes for Nets."  Little did I know that they would take this idea and run with it!  We booked Seattle-based artists David Bazan and Shannon Stephens, and my group with Sonya Yun joined them to put on a great show for our cause. 

So what’s the big deal?  The big deal is that $3,500 dollars was raised for mothers, children, and families on the other side of the world by a group of people who were willing to put action ahead of dispute.  FaithsAct had followers of many different religious backgrounds (and even an Atheist and Agnostic or two) who agreed that faith is a valuable tool for good in this world.  Differences were put aside without negative result:  the group focused on being a positive force in a world of negative faith-based news and conflict. 

I am proud to have been a part of FaithsAct and Notes for Nets 2010.  I am grateful to all the members of FaithsAct Portland and the Notes for Nets crew.  Special thanks should be given to Erin Toolis and Katie Myers of FaithAct Portland, Project Muso, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, and Jason Fileta and George Lee from the Micah Challenge.  There are so many other people to thank, but those 4 individuals and the individuals from the organizations mentioned above helped us create a successful, working group of dedicated people hungry for a world in which faith fuels peace and not conflict.

-Matthew Haussler

FaithsAct Portland Coordinator