Calvin Arsenia

A Collaborative Solution for the Fundraising Problem.

Let's face it. Even though they are necessary, most corporate fundraising events are boring, unoriginal, and uninspired. When the director of Build Trybe, Theo Bunch, began to think about ways to raise support for his farming and vocational training program for foster care youth in Kansas City, he turned to the artist community for help. 

An annual fundraiser beginning in 2018 benefitting Build Trybe, a program in the Cornerstones of Care family, Savor the Sound is a creative and collaborative art experience that happens to have raised nearly $300K for the empowerment of foster care youth in Kansas City. 

The brain-child of visual and installation artist Christine "Chris" Dong and beloved harpist and musician Calvin Arsenia, Savor the Sound focuses on creating key moments oozing with delight where all five senses are stimulated simultaneously. It is a dinner, a concert, and a gallery intricately designed to wow and inspire generosity and social change from the heart of its community. 

Savor The Sound has been fortunate enough to have Chef Celina Tio as the resident chef since the project's inception in 2018. The songs and dishes are prepared together over the course of months through a process called "Kitchen Jams," where musicians bring their instruments and a hungry belly to Chef Tio's kitchen where conversations filled with laughter and gorgeous aromas abound. 

Over the years, other artists and musicians have been involved like: Cera Impala, Simon Huntley, Quixotic Fusion - Cirque Neavou, Kansas City Aerlal Arts, Evan Tedlock, The Wires String Duo, Xion Soundwaves, Alivia Nuñez, Eva Louise Hall, Teri Quinn, Alec Nicholas, and more! 

With the help of these Kansas City artists, Build Trybe has been able to create a vocational training program for young people in foster care to develop life-affirming tactical skills to provide a way for them to support themselves once they age out of the system.  The areas Build Trybe focuses on are Culinary, Agricultural, and Construction Trades. The young people spend time learning how to grow food from seed to fruit. They learn how to prepare the food they have grown to make nutritional meals for themselves and those they love. Then, they learn the skills to be able to share this food on hand-crafted furniture and table settings. All these skills are skills every human should have access to and contribute to a life of dignity.

The event generally happens in January or February, with announcements beginning in the fall. Every year, tickets sell out early. 

GET INVOLVED 

If you are interested in being involved as a musician, artist, or collaborator on the culinary team feel free to reach out to CalvinArsenia at gmail dot com.