Healing Arts Walk

The Unifier Festival — a healing and expressive arts world music festival — is inviting the public to participate in an eight-township community walk from Amherst to Tolland, MA, June 20-22, to raise awareness about our food systems.

The three-day, 45-mile walk will begin June 20 on the Amherst Town Common and pass through eight townships (Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, Easthampton, Southampton, Westfield, Granville, and Tolland) across Western Massachusetts before concluding in Tolland on June 22, to highlight the start of the festival. The Unifier Festival, June 22-24, is the largest annual event in the town of Tolland, and will feature over 100 musicians, each chosen for the heart and spirit that shines through their work.

Jason Cohen, founder of the festival and organizer of the walk, said the goal is to collect food donations at the end of each day’s walk as a way of demonstrating that no American should ever go hungry in this land of abundance. We’re seeking locally grown food first to strengthen small and family-owned farms while simultaneously improving food access and public health. However, all food donations will be accepted.  The food will go to the Western Mass Food Bank and Our Community Pantry of Tolland.

Community members are invited to join us on any portion of the walk as it passes through their hometown for a few blocks, one mile, or a whole day, if they wish. Participants who complete the whole 45-mile walk receive free weekend admission to the Unifier Festival.

“Throughout American history peace walks and marches have punctuated major social-change events,” said Ken Johnston, an amateur long distance hiker from Amherst, who is helping to plan the walk.  “What better way to ‘Be A Local Hero’ then raising awareness about the benefits of eating locally grown food, Johnston said.

More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the Unifier Festival, the Northeast’s premier high vibe music and arts festival at Camp Timber Trail. Featured activities for the family will include organic food, music, yoga, dancing circus arts, sculptural works, and more. “Many festivals are considered escapes or weekend enlightenment experiences.  This event is an example of how the Unifier community like to walk their talk and be positive influencers beyond the scope of their weekend together,” Cohen said.

Groups or organizations seeking walking information or a desire to support the Unifier Healing & Expressive Arts Food Drive may contact Ken Johnston at kjohnston16@yahoo.com

Lolly Be

Lolly Be is an activist, holistic healer, water protector and traveler. She specializes in recovery from PTSD and abusive relationships. She lead the mental health team at Standing Rock.

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Lessons from Standing Rock

Lolly Be lived at the water protector pipeline resistance camp for 5 months in Standing Rock. She shares observations and lessons, anecdotes and challenges from time at the globally impactful gathering.

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