MINNEAPOLIS— Inspiring a generation to connect through culture, music and food – that’s the goal of a group of diverse Minnesotans committed to bridging the gap between people of different backgrounds.
They come from different backgrounds, but all have one common goal.
“If we see each other as one, we will treat each other differently,” said Waseti founder Sam Reeves.
Waseti represents Liberia, USA, Sweden and Korea.
“As Waseti, we are strong enough to inspire. We use our energy to inspire others and encourage ourselves,” Reeves said.
Their mission: to use music, culture and food to spread love and acceptance.
“One way to do that is to highlight the differences that we have and the similarities that we have in different cultures and different nationalities,” Reeves said.
Reeves created Waseti and the RICE series.
“The RICE series is a truly interactive cultural exchange, and we need more unity in the global community,” he said.
The basis of that unity is music.
“The way we want to use music is as a connective tissue, so to bring people together and in doing so we believe that when people leave they will be more inspired to learn more about each other,” Reeves said.
The latest edition of the RICE series features songs from Korea.
“This song is 600 years old,” Jeenee Lee said of one of the works. ‘As you know, there is division between the north and the south. The song is one thing that unites both sides. We sing it the same.’
Born in the US to Korean immigrants, Lee helped teach the words and meaning of this national anthem. She believes that this cultural exchange is essential to breaking down barriers.
“I hope they see all of us singing these Korean songs and say, ‘Wow, that’s pretty amazing, all these different kinds of faces singing together,’” Lee said. “And I also hope that when they hear some of the gospel songs, some of the more African-American songs, that they see our faces again and say, ‘Wow, I really think so, it’s just not right.’ even matter because they are all together.
All together in the movement to stop tolerating each other’s differences and start accepting and embracing them.
“My hope again is that we open some eyes to the truth that we are one, we are all one regardless of our differences,” Reeves said.
Reg Chapman
