NFL Player, Najee Goode joins The Goodness Tour in the Bahamas for Front-Line Trauma Relief

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. & MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas - Nov. 5, 2019 - PRLog -- With a paintbrush and guitar, singer/songwriter Luc Reynaud and international muralist Benjamin Swatez are making music and creating larger than life murals across the Bahamas in the Abacos Islands and Nassau -- inspiring lives devastated by Hurricane Dorian  www.thegoodnesstourbahamas.org

The Goodness Tour is a non-profit organization created by these two artists and best friends bringing music and art experiences to people facing adversity all over the world.

"We know the power of creativity allows the human spirit to fly boundlessly while navigating difficult life circumstances. Our goal is to touch one life at a time, leaving each person refreshed, encouraged, and energized with the strength to continue on," said Reynaud.

This is the organization's 15th tour of goodness and 3rd relief effort following a major hurricane. The Goodness Tour offers "front-line" trauma relief interventions that encourage emotional expression and offer therapeutic support. The Bahamas Tour is expected to last a minimum of 6-12 months.

Najee Goode, NFL football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, his wife Jasmine,  and Vic Micolucc of WJXT in Jacksonville, Florida, will be joining the Goodness Tour on November 6 to create new songs and art with 78 children in the hardest-hit areas of the Abacos.

After three weeks in the shelters of Nassau and amidst the rubble in the town of Marsh Harbour, situated in Abacos Islands….. the word is quickly spreading amongst Nassau locals about the guy with the guitar and the Abacos man with paint on his shoes painting three-story murals throughout the night.

Each day, Reynaud gathers a small group of students from the shelters to write lyrics and share their feelings. The first few lines of a new song are, "Right now I am stuck thinkin about it cause you took away the ones I love, and my heart is broken off. How do we make our dreams come true when we don't even know how to take the first step."

Nayka, an 11-year old girl separated from her parents, said: "songwriting classes give me a place to put my energy, where I can do something with my life."

The words and voices of these children will be recorded and shared in a music video. After each hurricane, a song of resilience has emerged, including "The Freedom Song" during Katrina, which caught the attention of two-time Grammy winner Jason Mraz and "A Celebrar" after Maria in Puerto Rico.

Swatez has now finished his second mural while teaching art classes in Marsh Harbour. The first mural, inspired by a three-year-old boy named Viscent, was painted on a demolished school. This mural is a commemorative to a young girl named Faeth and her mother who lost their lives during the storm. It now stands as a beacon of hope for a school that will be rebuilt. The second mural called the "Grace of Abaco" was painted on a former health and dental clinic. These murals are attracting international attention.

"Driving through Marsh Harbour, "I saw a town that was completely devastated – I wanted to paint murals the represent transformation and a reminder we can turn victimhood into empowerment, creativity, unity, freedom, and ultimately rebirth," said Swatez.

According to trauma specialist and clinical advisor for The Goodness Tour, Dr. Cheralyn Leeby, Ph.D., LMFT, (www.doctor.com/Dr-Cheralyn-Leeby) art and music therapy are proven clinical modalities for both children and adults suffering from trauma and PTSD.

"If individuals suffer from severe anxiety, depression, and despair, the dream of rebuilding cannot be realized--The Goodness Tour feeds that necessary hope and healing," said Leeby.

ABOUT THE GOODNESS TOUR

The Goodness Tour is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music and art experiences to people facing adversity all over the world. The tour travels to refugee camps, disaster zones, homeless shelters, hospitals, youth crisis centers, and other communities needing hope and healing. Goodness Tour programs are designed to offer psychosocial support, anxiety reduction, and boost community bonding and morale. The team includes musicians, artists, therapists, filmmakers, event planners, business leaders, collaborators, and more. The Chad E. Cooper Foundation maintains the fiduciary responsibilities as the fiscal umbrella for The Goodness Tour, offering a 501 (c)(3) tax-deductible donation for donors and corporate sponsors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO www.TheGoodnessTour.org

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