Historical February–March 2011 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
I recently met Rachel Ebeling of 63xx Waterman.
She and her husband are the parents of 3 children who all attend St. Roch.
She is a woman of energy and determination who has helped to bring about a project that helps the organizers to heal and succors those who suffer. Teresa Butz was a close friend of Rachel’s dating back to grade school in south St. Louis. Butz lived with her partner in Seattle.
A man broke into their home, assaulted both women and murdered Teresa.
This horrible crime devastated Teresa’s family and friends.
She was one of 11 children in a very musical family.
Her siblings provided songs at her funeral here and a later memorial service in Seattle. Ebeling and Jean Fox became the producers of The Angel Band Project.
They raised money to produce a CD–Take you with me– to honor her. Family members, her partner, and some professional musicians contributed.
The music is eclectic, gospel as well as rock.
The CD was released in November.
It is available on I-Tunes, cdbaby. com, and at Vintage Vinyl and Euclid Records. Rachel said that we were able to find healing from the music that arose from such a devastating event.
The healing music has another purpose. Sales of the CD are benefiting Voices and Faces, a Chicago based group that provides assistance to victims of sexual assault.
In May, Ebeling and Fox will participate in the Sixth National Assault Response Team (SART) Training Conference in Austin.
A thousand people will attend. “Healing in the wake of violent crime, one song at a time.” That is the theme of The Angel Band Project. Ebeling noted that the CD–the songs–”can open up some communication doors.” Sexual assault is not really talked about. People are not comfortable with it. “Using some form of art may speak more loudly.” Ebeling, Fox, the Butz family, Teresa’s partner have turned their horror and their sorrow into a project to aid healing and to help other victims.
I applaud their courage and their will.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2011.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2011_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
