JUST CAUSES

Noel “Paul” Stookey, of the seminal 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, continued his lifetime of social activism in spring 2021 with the release of a new album called JUST CAUSES. The album features fifteen new and familiar songs, each bearing a theme of social concern and paired with a nonprofit beneficiary.

With JUST CAUSES, Stookey continues his commitment to creating socially relevant music and to giving back. “Every songwriter eventually realizes that his art is meant for service: to entertain, inform and in a best-case scenario, to inspire,” he explains. “As I look over the fifty plus years that I've attempted to capture 'lightening in a bottle' – a moment realized in a song that transcends time – I recognize that some musical creations seem to have a longer life because they address issues that still challenge us, no matter the generation.”

On the album, ILAP is paired with the song “Familia Del Corazon,” a musical dedication to the hopes of immigrant communities and a reminder that we are all citizens of the heart. We are also the only Maine-based organization to be featured. Other beneficiaries include First Nations Development Institute, Oxfam America, and Southern Poverty Law Center, among others. 

“The song that I wrote, ‘Familia Del Corazon,’ is more about the promise that sits out there in New York Harbor to all people who want a fresh start, who believe in equality, who are seeking justice and equity. So it’s written from a compassionate point of view,” Stookey said about the song in a 2015 Bangor Daily News article.

We are thrilled to be part of Noel’s latest album! Executive Director Sue Roche reminds us that, “It’s the strength of our community that allows us to push for a more just and equitable immigration system, and generous and engaged supporters like Noel help make this work possible. ILAP is honored to be one of the beneficiaries of the JUST CAUSES album alongside so many other inspiring organizations.”

LISTEN: “FAMILIA DEL CORAZON”

Look Back: One Light, Many Candles

Noel and his wife, Reverend Betty Stookey, have been long-time supporters of ILAP and Maine’s immigrant communities. In June 2016, they performed their “One Light, Many Candles” program at Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland to benefit ILAP. The event was an intercultural awareness performance that included music by Noel and readings by Betty to engage the audience in the concepts of one world, a unified human purpose, and working together.

The Stookeys brought “One Light, Many Candles” to venues around the globe and it was received with the same acclaim as here in Maine.