LaSalle chorus performs at 2017 Permanency Summit

Albany, NY – As the result of a 2016 performance by LaSalle music students, the agency received an invitation in October to repeat this entertainment at the 2017 Permanency Summit sponsored by the Casey Family Programs and the Redlich Horwitz Foundation. The Summit is being held at the Albany Capital Center on December 5th and 6th.

Summit organizers deemed last year’s performance as memorable and very much hoped LaSalle could join again. Similar to last year, the Summit focused on creating a sense of urgency and permanency for children and youth placed in foster care. The audience for the two-day event includes child welfare staff, department leadership, birth parents, and community stakeholders.

LaSalle musicians were asked to perform on Tuesday evening, December 5th as background music for the reception. Following the performance, the youth and their teachers accepted an invitation to have dinner. 

Kenneth Hackett, Andrew Durand and Ebony Barkley (all LaSalle staff) organized a group of students ready and willing to travel to the new Albany Capital Center to perform on December 5th. They spent six weeks from October through November preparing and guiding the Chorus Club for this performance.

Dylan, Dan, Jordan, Darren and Austin performed two sets of three songs, with musical interludes on the keyboard by Dylan, Mr. Hackett and Mr. Durand. Guests listened to holiday carols including Joy to the World as well as favorites ‘Lean on Me’ written by Bill Withers and ‘Happy’ written by Pharrell Williams.

The LaSalle company was thanked from the podium during the dinner’s opening remarks, and were wonderful ambassadors of LaSalle graciously accepting everyone’s expressions of appreciation and applause!

LaSalle School is a leader in programs and services for youth and families in crisis offering a variety of programs designed to meet their needs including specialized residential placement, day service education, and alternative to detention services. The Counseling Center at LaSalle is an OMH and OASAS licensed outpatient behavioral health clinic located at LaSalle School, and currently implementing ACE treatment practices with youth and families. LaSalle is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), and affiliated with the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), and the national Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. LaSalle is a member of The New York State Coalition of 853 Schools.