PRINCETON-LAWRENCE: Inspiring hope for Camden’s kids

    More than 150 people in formal or traditional Indian attire gathered Oct. 2 at the Sangeetham Estate in Lawrence on a crisp fall evening to enjoy delicious food and a captivating dance performance by Rachel Asir, a 10-year-old sixth grader at Stuart Country Day School, who is seeking to raise $10,000 to benefit the Urban Storyteller Program of Urban Promise of Camden.
    The event raised more than $8,000 — and Rachel isn’t giving up. Interested parties are urged to send checks made out to Urban Promise to Rachel Asir at 3735 Lawrenceville Road, Princeton 08540.
    Since the program was meant to support the Urban Storyteller program, the evening was all about stories and how they enrich our lives. The keynote speaker, Dr. Patricia Fagin, the new Headmistress of Stuart, emphasized the role that stories play in our lives and the hard work and dedication that Rachel has put into her dance to help her less privileged peers.
    Rachel’s guru, Baladevi Chandrashekar, a renowned exponent of Bharatanatyam, the traditional South Indian dance form, enlightened the audience about the finer points of the dance form.
    Rachel glowed in her rich, colorful costumes and jewelry and performed tirelessly for 45 minutes. There was a 15-minute break during which her brother, Matthew, and a friend, Bhairav, entertained the audience with sitar (Matthew) and mridangam (Bhairav).
    Urban Promise is an after- school shelter that provides assistance and a safe environment to children between the high-risk hours of 3 and 6 p.m.
    Rachel would like to thank the many well-wishers and donors who came in or sent messages to support her effort to help the children of Camden.