Pie + Persistence at Birdsong Seattle for Voices of Children and Everytown for Gun Safety, Seattle, WA. Photo Credit: Pinehurst Photography
Pie + Persistence
THE STORY OF PIE + PERSISTENCE
The inspiration for Pie + Persistence began during a November, 2016 house concert performance by Sheryl, leaving a deep seated belief that “living rooms were powerful places,” and the perfect setting for taking action and raising awareness while sharing good food.
Since launching Pie + Persistence in May, 2017 Sheryl has raised over $85,000 in support of more than 27 organizations operating at all levels including Everytown for Gun Safety, Common Cause, Voices of Children, Northwest Abortion Access Fund, Alliance For Gun Responsibility, Natural Resources Defense Council, Migrant Clinicians Network, Black Farmers Collective, African Community Housing & Development, Eat With Muslims, Safe Place Olympia, Second Harvest Food Bank, Washington Farmland Trust, ACLU of Washington, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Old Dog Haven, Trevor Project and many more. Performing in living rooms, backyards, barns and other creative spaces, Sheryl is passionate about bringing people together to effect change while enjoying live music.
WHY PIE?
Since 2009, Sheryl has worked closely with farmers and advocates of local food, food access, social and environmental justice in Washington State. Pie, one of the most shareable and delicious foods represents more than just a dessert. Pie + Persistence serves as an economic metaphor and rebuttal to “if you get an allotted slice of pie, what matters is how big your slice is, not who gets the rest of the pie.” To this, Sheryl says “We don’t need smaller slices. We need more pie.”
WHY PERSISTENCE?
For this house concert series, persistence serves as inspiration for what we can achieve together. And, that we should never, to quote anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” Together, we persist in elevating voices, spaces and places that need to be heard and healed with love, grace, common ground and pie.
HOST YOUR OWN
Pie + Persistence house concerts run the gamut from casual to classy with pie. You can host on your own, or ask others to help co-host, ask guests to bring food and/or pie to share. Sheryl is available to help you create a memorable and stress-free gathering.
How are organizations selected? Each house concert season, Sheryl puts together a curated list of recipient organizations she’s supporting although hosts are welcome to choose a recipient. For the 2024 season Pie + Persistence is supporting Black Voters Matter, Common Cause, Voices of Children, Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance, Women for Women International and World Central Kitchen.
Questions? Email sherylwiser@sherylwiser.com
Pie + Persistence donation check for SafePlace - Olympia, WA
Tally (not final) of donations received for Northwest Abortion Access Fund - Seattle, WA
“Sheryl is a songstress extraordinaire with a heart and soul of good energy that brings the crowd along with her every step of the way. We hosted a backyard concert to raise money for the Northwest Immigrants’ Rights Project that was a huge success. Sheryl’s performance made for a very special afternoon and encouraged generosity of spirit and dollars. We are so grateful to Sheryl for her enthusiastic support of our efforts, her talent as a musician, and ability to bring people together. ”