Pie + Persistence

THE STORY OF PIE + PERSISTENCE

The inspiration for Pie + Persistence took hold during a November, 2016 house concert performance with Sheryl and Seattle singer-songwriter Christy McWilson. As the two performed a soulful, roots-inspired version of “This Land Is Your Land, Sheryl was left with the observation that “living rooms were powerful places,” and a setting for taking action and making a difference.

Since launching Pie + Persistence in May, 2017, Sheryl has raised over $110,000 in support of more than 30 organizations around the country and internationally, including Ballard Food Bank, 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, UNRWA Gaza 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 and some good food.

WHY PIE?

Since 2009, Sheryl has worked within Washington’s state food system ecosystem, connecting her with farmers and various stakeholders across the food access, social, environmental and climate justice landscape. Pie, one of the most shareable and delicious foods represents more than just dessert. It 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.” Or, as Sheryl says “We don’t need smaller slices. We need more pie.”

WHY PERSISTENCE?

Persistence serves as the 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 elevated pie magic (imagine many tables of pie…). You can host your own, ask others to help co-host, or ask guests to bring food and/or pie to share. Sheryl is available to provide insight from previous concerts and her own event background on how best to host a memorable, cost effective and stress-free gathering. Hosts typically charge a nominal fee via an online invitation to guarantee seats, which provides a stipend for Sheryl and can help defray costs for the host, like beverages, snacks, pie, etc.

How are organizations selected? Each year, Sheryl puts together a curated list of recipient organizations for hosts to consider. Hosts are also welcome to suggest a 501c(3) recipient.

How do organizations receive funds? In the beginning, it was tip jars and checks but things have changed. Typically, hosts work with the recipient organizations to create individual online donation pages. However, there are other ways for guests to donate. Sheryl works with designated hosts to design the most effective platform for each show.

UPDATE FOR 2025

People love pie. Maybe just a little too much, which is why for 2025 we’re moving more towards engaging with the issue(s) at hand and a little less pie party. Our current shows for 2025 will each feature members of the chosen organization to help lead guests in conversation around what’s at stake, answer questions and talk about what action steps can be taken. Followed by music and plenty of pie, because pie is love.

Questions? Email sherylwiser@sherylwiser.com