Rumi and the Mystics

Inspired by the Great Night of Rumi produced by Dan and Dale Zola in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rumi's Caravan first appeared in Sebastopol in February, 2001 when Larry Robinson and Jeffrey Edelheit organized an evening of poetry and music at the Analy High School auditorium. The event was a benefit for KRCB public radio and Rainbow House program for disadvantaged children. For most of its perfor

mances, Rumi's Caravan appeared at the Sebastopol Masonic Center, and included a Persian feast generously provided by Sima Vaghti. More recently, the event has been held at Santa Rosa's Glaser Center, with its excellent seating and sound system. Kay Crista took over from Larry Robinson as creative director in 2010. The original intention was three-fold:

• To support local community benefit organizations
• To build community
• To restore the oral tradition of poetry

Rumi’s Caravan is an all-volunteer ensemble, and 100 percent of net proceeds are donated to community-benefit groups. Over the years, the event has generated thousands of dollars of support to many local non-profit organizations such as Youth Speaks, the Ceres Community Project, Gualala Arts Center, the Dunsmuir Library and Siskiyou Arts Museum, and the Center for Climate Protection, among others. A loyal community of supporters has grown up around the Caravan, including an organizing team of volunteers who help produce performances in Sebastopol, Freestone, Mt. Perhaps more importantly, Rumi's Caravan has been part of a growing international renaissance of interest in poetry learned and shared by heart. In this small way we hope to contribute to the restoration of the wholeness of the world.