Joe Jencks, an international touring musician and award-winning singer-songwriter, will be performing at All Souls Church on Friday, May 16, to benefit local refugees and asylum seekers.

Locally, and to the point of the benefit concert, Jencks may be best known for his song “Lady of the Harbor,” a reference to the Statue of Liberty and a lament for the plight of those who have left their home countries to come the the U.S.

The concert will start at 7 p.m. Advance tickets may be purchased for $25 at ascvt.org/JoeJencks . No one will be turned away for inability to pay.

The concert will benefit two local organizations, CASP and ECDC Vt.

The Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP) is a nonprofit organization that supports asylum seekers in the Brattleboro, Vermont area. Their mission is to cultivate a supportive community for those seeking asylum in the U.S., while providing for basic needs and accompanying asylum seekers on their journey towards building a life in this country.

ECDC VT is a branch office of the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), a national resettlement agency that has been empowering and supporting refugees since 1983. As a multicultural organization, many of their team members reflect the refugee populations they serve, bringing unique insights and shared experiences to their work. With offices in Brattleboro and Bennington, as well as a vibrant Multicultural Community Center (MCC) in Brattleboro, they help individuals and families rebuild their lives after experiencing war, persecution, and unimaginable hardship.

A frequent performer at UU General Assembly, Jencks is an 25-year veteran of music festivals, and performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He has enthralled diverse audiences with his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration.