Every now and then I meet someone so remarkable at our shows that I am moved to tears and action. A few weeks ago I met a woman named Tika Hick at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa. Within the span of one month she and her husband David had become parents to a beautiful baby boy "Indigo," lost their home to foreclosure, and then suddenly Tika was diagnosed with breast cancer. On July 20, 2011, Tika was scheduled to have a double mastectomy surgery. 5 days before, without warning, her husband Da

My mother Carole Franti, who adopted me when I was 7 months old has died. Six weeks ago my biological mother Mary Rodrick also passed away. My mom taught primary education, in public schools in Davis, California for 30 years all while raising five children. Three that she birthed and two that she adopted with her husband, my father who raised me, Charles Franti. She was not an activist in the classic stereotype of the word - someone marching or making signs, she walked her talk of believing that

When I was a kid I used to get picked on a lot. When I’d go, home my mother who adopted me would tell me, “Go back to school tomorrow and I want you to just be you. Don’t try to be like other kids or let them tell you how to be, or what to think, say or feel. Just be who you are.” I’ve always tried to live those words. Some days I get it right some days I miss it completely. I’m still a work in progress and I’m blessed to have my son Taj as my constant reminder. 😍 I hope this song can serve not