Who’s Gonna Save the World?

By Dawn Carroll

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July 1, 2024

Our New Executive Producers

Once I realized that Songs for Mary would be a theatrical show I knew we needed a song that inspired families to take action.

“Who’s Gonna Save the World” became that song. Listen here.

We wanted people to run out the doors with fists in the air singing at the top of their lungs, “Who is gonna save the world?”.

We wanted people to bubble with excitement and awaken spirits that unleashed creativity and offered a new perspective.

A young lady named Josie came with her mother to the the star-studded record release party at MINOTTI, Boston and when she told me it was her favorite song, I was super excited. She helped organize a classroom visit at her school so we could talk about Songs For Mary.

Thirty 3rd graders? I’ll admit, I was terrified, Could I get 3rd graders interested in saving an old house and historic preservation? Would they boo me off the stage, toss paper airplanes or shoot rubber bands at me? I will not lie I was shaking in my shoes. But I was prepared with a perfectly crafted PowerPoint presentation that started with a fun, groovy picture of me.

The first question asked by a smart young man who called me out “I see you have chosen a picture of your younger self, how come?” I reminded him Songs for Mary was about historic renovation and saving old things, trying to hide my defensive tone.

The wisdom and creativity left me breathless.

These vibrant kids knew more about the project and me than I did!

One sweet little girl came to me and said “Ms. Carroll thank you for saving Mary and another young man described the decaying house as ‘hauntingly beautiful’.

This began our wonderful journey together.

We talked about racism, empowerment, being disabled, sports heroes, Duesenbergs, boxing legends, opera stars, jazz icons, the need to save old places and remember our history.

We talked about how this house inhaled love and exhaled hate. “And maybe that is why it looks so tired.”, another little person said.

I told them that this house represented something every person needs to know. It was symbolic of saving and honoring America and the American Dream.

Inclusion. Kindness. Opportunity. Freedom. Young kids are brave offer their truth. I needed this—it was refreshing!

This was a top-performing Mary Cardwell Dawson team!

I gave them an assignment.: Create your own song, poem, or artwork about an aspect of this project that inspired you.

I hope you enjoy the talent and imagination of these young activists and their thought-provoking interpretations of this story in the Art Gallery here.

This project is just getting underway. We plan to make these kids Executive Producers for the upcoming musical, “If the Walls Could Talk” with the lead role of Mary Cardwell Dawson being played by Patti Austin.
Read more here.