Distinguished Concerts International - New York

Mattie Stepanek's inspiring "Heartsong" poetry series debuts at Carnegie Hall

by Christie Garton 

June 5, 2010 

USA Today

At the age of 13, Mattie Stepanek had befriended some of the world's most influential philosophers, poets and opinion leaders. Jimmy Carter described him as "the most remarkable person I have ever known," Good Morning America reported. By all accounts, Mattie had lead a fuller life than most adults although wheel-chair bound and dealing with life-threatening health complications from Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, a rare form of muscular dystrophy.

You see, the reason he couldn't be slowed down was that he had a special gift, or his Heartsong, to share with the world -- his message of peace and hope through poetry. Starting at the age of 3, Mattie let his Heartsong take flight, authoring seven books of poetry, three of which landed on the New York Times' best-seller list. Mattie passed away in 2004 before his 14th birthday, but his words continue to live on and inspire.

This Sunday, June 6, at 8:30 p.m., Mattie's bestselling Heartsongs series will debut as a choral performance at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. Jeni Stepanek, Mattie's mother and founder of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, partnered with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) to bring his poetry to life on stage with the talent of composer Joseph Martin and the Houston Children's Choir. The concert is a part of the Pepsi Refresh program, and proceeds will benefit Sing for the Cure and Mattie's foundation.

I spoke with Stepanek late last week to learn more about this special evening in Mattie's honor.

Kindness: What a fantastic way to honor Mattie and his message. How did this come together?

Jeni Stepanek: There were two angles. Joseph Martin was a visiting artist at the church I attend at one time, and I knew that I had to meet him. He was already familiar with Mattie's material. I gave him a complete set of Mattie's books, which later he said had touched his heart and spirit. He wanted to do something by taking the poetry and offering it in a different way with music. As for the second angle, DCINY also wanted to put together some type of event in Mattie's name. That was a little over a year ago, and here were are, getting set to debut Mattie's words as a choral piece. We are thrilled.

Kindness: What is your hope for the event?

Stepanek: The concert is being advertised as an evening of hope and healing - key concepts that Mattie stood for. It's not just for those with a disability of a life-threatening condition. It's a universal message. The first half of the concert is focused on Mattie's message of hope and peace and the second half is dedicated to the Race for the Cure. It's a beautiful match of two causes that symbolize the resilience and strength of the human spirit. As Mattie said, you measure one's life not by its length but by its depth.

Kindness: Tell us more about the format of the concert. What can concert-goers expect?

Stepanek: I was asked to write some of the narration and help choose the selected poems for the choral pieces. I will also be speaking during the opening and closing narration. Jonathan Martin, the composer, will have an active role along with two dear friends of Mattie's -- Nile Rodgers and Billy Gilman.

Nile is an incredible music producer and writer. Mattie worked with Nile after 9/11, helping launch his We Are Family Foundation, named for the song that Nile wrote. Mattie encouraged Nile to remind the world we are family, and the foundation grew from that message. It's mission is to takeMattie's message and giving it to teens around the world. The Foundation brings these teens to New York, providing them with the tools and inspiration to make a difference. So far, 60 children have participated during the last two years. Nile's Foundation ensures that Mattie's message will not fade with his body.

Billy Gilman, a Grammy nominated singing sensation and a good friend of Mattie's when they were teens, will also be participating. Mattie introduced Billy to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Mattie served as a MDA Goodwill Ambassador for three years. Mattie told Billy that his talent was for words while Billy's was for music. If we all used our talents, passions, and hobbies to do good and bring peace to the world, we'll be a part of a better world. Billy went on to serve as the MDA's National Youth Chairperson for five years.

Kindness: Why does Mattie's message continue to resonate with people of all ages?

Stepanek: Mattie asked people to think about how they could use their art and talent to bring hope and healing to other people. We all have a reason for being. Mattie's work exemplified this. Now when people think about MDA, they think about hope.

It's also important for young people to realize fame doesn't matter as much as much as importance. Fame is when lots of people know you in lots of places at one specific time. But importance is when somebody knows you're doing something good at any time. That's what Mattie meant when he wrote of the "depth of one's life."

Kindness: How does the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation carry on his message?

Stepanek: The organization began shortly after Mattie died. Local neighbors and citizens were very concerned that, with his death at such a young age, the world would loose the message of hope and peace he offered. You hear the word "peace" and it's very abstract...almost impossible to get you're mind around. We take Mattie's message as he shaped it and give it back to people not in an abstract way, and not dependent on the simple absence of violence. Mattie believed that peace starts with people's habits and attitudes. It's something that can be touched, felt and measured. Mattie made it personal and appealing in an exciting way.

We take Mattie's message of hope and peace and make it accessible across time and space through a number of means. There are several parks and libraries in his name. Across the street from my house in Rockville, MD, there in a 28 acre park in his name, and has everything from a dog park to a meditative space. You can even press buttons and hear Mattie speak to you. I go there often to hear his message, and as Mattie encouraged, to "play after every storm and get to know your neighbors." There are also libraries named for Mattie, and our organization develops curriculum for teachers and youth group leaders to help young people understand the power of the written world and every choice you make.

Kindness: When did you realize that Mattie had something special to share with the world?

Stepanek: I didn't begin to understand it until around the time he died and years since his death. When he was 2, 3, 4 years old, I knew he was a smart child. He was reading before age 3 without one single lesson. He just knew how to read. Now, lots of kids are smart, but Mattie also had this wisdom, something you don't teach a child. He was a deep thinker, and very spiritual at a young age. Mattie said that God had big plans for him. He truly believed it. It's not that I didn't believe my son. It's just that I didn't get it at the time.

Mattie also used to say that he heard God's words in his heart. Mattie's gift for poetry, essays and speeches -- those were the words he heard in his heart. I still sit with my jaw dropped. How I wish I heard God in my heart. It's not that I don't have that sense of intimacy. But he had it without a doubt, a reason for being, his Heartsong. Mattie said, yes, I have a miserable life, but I choose to have hope and peace.

Kindness: What is a Heartsong?

Stepanek: A Heartsong is the universal message of peace that Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Theresa spoke about and worked for. It's about recognizing that yes, there is violence in my country, but the choices I can make in this time and place can have a ripple effect.

Kindness: Did Mattie help you find your Heartsong?

Stepanek: All through Mattie's life, and even through his death, I believed my Heartsong was my children...my reason for being was to be their mommy. But then all my children had died and I was in a wheelchair (Stepanek lost all four children to the same disease that she suffers from). My reason for being were all buried. I struggled with this. But on Mattie's deathbed, he challenged me, "Choose to inhale. Don't just breath."

Mattie had written two books before he died that were not published. Pulling his materials together -- the emails, the notes he left by my bedside -- I felt that now I was working on his behalf. I was a messenger for him. That's when I realized that a Heartsong can never be another person. You can't own it or give it away. I had to think about what it is about being a mommy. I so missed being one; my heart was so empty. But my Heartsong wasn't my child. It was to know that I mattered because I existed and to give this understanding to my children. I told them they mattered. By being there for them in intensive care unit, wherever, I was saying, "You matter." Without me, Mattie may not have known that he mattered. By me being there for him, he was able to be his best self.

Kindness: What would Mattie say about the concert if he could be here today and what is the next for this music?

Stepanek: I don't know what his exact words would be, but he would be all smiles. He couldn't sit still in his wheelchair when he was excited. He wanted to bounce up and take part. He would have been thrilled to see how others were putting their own spin on a Heartsong...that the seeds of hope and peace he spoke and wrote of are growing into beautiful things.

It is more than just one evening for all of us participating in the concert. It's not a memorial for Mattie; this a movement. It's wonderful to work with people that feel the same way. This is a new way of thinking, and we have great hope that there is a, "What next?"

For more information on the Carnegie Hall concert and the Mattie Stepanek Foundation, visit his website at http://mattieonline.com.