Harmony Project Productions Inc

Harmony programs - one family, student programming, prison arts and friends in harmony: after school arts, education and service learning classes that foster creativity, responsiblity, self-confidence, and community engagement for students throughout columbus - the vast majority of whom qualify for free lunch and live in underserved communities. Harmony project expanded its student arts programs from 60 to 110 students, providing creative expression and community building through music, dance, and storytelling. These new american students are from columbus global academy and international high school. Through the power of the arts, they not only develop confidence and fluency in english, but also find a sense of belonging. Our 2025 graduating seniors have received over 2.5 million in scholarships, proving that investment in the arts is an investment in their futures. Prison arts engages inmates in recovery to serve a purpose while serving a sentence. Harmony's prison arts program remains a beacon of hope for incarcerated individuals, providing creative rehabilitation that fosters personal growth and connection. Studies show that engagement in arts programs reduces recidivism, and our work is proving this in real time. By creating a community that extends beyond prison walls, we are ensuring that individuals returning to society are met with opportunity, not obstacles. Harmony hired its first-ever returning citizen, detra march, who participated in harmony's prison arts program at the ohio reformatory for women. Since detra's hire, she has secured her own "tiny home" in vista village, received her driver's license, purchased a car, and is reconnected with her family. She is on her way to a fully restored life. Friends in harmony provides weekly music, experiential arts and service-learning programs for adults with differing abilities, experiencing homelessness, or fighing addiction many of whom live in poverty. Harmony classes and performances help them defy limitations and prejudices, forge sustaining social ties, and bolster their self-confidence many of them learn they too have a lot to give back to the community.

Community service: service is at the heart of harmony project's mission. Each season, all participants commit to completing a minimum of 16 hours of volunteer community service, either through projects organized by harmony project or through projects and opportunities facilitated by partnering community organizations. Empowering communities through the arts: our partnership with goodwill columbus continues to shine a light on members of our community who were once in the shadows. Through our community arts programs, participants who have faced barriers due to disabilities are stepping into the spotlight, demonstrating their talents, and finding new opportunities for social engagement and self-expression. The group staged three performances in 2024, which featured original songs, poetry, and artwork by people with disabilities, highlighting the transformative power of inclusive arts programming. The program has grown from 60 to 150 participants over the past two years. Service and community impact: harmony center has become a vital community hub, connecting neighbors with essential resources and hosting a free community closet for northland residents, staffed by harmony volunteers. It also provides low- or no-cost space for nonprofit arts organizations to rehearse and perform. Through harmony's service initiatives, hundreds of volunteers revitalized columbus neighborhoods, led the cleaner columbus effort, restored a playground at devonshire elementary, and distributed food to thousands of families. Harmony also hosted adaptive sports connection's bikes to go program, where volunteers built specialized bikes for children with special needs, fostering mobility, independence, and joy. At harmony, the arts and service go hand in hand, driving meaningful change across columbus. A season of giving - thanksgiving meal partnership: for those who are incarcerated and those celebrating their first thanksgiving post-release, the holiday can be a difficult time. Harmony partnered with hubbard grille and mezzo dublin to provide meals, ensuring that these individuals feel seen and supported. The thanksgiving meal initiative is more than just a meal-it's a message that they are not forgotten and that they are part of a community that cares. In 2024, harmony served over 400.