The Austin Harmony Project

Specialties

Harmony is a 501©(3) nonprofit whose mission is to enrich the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through art, music and community. Harmony meets its mission by conducting art and music enrichment sessions Monday through Friday for adults with developmental disabilities ages 19 and up as well as hosting a monthly dance party on the first Saturday of every month that’s open to the disability community. Harmony participants have regular art and music shows that build a bridge to the community and include them in society by honoring their talent and giving them a strong sense of purpose in life. The Harmony Charity Thrift and Gift Store is located next to the art and music studios and helps sustain the nonprofit program that is offered at a low rate to enable everyone to have an opportunity to benefit from Harmony’s programs.

History

Established in 2009.

In 2009 Harmony’s founder, Tressie Seegers, was working in a high school life skills class at Akins High School in Austin, TX. As the summer of 2009 approached, parents and caretakers were discussing the lack of summer camps that would accommodate their loved ones with developmental disabilities. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Seegers rented 3 rooms from Akins High School and created her own summer camp called Harmony. It filled a need and quickly grew in popularity among the disability community.

In 2010, Harmony expanded to a former grocery store space that had been re-​purposed as a small business incubator and transitioned into a program that was offered all year long. During this time, Harmony achieved 501©(3) status from the IRS.

In 2011, Harmony received a seed money grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation that enabled them to move to its current space on W. Stassney in South Austin, TX. Since 2009, Harmony has touched over 100 lives and continues to enrich lives every day.

Meet the Business Owner

Tressie S.

Business Owner

Harmony’s founder, Tressie Seegers, graduated Summa Cum Laude from The University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Currently she is pursuing a Master’s of Art Therapy through Edinboro University in Edinboro Pennsylvania. She’s an eighth generation Texan and has lived all over the state making Austin her final destination. She’s a singer/​songwriter that plays guitar and piano with The Sweet Harmony Band that is made up of adults with developmental disabilities that attend her nonprofit program, Harmony. She’s raised two girls into young adult hood and loves to spend time with them as well as her two rescue dogs named Rhoady and Snake Farm. She has dedicated her life to advocating for people with developmental disabilities and making sure they have an opportunity to live a full and enriched life. In 2014, she was named Angel of the Year by A Glimmer of Hope Foundation in Austin, TX.

The Austin Harmony Project also recommends

Harmony Art, Garden and Gift Shop

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reviews

Gift Shops

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Opportunity Shop/​Thrift Store

Tressie S. says,

«The Harmony Charity Thrift & Gift Store supports Harmony’s nonprofit programs for adults with developmental disabilities.»