CITY YEAR-Columbus is an education focused, nonprofit organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep students in school and on track to graduation. City Year has partnered with the HarmonyProject to present South High Harmonyas a multi-component after school arts program where students have the opportunity to sing in a choir, create murals, provided much needed community service and film a documentary about their community and their school. The program culminates in their participation at the Harmony Choir Winter Concert: Voices of Hope, which takes place on December 19, and 20 at the Southern Theatre. The students will also have a concert at South High School for teachers, parents and the Southside Columbus Community. Students will work with the Creative Director, David Brown, of the HarmonyProject and these teens will help with the arrangements, harmonies and movement. It has been found that by increasing students’ engagement in after school arts programs including performing service in their community, that there is dramatic increase in self-esteem and self-efficacy. By giving back, feelings of disenfranchisement often disappear. Teens are enthusiastic about making a difference especially when they are able to choose their community project by identifying a need or a void in their own neighborhood. That fact that the students will film their after school and service activities gives them a record of the changes they created and gives them credence. Puffin West is proud to support these South High Students, as they become contributing members to their community.
