My name is Eileen Howard and I'm the program director for Harmony on the Southside.
I'm also the music director for the and I'm of this church for all people.
Harmony on the Southside grew out of our church band actually.
I was asked to direct music at the church for all people.
And I put together this band that played music that was very cross cultural, all genres.
And it was so good that we decided that we really wanted to take it to the streets, if you will.
We started the Partizan de Plaza, which is a big community picnic that we have,
where we have hamburger and hot dogs and people bring side dishes.
And we'd have the band play and people would eat and have fun and dance
and just have a great time, safe place in the community to get to know your neighbors.
We also do community music lessons.
We do guitar lessons for adults and youth.
And we do the open mic program on Monday nights during the school year.
And people of all ages, we have grandmothers and their kids who come.
And in that program they can have lessons in preparation nights.
So they learn a guitar or vocals or sometimes some drumming or bass guitar.
And they prepare an act that they then perform.
A lot of the people are not children.
We have children and youth there and they certainly gained in confidence.
But a lot of the folks are marginalized people who really never had a chance to shine as a youth or a child.
And this is kind of their chance to be special and to have applause for what they do.
And so through it all, our intention was to create a program that demonstrated harmony in the community.
Go on and have a kind of wave.
God has broken every chance.
So let me go right now.
Take your shackles off my feet so I can dance.
I just want to praise you.
I just want to praise you.
You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands.
And I'm going to praise you.
I just want to praise you.
I just want to praise you.
I just want to praise you.
I just want to praise you.
