When Tressie Seegers first incorporated art and music into a life skills class serving high school-age students with developmental disabilities, she noticed something – the students’ behavior improved, self-esteem increased, and perhaps most significantly, their talents were recognized and encouraged. From that point forward, she worked to build an organization, now known as the Austin Harmony Project, enriching lives through art, music and a sense of community. Behind Tressie’s entrepreneurial spirit, young men and women with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and autism now perform regularly as members of the Sweet Harmony Band, delighting parents, supporters and each other as they sing and dance along with some of Austin’s most popular professional musicians.

“As a parent of a 21-year-old with intellectual disabilities who has been with her since the beginning, I am in constant admiration of her determination in accomplishing her mission,” says Austin Harmony Project board president Pat Alvarez. “Whether it is seeing my son and his friends creating art, performing in the community, or enjoying the monthly dances at the center, their happiness fills families with gratitude for Tressie and her dedication in making a difference for our family members who may otherwise be isolated in other, more traditional settings.”

“People can’t contain their joy, even though they’re maybe not around people with disabilities that often and they’re not really sure how to bridge that gap,” says volunteer board member Chrislyn Lawrence. “When they’re up there performing and singing … all those kind of invisible social boundaries between you and me and them go away.”

In addition to performance opportunities with the Sweet Harmony Band, Austin Harmony Project participants enjoy art and music sessions five days a week along with supported employment and job training through Harmony Books, which sells donated books online and provides related jobs, as well as Harmony Thrift & Gift, which sells student art projects online. For Tressie, growing the organization and providing more opportunities for students with disabilities are “always on the front burner,” Pat says. In 2013, the Austin Harmony Project provided over 1500 art and music enrichment hours to more than 80 students.