JMU-Gemeinschaft Music Collaboration Continues

Former resident, Chris N., participates in the music program.

Starting in the Fall of 2017, with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), faculty and students from the School of Music and Department of Social Work at James Madison University created a music-making/storytelling project that was entirely based on contributions from residents in the program, including a community-based performance with local musicians at the end of the project year.

The purpose of the project is to provide a forum for formerly incarcerated individuals to be heard in society, to share those experiences with people who would otherwise be unaware of the barriers they face.

While the NEA grant concluded, faculty and students have continued working on the project this fall, meeting once each week on Monday evenings, under the guidance of Robby McCoubrey.

The project will continue after the new year, and there will be opportunities for community members to hear some of the music and stories created by Gemeinschaft Home residents at local venues in the near future.

Watch out for updates on our website and Facebook page!

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