What do we do?
Amplify Music facilitates musicking experiences with individuals who have been impacted by or incarcerated within the carceral systems.
Through universities partnerships, we collaborate with teacher volunteers who are pre-service music teachers and other community members interested in making positive change within their communities through student-centered, project-based, and culturally sustaining group music classes.
We provide instruments and others materials for our students to utilize within facilities both during and outside of class time.
While there is no public data describing national juvenile recidivism rates, youth who have been incarcerated in Virginia still face a high risk of being rearrested and reconvicted.
We believe that one pathway towards a reduction in recidivism exists in the arts.
Music offers unique opportunities to share explicitly or implicitly. Narratives unfold in words, sounds, and silence. Individual and group musicking can encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and idea sharing.
The adaptability of Amplify Music’s classes creates space for anyone and everyone to interact with music in any manner they would like.
Gemeinschaft Home is a transitional living facility where individuals who are returning from incarceration and/or recovering from addiction are provided with food, shelter, and support through counseling, job coaching, and community.
Men’s Home:
The Gemeinschaft Men’s Home is located right outside of the Harrisonburg Virginia city limits. The home is a newly renovated farmhouse on Mt. Clinton Pike. It has a capacity of 49 beds and residents are provided services to live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
Women’s Home:
The Gemeinschaft Women’s Home is the second and most recently home that was built to expand the program to women in 2021. The women’s home, also known as “Dean House” is located at the corner of W.Water Street. The program is the first of its kind in Harrisonburg.
https://www.wmra.org/wmra-news/2021-03-12/gemeinschaft-sets-up-new-home-for-women