When children are able to bond with others through art and creativity, great things can happen.
           
            That’s the philosophy behind Happen Inc. – a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that offers programs to help parents and their children share creative, bonding experiences using art as the medium – and the goal of programs that group has been offering to students at Fourth Street Elementary throughout the school year.

            Through a $10,000 grant Happen received from Procter & Gamble, the organization has been offering theatrical-based art programs at the school.  They include Butterfly Project, which raises funds for victims of domestic violence, and Community Canvas, a project that allows students to create mural-sized artwork that is woven into the fences around school playgrounds.

            “We totally immerse children in a creative atmosphere,” said Tommy Rueff, Happen’s executive director.  “We teach them the power of creativity, which we think leads to every aspect of success.”

            Throughout the school year, Happen has visited the school about 40 times to lead projects in Judi Haynes’ art classes.  The last visit of the year was Thursday.

            “This program has been such a positive experience for our students,” said Haynes.  “They’re getting core content and an expressive outlet through art…but they’re also learning from positive role models, and that’s really important for our students.”

            The school’s family and youth services coordinator, Molly Wesley-Chevalier, also chose a group of the school’s at-risk students for additional mentoring programs through Happen.

            The organization picks up the students for free programs at its Beechmont Avenue location, where the group hosts art classes and a toy lab, where students can create one-of-a-kind toys using recycled parts from donated toys.

            “It was a special opportunity for all the kids involved,” she said.  “We were chosen for this, and I think the students feel really special about that…and feel like part of a bigger community.”

            Happen has worked with school districts in Cincinnati and others in Northern Kentucky since the organization’s inception in 1999.

            “This was our first experience with a school district that was so welcoming,” Rueff said.  “The doors were totally open, and they were so supportive of what we wanted to do.”