“I saw Holly and her colleagues invent live ‘interactive recitals’ as a powerful tool to remove barriers in prison settings. They replaced incarceration’s dehumanizing influences with ‘re-humanizing’ influences. Hurt gave way to healing, and despair yielded to hope. Early on, prisoners asked what was ‘in it’ for Holly until it became abundantly clear that Holly and her guests were ‘in it’ for the prisoners. Relationships were established, and good works continued until the Covid pandemic forced all prisons into lockdown. It froze our young, charitable non-profit’s efforts to establish ‘chapters’ across the country. Arts Capacity capitalized on this downtime to envision and try our hand at new tools to bring life-affirming music and art to prisoners with ‘listening libraries’ and digital programming, instrument donations, and even music therapy, some of which could debut in the coming year. Personally, I have a sense of a calling to consider the needy and outcast, comforting such persons facing affliction with the same comfort with which I myself have been comforted. Arts Capacity is a perfect outlet for me to help support and further good works as Arts Capacity’s amazing team devotes itself to bring rich, lasting benefits to individuals, families, and communities.”
