Last year, Guest House was the pilot program for Unlocking Harmony. This year we welcomed a second group of women to share their stories via music. The program uses the method of Documentary Song Writing. Spearheaded by Mimi Bornstein and Malcolm Brooks, the Unlocking Harmony program works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals to transform personal stories into songs, while nurturing critical interpersonal skills.
At the heart of the program is the Documentary Songwriting Method, a creative process that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and listening, while also helping cultivate empathy and a sense of community. The final songs are transformed into choral pieces, recorded, and performed at public concerts.
After last year Unlocking Harmony has worked with dozens of individuals who experienced incarceration nationwide to share their stories via song.
Clip here to hear an early version of a participant’s songs: “I’m not done”