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Harmony's
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Harmony's History
In 2004, Tressie was working with students with IDD in the Tyler Independent School District life skills department when she observing a lack of opportunities for this population to be involved in art and music classes. It was then she first had the dream of one day having her own program where people with developmental disabilities could engage in artistic expression and be celebrated for their uniqueness and neurodivergent abilities. Tressie began researching and developing an inclusive program where people of this marginalized population could spend their time making art, engaging in musical activities, and being part of a group where they are welcomed and celebrated. Soon after, she moved to Austin, TX where she continued working in the public school system.
In May of 2009, the summer was approaching and many of the students with developmental disabilities she worked with in the AISD had very few options for summer camps that included inclusive activities. As fate would have it, she was in the perfect situation to launch the program that she had been developing and dreaming of for the past five years. She rented three classrooms at the South Austin high school where she worked and Harmony was born. She used her own art supplies and music equipment and it all came together like alchemy. Harmony was a success from the beginning because she filled a gap in the community between people with IDD and quality life-enriching programming.
In 2010, Tressie turned Harmony into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in 2011 was awarded a seed money grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation that enabled Tressie to scale up and become one of the most respected and appreciated programs for people with IDD in the greater Austin area.
In May of 2009, the summer was approaching and many of the students with developmental disabilities she worked with in the AISD had very few options for summer camps that included inclusive activities. As fate would have it, she was in the perfect situation to launch the program that she had been developing and dreaming of for the past five years. She rented three classrooms at the South Austin high school where she worked and Harmony was born. She used her own art supplies and music equipment and it all came together like alchemy. Harmony was a success from the beginning because she filled a gap in the community between people with IDD and quality life-enriching programming.
In 2010, Tressie turned Harmony into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in 2011 was awarded a seed money grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation that enabled Tressie to scale up and become one of the most respected and appreciated programs for people with IDD in the greater Austin area.
Harmony's Founder & Executive Director
Tressie Seegers is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a registered art therapist provisional (ATR-P) that provides clinical mental health services to both neurotypical and neurodivergent adults. Tressie holds a Masters in Clinical Mental Health and Art Therapy from The University of Edinboro in Edinboro, PA. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The University of Texas at Tyler. She oversees Harmony's art & music program and and also sees individual counseling and art therapy clients at My Favorite Day, PLLC that is located next to Harmony.
Pictured above is Tressie with one of the first Harmony clients in 2009 in South Austin, TX
In 2014, A Glimmer of Hope awarded Tressie with the Angel in the Community Award
Pictured above, left to right: David Porter, Philip Berber, Tressie Seegers, Donna Berber & Royce Dennis
Pictured above, left to right: David Porter, Philip Berber, Tressie Seegers, Donna Berber & Royce Dennis
Tressie was named Recognize Good's Sept 2014 Legend