HAPPEN INC.
“Community is not just where you live, it's how you live with other people."
With this deep- seated, longstanding and expansive view, Happen Inc. has been creatively defining how to live in enlivening ways. Founded in 1999 and centered in Cincinnati's Northside neighborhood, Happen helps children of all ages and their parents share creative, bonding experiences through art.
Happen’s programs help create a positive environment for kids and parents through art- related activities and experiences designed to strengthen both the family structure and the community as a whole. Programs and projects always follow the three Es: activities that Entertain, Educate and Empower. Happen Inc. hosts a plethora of wildly creative programs from its regular Open Studio art and craft making sessions to STEM based activities. At their Toy Lab, kids (and adults) can choose pieces of donated, recycled toys to fabricate a one-of-a-kind upcycled creation. Opportunities like this allow active imaginations to create tangible objects - setting the stage for some of the most meaningful and memorable experiences. Teen Hall is a gathering of teens to both have fun and work on real-world issues like cleaning up the neighborhood and developing resume building and job skills. Breadwinners is a program that empowers teens to design and print t-shirts, while learning about and profiting from the basics of running a small business. An active YouTube channel features a variety of productions including the Teen Hall Podcast, Teen Hall Book Club and KMNH - Kids Making the News Happen. Happen has also acquired community garden spaces in the neighborhood ranging from flowers to vegetables. These serve as fresh air outdoor learning spaces as well as creative and productive outlets.
Rather than a single incident, 'what happened' with Happen, Inc. refers to its ongoing evolution and influence in the Cincinnati community - growing from a small art program into a multi- faceted nonprofit that helps kids, teens, and families connect creatively and socially. And when people are that intentional about how to live, community happens.