About the PTD Project

It is in times of crisis that the Arts are found on the front line towards restoring humanity and dignity.

The Paths to Dignity Project was founded by violinist Mitchell Newman and composer Lucas Richman to help forge relationships between music organizations and homeless advocacy agencies for the purpose of bringing humanity and dignity to the unsheltered community through the healing powers of music. Facilitating and producing community engagement activities which involve performances and shared experiences, the PTD Project aspires to eliminate pre-conceived notions surrounding the stigma of being unhoused while also connecting musicians, providers and clients in cities across the United States.

The centerpiece of the PTD Project is a musical composition, entitled Concerto No. 1 for Violin: Paths to Dignity, written by Lucas Richman. The work addresses the individual and collected stories of the unsheltered while underscoring the need of the larger community’s support towards essential services and reintegration.

Since its launch in 2022, the PTD Project has paved the way for orchestras of all sizes and configurations, from professional symphonies and collegiate orchestras to civic ensembles and youth orchestras, to engage with their communities on one of the most pressing social issues of our time. The Project brings the various constituencies together for community engagement activities leading up to the Concerto’s performance and then nurtures the continuation of those newly-forged relationships for a future beyond the concert hall.

Each symphony orchestra hosting the Project can customize the experience for the needs of the community. While some orchestras have used it as an opportunity to increase visibility for the unsheltered population and to encourage empathy and compassion from the community, others have used it as a focal point in advocacy and direct service initiatives. There is no one-size-fits-all approach which is what makes hosting the Project so special.

The Paths to Dignity Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All funds raised are applied solely to the mission of continuing the reach and development of the Project including:

• Creating an ever-expanding national network of participating orchestras and homeless advocacy agencies
• Providing educational tools by which more musicians may become PTD Project Visiting Artists and Soloists
• Establishing a database resource of “best practices” in the field of homeless advocacy
• Funding implementation of the Project regardless of organizations’ budgets
• Supporting creativity by unsheltered musicians and artists