At Community High School, an event unlike any other unfolded as part of the Goodness Tour, an inspiring organization dedicated to empowering people through art in the face of adversity. For students at the school, the week was an unforgettable experience, one that not only enriched their creativity but also helped them process everything that happened since Hurricane Helene.
The Goodness Tour is a global initiative, bringing together musicians, artists, and filmmakers. Their mission? To deliver concerts, creative workshops, and community art projects that inspire.
During the visit, the atmosphere was electric as students gathered around, wide-eyed and curious. The guest artists immediately set to work, turning what had been a pile of debris from nearby houses destroyed by Helene into one of a kind pieces of artwork. It was as if they were also creating a new reality for the students, one where art and creativity could turn pain into something meaningful.
Arami Moore, an English teacher at Community High, watched as her students became fully immersed in the process.
"Students weren’t just watching the artists; they were participating in the transformation,” she said. “They were taking the energy of our community’s hardships, and they were creating something that would last—a reflection of their own power, resilience, and hope."
The most exciting part of the week was when the students collaborated with musician Jeremiah, from the Goodness Tour, to create their own songs. They wrote lyrics, composed melodies, and performed their pieces with Luc, a talented guitarist and producer. The students learned the intricacies of music production and album art design, even incorporating AI programming into their final products. What started as a blank canvas of sound and image soon blossomed into an album of songs that captured the raw emotion and unique voices of each student.
Students also had an opportunity to contribute to a mural in the school cafeteria—a permanent mark of their shared experience, a piece that represents the school community.
“This piece really captures the unlimited potential each student has,” said artist Benjamin Swatez. “The students wanted the eagle to look as if he is going after the future - one student suggested it be the hourglass. There are seven layers depicted in the image that represent each of the seven districts in Buncombe County Schools.”
Whether through music, painting, or simple acts of expression, the students learned an invaluable lesson: that even in the hardest of times, the power of art can help heal and rebuild.
