The Hope Project
The Hope Project, our mindful arts healing and education program, serves over 900 children (98% economically disadvantaged) and adults in their schools and facilities through classes in music (drumming, eurhythmics, guitar, keyboard, vocal), theater/spoken word, dance (creative movement, modern, ballet, ethnic), photography, digital arts, fashion design/sewing, and creative emotional intelligence.
Jane Weiner, Hope Stone’s Founder and President, began The Hope Project with 40 children. It had been her dream to bring passionate working artists into the classroom as she herself combines a professional dance career with a degree in deaf/elementary education. Through her commitment to the organization’s vision of “Art for All,” the program has solidified its place as a significant arts education program in Houston that reaches beyond the traditional school-age population to also serve homeless youth, the elderly, and adults with intellectual disabilities.
2025-2026 Community Partners
“Hope Stone gives our students experiences they’ve never had before, from drumming classes to photography to dance. I’ve seen creativity and self-awareness unlock in their brains throughout the school year. This outlet has been so healing for all of my students. They’re more loving and compassionate because of the safe space that is created for them to express themselves artistically.”
Early Learning (18 mos–6 yrs)
Small Steps Nurturing Center provides early childhood education to economically at-risk children living in the inner-city of Houston, specifically at two schools in the Fifth Ward and Gulfton communities. In our thirteenth year of partnership with Small Steps, we serve students ages 3-5 with creative movement classes.
Elementary (pre-K–5th grades)
Clemente Martinez Elementary School (Houston ISD) is a seven-year community partner and serves a predominately Hispanic and Black student body, with 98% from economically disadvantaged households. All students receive a weekly arts class in music, dance, theater, or digital arts. And all students receive our creative emotional intelligence curriculum, where students learn self-regulation, impulse control, and problem solving.
Looscan Elementary School (Houston ISD) is a second-year community partner and serves a predominately Hispanic student body, with 96% from economically disadvantaged households. Each week, Pre-K - 2nd grade students receive dance and music classes, and K and 1st grades receive emotional intelligence classes.
Middle School (6th–8th Grades)
Marshall Middle School (Houston ISD), is an eight-year partner and in the feeder pattern for Clemente Martinez and Looscan Elementary students. Serving a predominantly Hispanic and Black student body with 96% from economically disadvantaged households, we provide their students ballet, Indian dance, photography, and video design classes. All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students receive creative emotional intelligence classes.
Service Learning
With our vision of “Art for All,” we serve an elderly community partner, inviting our youth community partners to collaborate in multi-generational arts events and performances:
Brookdale Senior Living Solutions senior citizen residents participate in a weekly drumming class.
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts junior and senior dance students visit Clemente Martinez Elementary to participate in a 10-week workshop with the 5th grade modern dance class. The elementary and high school students will perform together at the HSPVA Dance Spring Concert.
College Collaborators
University of Houston Dance Department provides an intern each semester to work directly with Hope Stone’s administration and teaching artist staff.
Texas A&M University Dance Department Teaching Education students are involved in Hope Stone residencies where they learn through site visit and master class observation the tools they need to become effective teaching artists.