Farm animals are loose in front of a Beechmont Avenue shopping plaza. Chickens cluck at passing cars. Goats wander through a parking lot.
It's a one-day petting zoo courtesy of "Life changing experiences through art" (L'CETA), a June 21 collaboration between Project Connect, a local organization that serves the educational needs of homeless children, and Happen Inc., an arts outreach program for children ages 6-12. For 47 homeless children, it's a rare opportunity to take a break from their hard-knock lives.
Art Academy of Cincinnati students and faculty welcome the children. Leading the cheer is 33-year-old Happen founder Tommy Rueff. He's seen the impact Happen has made on parents and children, and he's confident the same thing will happen to these Project Connect kids.
The children gather around the animals. They get to know their Art Academy mentors. Before long, Cowboy Value (a.k.a. Happen volunteer Todd Jesse) struts into the parking lot, ready to gather the crowd into the make-believe farm inside the Happen storefront. By the end of the day, after a mix of performance theater and hands-on education, the children will gain new appreciation for art, creativity and themselves.
"What this project can do is fill the needs of kids who are the most needy in Cincinnati," Rueff says, speaking a few days later.
Some strange twists of fate led Rueff to Happen. He was an artist living in Chicago until a long-time friend asked him to move to Cincinnati and help form Barefoot Advertising. Their business quickly grew.
But a student visit to Rueff's studio sparked another interest. He attached a photo of his dog to some paper and asked the visiting students to draw what they thought the dog wanted. The students' enthusiasm was impressive.
"It was a wonderful experience for me," Rueff says. "I hope it was also wonderful for the kids, but it certainly was for me."
Rueff followed his heart and sold his share in Barefoot. It was a hard decision, but there was something else he wanted to do.
"Why would I do this right now?," Rueff asks. "I'm not married and I don't have a family. This is the only time in my life where I can do this."
Nine months of planning prepared Rueff and his growing team of volunteers for their first Happen class in February 1999. Members of the business community helped him develop a business plan. The Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts helped to guide him through the obstacles of managing a small non-profit arts organization.
Back at the Happen farm, the children finish their artwork. There are surprise appearances by Old McDonald and Mother Nature. The Project Connect children receive graduation certificates to the sounds of thunderous applause.
"I can't describe Happen on a registration form," Rueff says. "You have to experience the class. All I know is that we can't survive without funding."
Happen is the handiwork of a creative individual who dreams big. It's Rueff's modus operandi. He wants to make every program bigger than before. He wants to push the limits. More importantly, he wants to make sure that Happen is accessible to needy families. A traveling program called Gameshow Goolash helps spread the Happen message. Rueff imagines Happen franchises in other Midwestern cities.
Of course, such dreams require money. The goal is for Happen to be financially stable in three years. Rueff knows that it'll be a hard-fought accomplishment. Actually, it's just a matter of getting potential funders to watch a Happen session. I guarantee that no one will leave without shedding a tear.
"A professor once told me that, sometimes in your life, your hands will meet your head and there won't be anything you won't be able to do," Rueff says. "At age 33, I feel like I'm almost there."
