BUILDING HARMONIES

A Community Night of Connection Through Song

Join us for a community-building music night featuring jam sessions, open mic moments, and space to connect. Designed for newcomers, immigrants, and racialized young adults.

SAVE YOUR SPOT

DINNER PROVIDED • FREE TO ATTEND • RSVP BY MARCH 7

EVENT DETAILS

Saturday, March 21, 2026

6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

2881 Main St, Vancouver, BC

St. Patrick's Parish Shamrock Hall

Free parking available on-site

Dinner will be included

Registration is required to attend. Please RSVP above.

How to Get Inside

Enter through the gate on the right side of the church doors, at the bottom of the ramp. Proceed down to the bottom of the stairs and turn left into the entrance.

Image taken from the church parking lot.

THE HEART BEHIND THE EVENT

Created for expression, connection, and care.

Building Harmonies grew naturally from the spirit of play, community, and connection. As Filipinas, Ro and Lara were raised in spaces filled with karaoke, large gatherings, laughter, and shared joy. These experiences shaped their understanding of togetherness and belonging. From this foundation grew a simple but powerful insight: music has the ability to bring people together, foster emotional safety, and affirm cultural identity—especially for immigrants and racialized young people.

This event is both a homage to their Filipino roots and an offering to immigrant and racialized young adults. It creates space for connection, shared experiences, and the building of harmony through community and song.

Because belonging is something we create together.

Our purpose is to create a safe, welcoming space where music becomes a pathway to connection, healing, and belonging. Rooted in the understanding that creative expression supports emotional well-being and social connection, this project centers the experiences of immigrants and racialized young people.

In a time shaped by global conflict, rising anti-immigrant stigma, and community-wide grief, many young people are carrying feelings of isolation and uncertainty. This gathering responds to that moment by offering a communal space to reflect, express, and care for one another.

Through music and shared creative moments, participants are invited to celebrate cultural identity, share lived experiences, and build supportive relationships. Music serves as both a grounding force and a bridge—linking individuals to community, and expression to resilience.

By fostering belonging and creating culturally relevant opportunities for connection, this project aims to strengthen community resilience and remind participants that they are not alone.

ABOUT US

Meet Ro & Lara

Best friends, music lovers, and experts at turning ordinary hangouts into something memorable. Ro and Lara created Building Harmonies to share that same joy—an evening where people can connect, laugh, and feel at home in community.

ROANNA she/her

Hi folks. I’m Ro! My family and I immigrated here in 2003, and ever since then, I’ve dreamed of creating a space where people can come together through music (ask anyone who knows me, I’m ALWAYS asking for a jam session). This event brings together two of the things I care about most: music and community. More than just playing songs, it’s about connecting with one another, sharing space, and building something meaningful together. Especially in today’s social and political climate, community matters more than ever. My hope is that this jam session becomes a place where people feel welcome, inspired, and reminded of how powerful it is when we show up for each other.

LARA she/her

Lara (she/her) is a 2nd generation immigrant born and raised on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples with parents who had both immigrated from the Philippines. She had recently completed a degree in Early Childhood Education and has experience working with children and families with diverse backgrounds. Growing up, music always filled the household, and I have fond memories of dancing and singing with my relatives during karaoke sessions. As I grew older, I began to take more notice of how music bridged people together in times of both sadness and joy. Music became an invitation to sing, to dance, and to be with each other in moments of uncertainty. She hopes that through this community event, we will be able to share stories, bring comfort and joy, and build harmonies together.