Band of the Strong
Walking “With” People to Restore Peace and Purpose
Our Mission
Band of the Strong walks “With” individuals affected by grief to restore peace and purpose through life’s hardest moments. We employ evidence-based programs based in artistic expression.
We are dedicated to restoring dignity and strength to our community members through the transformative power of storytelling. We provide unique opportunities in art, writing, music, and more to help kids and families in need process and triumph over life's challenges, including grief, illness, end of life experiences, and more. By combining compassionate support with innovative programming, we empower individuals to rewrite their stories and build stronger, more resilient communities. Our commitment to ongoing research and strategic community partnerships ensures we continually enhance our impact and effectiveness.
Our Impact
Band of the Strong grew from a simple belief: our stories—especially the difficult ones—deserve to be heard, honored, and given room to change.
Our founder, Dr. Zachary C. Schafer, experienced the death of his father as a child and later the deaths of his brother and grandmother. Alongside these personal experiences, his work as an educator, researcher, restorative practices trainer, and community program leader revealed how deeply young people and families need spaces where they can express themselves without being pressured to grieve or heal in a particular way.
Over the past decade, our work has reached thousands of young people and families through storytelling, music, art, writing, restorative practices, and shared experiences. We have been fortunate to collaborate with organizations including The Collective for Hope, Angels Among Us, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Mourning Hope, Ares Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Omaha Symphony, KANEKO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, the Luminarium, the PACE Center, and many more.
Each partnership has helped us create new ways for people to process grief, illness, end-of-life experiences, and other life challenges. What began as a commitment to helping people tell their stories has grown into a community dedicated to restoring dignity, building connection, and reminding people that they do not have to carry life’s hardest experiences alone.
~10
Years serving our community
We have continually helped to provide opportunities for youth in the Omaha and Lincoln area to work through some of the most challenging events in their lives.
“Music and Art is about understanding what your heart needs and finding a way to tell the world your story.”
Get Involved
You can get involved in a multitude of ways from using our services, signing up to be a volunteer, or by making a donation.
Sign Up For a Program
We have a variety of programs for people of all kinds.
Volunteer opportunities
By signing up to be a volunteer you will be put on a list and notified when there are volunteer opportunities.
Make a Donation
We accept donations through Give Butter, in Cash, check, and gently used musical instruments.
