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Each month, Behind the Mask highlights a community service project or organization in the segment entitled, Community Corner. Here, get a look into impact Harmonic Humanity has on the homeless community in San Francisco.
 
"I think the biggest misconception of homeless people is they're not valuable to society," co-founder and CEO of Harmonic Humanity Aj Lovewins explained. "There are a lot of people who are just stuck in a hard place trying to get to that next spot."
 
After his own personal experience with homelessness, Lovewins decided he could make a difference. Through the Harmonic Humanity music program, which features University of San Francisco alumnus and former Dons basketball player Michael Franti as one of its many partner artists, homeless people have an opportunity to earn money and connect with the community through CD sales. Along with providing employment for the homeless by leveraging the power of music, the organization has a social mission to build an active community and a social structure to provicd education and counseling in addition to employment opportunities.
 
"It's really important for our organization to shift the perception about people who are homeless and help people understand that they're just like you and I," Lovewins noted.
 
As part of a class project, four USF student-athletes went out in the community to provide resources to the homeless community as part of the Harmonic Humanity program.
 
"The students that we are working with – Christian (Cecilio), Ryan (Matranga), Rob (Parker), Ally (Beck) – are amazing," Lovewins said. "They are dedicated, putting in full days as students and then full-time careers as athletes on top of that, and in addition, going out into the community and trying to make a difference with their time. To do that takes incredible resilience, focus and discipline."
 
The group went out and delivered supplies and food while fostering interpersonal connections with the homeless community. This act of service encouraged not only the homeless which were served, but acted as nourishment for the souls of the four volunteers.
 
"A big reason why I came here was not just to play sports, not just to get an education," baseball student-athlete Cecilio explained, " but to become a better person – a better man."
 
This segment of Behind the Mask, the ongoing San Francisco feature series on Comcast SportsNet California, can be seen in the fourth episode of the half-hour show. The series showcases the teams and student-athletes of all 15 varsity sports at USF, and takes viewers beyond the game. A re-airing of the episode can be seen on CSNCA Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. to cap the calendar year.
 
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California can typically be found on channel 698 for DirecTV customers, 438 on the Dish Network, 412-01 on Dish Hopper packages, 767 on U-Verse and 41 on most Comcast packages. Check local listings for your cable provider's station guide.
 
For more information on Harmonic Humanity, please visit harmonichumanity.org.