Founder & Coach Bree

Urban Rock Muralist | Community Builder | Artist Coach

Bree Hassell graduated from Albany Leadership in 2014, and since then has been positively impacting the Capital Region. After high school, Bree attended Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. Bree’s undergraduate education coupled with professional experience in youth development has inspired The Albany Rock Project (ARP) for which Bree has repeatedly received the DEC grant for arts and culture programming.

  • Energetic, vibrant community builder from Albany, NY

  • Always looking for new, fun ways to show people to connect with one another

  • Social Entrepreneur for 3 years

The Albany Rock Project

ARP was inspired by Bree’s work as a social-emotional educator and was founded as a community initiative that brought an artsy, sustainable outdoor activity to Black and Brown neighborhoods during the onslaught of COVID-19 in 2020. Bree believes that the project will not only, support physical activity, visual arts education, and mindfulness among Albany’s youth, but will also help to expand advertising and exposure for small local businesses, tourist attractions, and hidden gems throughout the city.

ARP is now a for-profit business that invests in workforce development with local artists. Also, expands travel-friendly beautification projects to Black and Brown, low-income neighborhoods in Albany, NY, and beyond.

Urban

ARP rock hunts focus on engaging families with accessible art and highlighting emerging BIPOC artists in black and brown neighborhoods and parks throughout Albany, NY.

Playful, Creative & Intentional

ARP is RE-fostering human connection with art and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), founded by a community builder with over 10 years in program development with 1,300 students and counting!

Physical & Mental Wellness

Play decreases stress, fatigue, injury, and depression and increases range of motion, agility, coordination, balance, and flexibility, mentally and physically. APR accomplishes this through Experiential Learning and SEL.

“I want The Albany Rock Project to be the reason Black and Brown families are outside."

What do you want to accomplish?

If you’re looking for someone who is intentional about working within the community and contributing to human connection through art regularly, you’re looking for Coach Bree Hassell of The Albany Rock Project (ARP)!