Anthony “Solo” Harris is honored with the 2025 Karen L. Shoemaker Community Impact Award at The Arc’s One Step Forward Celebration.
On May 8, 2025, The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties honored Anthony “Solo” Harris with the 2025 Karen L. Shoemaker Community Impact Award at its One Step Forward Celebration — recognizing his work in community empowerment through the arts.
As the founder of Solo Expression, Anthony has built an innovative form of dance therapy that creates a safe, expressive space for individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and seniors — blending emotional, physical, and spiritual healing through movement. What began as a personal story of transformation has grown into a community-wide ripple effect of growth, connection, and healing.
The Honor
Turning Movement Into Medicine
In its tribute, The Arc described Anthony’s vision as bold and his impact as lasting — the kind of work that shows a community the power of expression and the beauty of connection in motion.
“Anthony has turned movement into medicine.”
— The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton CountiesThe Karen L. Shoemaker Community Impact Award celebrates people whose work meaningfully improves the lives of others across the Lehigh Valley. For Anthony, that impact is measured in classrooms, community centers, and performance floors where participants who were once on the sidelines become dancers.
“Your vision is bold. Your heart is big. And your impact is lasting.”
— The Arc, in its honoree tribute to Anthony HarrisThe Celebration
A Night That Honored Advocates
The One Step Forward Celebration gathered advocates, educators, and community leaders to recognize the people advancing The Arc’s mission. CEO Lisa Musselman noted that the honorees were being celebrated simply for who they are — people with a deep commitment to making sure everyone feels safe and included.
Miss Pennsylvania 2024, Page Weinstein, served as keynote speaker, reminding the room that people with disabilities make up the world’s largest minority group and are too often underserved.
“We can be inclusive, we can be kind, we can offer them opportunities.”
— Page Weinstein, Miss Pennsylvania 2024, keynote speakerOther honorees included Nazareth Area School District teacher A.J. Kise, who received the Special Education Award for building a simulated apartment to help students practice independent living, and Dr. Domenico Cavaiuolo of East Stroudsburg University, who received the Allen D. Deibler Award for a career spent preparing special education teachers and advocating for people with disabilities.
Video courtesy of 69 News / WFMZ, reported by Sara Madonna. View the full report.
The Mission
From a Personal Story to a Community Ripple
Solo Expression grew out of Anthony’s own journey — the belief that dance can be a language for people who are too often left without one. That belief now shapes daily classes and community programs across the Lehigh Valley, where movement becomes a path to confidence, connection, and belonging.
The Arc’s recognition affirms what participants and families already know: this work is changing lives, one routine at a time. It is community in motion — and it is only getting bigger.
About the Honor
The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties · One Step Forward Celebration
The Karen L. Shoemaker Community Impact Award was presented at The Arc’s 2025 One Step Forward Celebration on May 8, 2025. Learn more about the event and its honorees at arcoflehighnorthampton.org/2025osfc.
Story & Source Record
Honoree tribute courtesy of The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Event coverage: 69 News / WFMZ — “Celebration honors advocates for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities” (reported by Sara Madonna, May 8, 2025).
Be part of the ripple.
Solo Expression brings dance therapy and adaptive movement to individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and seniors across the Lehigh Valley. Partner with us, or bring a class to your community.