Microsoft and m:united//McCann are Celebrating the Art of Harmony

This year has been challenging for many and much of what we hear in the news can be negative.  Microsoft wanted to lift people up and remind them that ordinary people can make a difference. The message focuses on the spirit of the holidays, people coming together and celebrating what is good and right with the world—what unites us, instead of what divides us.  

Breaking on Monday December 5, the “Art of Harmony”, an evolution of last year’s holiday theme of “Spread Harmony, will run throughout the holiday season on broadcast, online, out of home and social, spanning Microsoft websites, Bing, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook – including a first ever “Facebook Badge” which enables framing a profile picture with art from the spot with the “Spread Harmony” message.  Global markets will carry the message in digital and social.  Last year’s holiday spot ran in over 90 markets.

The real people:

Joel Artista is an artist, educator and advocate for social change through community-based public art.

Zianna Oliphant is a child activist, who pleaded to the Charlotte City Council for equality and for the fighting to stop.

Bobby White is a Florida police officer nicknamed the “basketball cop” after a video of him playing ball with local kids, rather than busting them after a complaint, went viral.

Hawa Diallo is a West African refugee artist who discovered her need to create in her mid-40s to express the beauty and pain of her experiences.

Jazz Jennings is the youngest person to publicly identify herself as transgender, and is now a national role-model and activist for transgender youth.

Zea Bowling is a 7-year old first grader who stood firm in the face of hate during a celebration of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

Christopher Catrambone is an entrepreneur who founded the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, a global search and rescue charity for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

Mona Haydar is a Muslim-American activist who invites people to come “ask a Muslim” over free coffee and doughnuts.