Greetings DANA Members!
This is Sherry B. Ways, Project Coordinator of the Washington, DC Project H.O.M.E! We have crossed the finish line folks! My has it been a wonderful and powerful experience for me. I am so blessed to have a multitude of talent and DEDICATED people around me. I wish to thank the following people for seeing this project TO THE END:
Bill Howard, Artist, Ward 7 Arts Collaborative
Wand Aikens, Executive Director, Ward 7 Arts Collaborative
Audrey White, Unity Health Care Foundation
Naima Hashim, Unity Health Care Foundation
Nika Stewart, Decorators Alliance of North America
Without EGO or fretting over "who is the lead" or dropping out you all showed unselfish dedication to this project we would never have been able to see it through. Though we had some bumps in the road, we saw it through. That is what life is all about, moving through difficulties and roadblocks in a dignified way never being negative but always positive. For that I thank you.
I also want to thank our sponsors:
City Interests
Eco-Green Living
IKEA
Authentic Art Consulting
Thick Art Collaborative
Without you we could not have had a great space!
Well folks, what can I say? The morning of Wednesday, September 17th was full of pomp and circumstance. Our Key Corner Reading room for the Unity East of the River Clinic is finally finished!
The morning was filled with coffee, pasteries, conversation and lots of smiles! A formal program which included top leadership of Unity Health Care rounded out the event.
Dr. Marlene Kelley, MD., Chair of the Board of Unity Health Care made remarks, as well did Vincent Keane, President and Executive Director of Unity Health Care. In addition, remarks were made by Wanda Aikens, Executive Director of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, Bill Howard, Muralist and member of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, yours truly on behalf of Design Scheme Interiors, LLC and Ms. Nika Stewart, Co-Founder and Executive Director, of the Decorators Alliance of North America, Project H.O.M.E.
Sharon J. Burton of Authentic Art Consulting was in attendance. Authentic Art Consulting along with the Thick Art Collaborative provided reading books, school and art supplies for the children. Tara Shimberg DC DANA member was also in attendance for support.
The media was there- Capitol Community News and ABC Channel 8 affliate here in Washington, DC covered the event during their evening news programming.
NOW, I wish to post Nika Stewart's comments about the event that she sent via email yesterday:
Hi DANA members!
I writing to tell you about my experience
yesterday at the first Project HOME
reveal.
If you've been following Project HOME
on the blog (http://projecthome2008.blogspot.com),
you know that several DANA members have been
busy volunteering their talents to give
back to their communities - and making the
world a better place. Well, yesterday was the
"grand opening" of the new reading corner inside
Unity Health Care's East of the River Health Center
in Washington DC.
The ceremony was lovely. The Unity Health
Care Foundation recognized the incredible
generosity of DANA member Sherry B. Ways,
of Design Scheme Interiors, LLC. Sherry worked
with artists and furniture companies to bring
this beautiful space together. We are so proud
and inspired by you, Sherry!
Television and newspaper press attended the
ribbon cutting to capture the event. The CEO
of Unity publicly thanked all the volunteers,
and I even got to stand up and express my joy
at being there and my appreciation for what
Sherry has done.
But more important than yesterday's festivities
is the lasting impact this is going to have
on DC's underprivileged families. By creating a
comfortable, cheerful space for children to relax,
and by inspiring them to read - by offering them
books in a fun, inspiring atmosphere, this new
reading corner will help children feel good about
reading - and feel great about themselves.
I think that makes the whole world a better
place to live, don't you?
Have a great day!
Nika
Nika Stewart
Executive Director, DANA
Decorators Alliance of North America
I wish to thank those who have been reading this blog and following this story. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our project. We are still taking donations so feel free to contact me at (202) 582-5555 or e-mail me at sherry@designschemeinteriors.com.
I would love to hear from you!
I will let you know of new things that are happening as a result of this space and the impact it will have on the community.
Stay in touch!
Respectfully Submitted,
Sherry B. Ways, Washington, DC Project H.O.M.E. Coordinator
Design Scheme Interiors, LLC
www.designschemeinteriors.com
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