Tag: Be The Change

Annual Homewood art project: Benches for Change support SSFS

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By: Carole Sharwarko

HF Chronicle July 15, 2020

Colorful and conveniently placed benches have popped up around downtown Homewood, the 2020 incarnation of an annual art installation.

Benches for Changes is a program facilitated by Homewood Business Association that benefits South Suburban Family Shelter, a Homewood-based nonprofit organization that provides services to families experiencing domestic violence.

This year’s project follows previous ones that saw dogs on parade and Adirondack chairs, locally integrated art that benefitted South Suburban Humane Society and Cancer Support Center, respectively.

Julie Lawton, director of Homewood Business Association, said the organization planned a while ago to use the 2020 art installation to benefit SSFS.

“We told them last year that we wanted to work with them because it’s their 40-year anniversary,” said Lawton, who is co-owner of UpsaDaisy Boutique in Homewood.

Twenty-two unfinished benches were bought by businesses, organizations and individuals, who assembled and painted them with a theme of their choosing.

To make the benches durable for outdoor use, Homewood Auto Body donated time and material to seal each bench with the same clear coat it uses on cars. The business also sprayed the dogs and chairs of previous installations, protecting them from the natural elements.

“One of the biggest contributors for us is Scott (Saalman) from Homewood Auto Body,” Lawton said. “They have offered to spray the final coat on any art installation we do. It’s a very costly thing for him to do.”

After being enjoyed by visitors to Homewood’s downtown throughout the summer, the benches will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting SSFS. Previous auctions were held at Homewood’s Fall Fest. Since the fate is uncertain for that event for this year, the auction will be tied in with SSFS’s annual gala in October.

While the two-seater benches encourage connection between people, Lawton said that can be tricky during a time when COVID restrictions keep us apart. However, someone can sit with a family member or a close friend for a chat, or sit alone for quiet reflection.

“You’re welcome to sit on the benches. We want people to sit on them and enjoy them,” Lawton said. “It’s nice to stop and just think about life and the wonderful experiences you have with the people closest to you.”

SSFS launches month of ‘change’ to fight violence

Rachel Forsyth Press Release Leave a comment
By: Carole Sharwarko
HF Chronicle October 11, 2019 – 21:39
Be the Change cards created by South Suburban Family Shelter offer a suggestion for each day in October Domestic Violence Awareness Month. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)
Be the Change cards created by South Suburban
Family Shelter offer a suggestion for each day
in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month,
and were handed out during the Be the Change
Celebration. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)

With community sing-alongs and a swishing rainbow dress, the South Suburban Family Shelter kickoff event for Domestic Violence Awareness Month looked a bit different this year than its previous incarnation.

For years, Homewood-based SSFS has hosted a candlelight vigil near the beginning of DV awareness month, a solemn event with emotional speakers and recitations of serious statistics.
The revamped 2019 program, called Be the Change Celebration, still included the ever-present moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives due to domestic violence. However, the tone of the brief event at Marie Irwin Park in Homewood was upbeat and focused on positive action.
Throughout the event, Ahren Hawkin from Melody Mart led a community ukulele band, and motivational speaker Gina Bell cast a spell of positivity over the crowd.
“I’m excited about the new format this year,” said Kerry Hill, SSFS’s manager for community education and outreach. “I really like the shift to empowerment.”
The program opened with a sing-along of “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson, led by Hawkin and the ukulele band.
Then the crowd heard from a woman named Angela, a mother of five who benefitted from SSFS’s Sanctuary program. Sanctuary services assist people who want to leave situations of domestic violence.
“I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for this organization. It got bad; I had no peace,” said Angela, holding her youngest daughter on her hip. “Do whatever you can to support this organization. We need this, our families need this, our girls need this.”
After Angela received a rousing round of applause, SSFS Executive Director Jennifer Gabrenya welcomed Bell to the stage. Bell is a motivational speaker and women’s empowerment coach from Dyer, Ind.
Motivational speaker Gina Bell inspires the crowd in her rainbow skirt, as South Suburban Family Shelter Executive Director Jennifer Gabrenya looks on. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)
Motivational speaker Gina Bell inspires the crowd
in her rainbow skirt, as South Suburban Family
Shelter Executive Director Jennifer Gabrenya
looks on. (Carole Sharwarko/H-F Chronicle)

When she took the stage, Bell told the crowd that night was the first time she ever spoke publicly about her own experience with domestic violence. She did so briefly, and then transitioned into her program where she encouraged members of the audience to spread positivity.

Everyone has an inner light, Bell said, though most people don’t want to show it. To represent this, Bell, who was dressed all in black, put on a big fluffy skirt made from a rainbow of tulle layers.
“Think about the light inside all of us,” she said. “You have the ability to shine your light out into the community.”
Bell led the audience through a participatory cheer of sorts, where they recited the words, “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.”
The quick presentation brought smiles to faces in the crowd. Then Gabrenya invited attendees to visit the resource table to get information, along with a Be the Change suggestions card and a purple light bulb to “Shine a light on domestic violence.”
The ukulele band closed the program with a sing-along performance of “Perfect” by Pink.