My Day at Pathways to Housing DC

Last week I had the incredible opportunity of creating and installing a gallery wall at the Pathways to Housing office in DC.  Click to read more about this awesome day and also to download a FREE GIFT for you!!Last week I had the incredible opportunity of creating and installing a gallery wall at the Pathways to Housing office in DC.  If you aren't familiar with Pathways then please click on the video below to learn more about this fantastic organization.

Transforming Lives Through Housing First from Pathways to Housing DC on Vimeo.

Through the urging of my Broker, Jennifer Myers I set up a meeting with the Pathways staff about six months ago and was changed by the experience.  The motto of the organization is 'housing first'.  The goal is to end homelessness by doing something simple: giving homeless people a place to live. Many of the homeless are dealing with mental health, trauma and/or substance abuse problems and dealing with them becomes exceedingly difficult without a home.  Once the person knows where they will sleep each night, has a place to keep important medications and can hang a calendar on the wall to keep track of appointments, success is within reach.  This just made sense to me.While meeting with Hannah, the Director of Development & Communications, she said something that has really stuck with me.  She told me that Pathways to Housing could use whatever it was that I had to give.  I thought this was such a great way to approach people in hopes of having them agree to help the organization.  Let them give what they know and are excited about, and you probably gain a lot more.  I thought for a second about what I felt inspired to contribute and then said - I have art. My Grandmother is an artist, as well as most members of my family, and I LOVE collecting it!  Every time I have moved into a new home it has not felt like 'mine' until the art is up on the walls.  Hannah was excited about the idea and it was decided that I would contribute art work as a house warming gift for the clients.  We then decided to build upon the idea and create a gallery wall so clients would be able to enjoy the artwork during their time at Pathways.  Then, they may each select a piece to hang in their own home.Pathways designated a great big wall in the lobby for the gallery wall.  I met with Elizabeth Horen last Thursday morning.  She graciously held nails and passed me the hammer as I pieced things together.  I never measure gallery walls.  I think it takes the fun out of putting them together.  It took a little bit of time and we had to swap a few pieces around but, it turned out great!         The pieces I included were an original canvas painting donated by Christy Kill, two pieces of art done by my Grandmother, Gloria Lagergren, a watercolor print picked up at Target, The Fairy Godmother photograph by my dear friend Margo Wagner and a little graphic print I put together especially for Pathways.  Each piece also included a note, poem or description of the art that I hope will be meaningful to each recipient.  If you would like to download your own 'It's Good to Be Home' print just click below.  The image will fill a 5x7 mat opening and will print on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.  Moving forward I will be updating the gallery wall as pieces move out of Pathways and into their permanent homes with their new owners.  If YOU have a piece of art to contribute, please feel free to contact me at Lauren@WhereDoYouDwell.com.  I am happy to pick up art work, framed or unframed for this passion project of mine.  I am really looking forward to seeing where this leads as it's already been an awesome and rewarding experience!