Thanks for Making Artist for a Day A Great Day, Indeed!

I would like to thank everyone who had an opportunity to come out to the African Garden yesterday to participate in Artist for a Day. The event was financed with proceeds from the EveryBlock Chicago Very Important Neighbors Contest. We also received additional donations from members of the North Lawndale Greening Committee and Seth Barnhart. The 7 layer salad was made with produce from the Garden, and Seth Barnhart provided the door prize, an extra large ceramic flower vase. Participants had the opportunity to participate in one of six projects, including mosaic stepping stones, jewelry making, mosaic picture frames, mosaic wall hangings, baseball picture frames and painting piggy banks. Ms. Blanche Cook, Co-Manager for the African Garden was honored for her years of service to the garden. The stepping stones were named in honor of community gardeners who passed away, including Jerry Kelly, Ulysses S. Johnson, Velma Johnson, Annie Lott, Pauline Person, Kenneth Nelson, Marion Adams, Annie Anderson, Cleodia OQuinn, Savannah Binford, Vernell McFadden, Leola Hardesty, Ray Maxey. The stones were dedicated by Rev. Walter Harris, Pastor of Carey Tercentenary AME Church, and Rev. Jeanifer Kimbrough, his assistant. Participants had lunch and showed off their projects. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the following persons and organizations for their contributions to the success of this event 1200 South Central Park Block Club 3500 West 12th Place Block Club Joyce Arrington/OQuinn Family Austin Talks Seth Barnhart Carey Tercentenary AME Church Family Blanche Cook Cook Family EveryBlock Chicago, an MSNBC Company Lorean Earles Annie Ford Annie Guyton Rev. Walter Harris, Pastor of Carey Tercentenary AME Church Linda Haynes Keturah Israel, Corresponding Secretary, North Lawndale Greening Committee Dr. Shemuel Israel, President, North Lawndale Greening Committee Kelly Family Rev. Jeanifer Kimbrough, Assistant Pastor, Carey Tercentenary AME Church Brandon Leonard Curtis Leonard

Essie Leonard Kameryn Leonard Valerie F. Leonard, Local Winner, EveryBlock Chicago Very Important Neighbor Contest Becca Martin, Community Manager, EveryBlock Chicago Marvell Matthews Fred Mitchell, Vice President, North Lawndale Greening Committee Mike Morgan Ralph Murphy, Photographer Zoe Ann Nance, Treasurer, North Lawndale Greening Committee North Lawndale Greening Committee Members Doretha Penn, Recording Secretary, North Lawndale Greening Committee Person Family Gloria Stamps and Family Blanche Suggs Kyshia Thompson Ultimate Rental Services David Williams Martel Williams You may click onto the following link to see the photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/67816795@N04/sets/72157627784506839/