Peace and harmony is something we all strive for, finding that state of tranquility, freedom from civil disturbance, order within a community or a pact to end hostilities. Nationally recognized artist, Jacklyn Laflamme will showcase her work from her “Peace By Piece” collection at the Tyrone Bryant Library in conjunction with Paint The Park. Her work will help to further enforce this community’s message and their efforts to “Stomp Out Violence and Choose Peace”.
Paint the Park, a community mural art day and resource fair will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2013 in order to work towards the unification and beautification of a local community. Hosting the event is 2-1-1 Broward and the Tyrone Bryant Friends of the Library, spearheaded by 2-1-1 Community Outreach Specialist Volunteer, Melinda Pollard and nationally recognized artist, Jacklyn Laflamme.
The event will take place Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Oswald Park, 2220 NW 21st Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
A resource fair is also planned and will be designed to connect the community with resources and information about cultural organizations, social services and businesses that are available to Broward County residents. The day will also include live entertainment, food trucks, a kid zone, and workshops.
The goals of this project will be to involve different people who may not encounter each other in their daily lives, including those with different socio-economic backgrounds, various age groups and ethnicities to network together – their common ground being ties to this community. It also seeks to engage these residents to come together to share their stories, history and be involved to help beautify, connect, and revitalize this municipality. The direct participation with input by the residents who live and work in the area, to create the art works, will encourage neighborhood cohesiveness, replace blight with beauty and instill a sense of pride in the community.
“We really want the local community to be a part of the experience,” stated Jacklyn Laflamme, “If the people of the neighborhood participate in the creation of the art it will allow them to have a sense of ownership over it.”
Paint the Park will also be an opportunity to bridge social services with arts and culture and demonstrate how they can support each other and the residents in the community. The day will help bring awareness to the residents about the arts, cultural and social resources that are available in Broward County.
In May of 2013, 2-1-1 Broward hosted G.I.V.E. (Get involved Volunteer and Community Resource Expo). “At the end of the day we saw how interested the community was in getting involved, volunteering and working with each other to complete a goal. This was just the beginning of the revitalization of this wonderful park.” stated Melinda Pollard. “Paint the Park will echo the success of G.I.V.E. by having a similar design and purpose.”
This community is part of 33311, the most underserved zip code in the State of Florida. The area is in need of revitalization and unifying. The community art day will provide an opportunity to engage residents to connect, network and be inspired and a chance to share in the creation of the art, by painting the murals, which will beautify and revitalize their municipality. Also, they will have the unique experience to be educated about the arts, cultural events and social services and business resources that are available in Broward County. It will also provide a chance for these organizations and businesses to network, bridge together, and find creative ways to support one another and the community.
Melinda Pollard, a native of Arkansas and original background in business, banking, and real estate, came to 2-1-1 Broward through the Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program. As Community Partnership Manager, she hit the ground running, developing and coordinating events to strengthen 2-1-1 Broward’s nonprofit networking and volunteer base. She worked tirelessly to be sure 2-1-1 is no longer Broward County’s best kept secret. Her great personality and positive attitude make her the type of volunteer every organization dreams of. At the end of her VISTA service year on August 8, 2013, she stayed on board as 211 Community Outreach Specialist Volunteer to see the Paint the Park project to its successful finish.
Laflamme, originally from Montreal, a graduate of the Artist as Entrepreneurs Institute Program has worked as a professional artist for the past 13 years, and her vibrant acrylic paintings on canvas are well recognized. She is an award winning artist and a former grant recipient. She is well known for “The Fairy Tale Project” a series of children’s books, which she illustrated to promote literacy. “Doing Business As…Artist Entrepreneurs” a yearly Exhibition at Gallery 6 at the Broward County Main Library, as well as her vibrant murals around town including “The Funky Flamingo Mural” as well as the 13th Street Paint the Town Mural Project”
For further information regarding the event contact Melinda Pollard at 954-773-5860 or Jacklyn Laflamme 954-297-4387.
I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities may inspired others.
Thank You for sharing our story. See you on September 14th, we will save a paint brush for you so you can all get involved and help Paint The Park!