The amazing Artsquest Center opened at Steel Stacks April 14th with a dedication ceremony.
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In 2006, I participated in the last official photo safari to the remains of Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. 4 years, 11 months later, I joined a few hundred people for the dedication of the Artsquest Center on the grounds now known as Steel Stacks. From the ruins sprang one of the most remarkable reclamations in the world. I am proud to be on the Visual Arts Board of Directors and to have done my small part to help bring the arts to the Lehigh Valley.
I hear from Nancy Santullo every year or so and each time she nourishes my heart as she does with all the people she touches. Nan makes the world a better place. I want to share Nan and her worthy labor of love with you. Please give generously.
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Hi Ian, How are you? I wanted to share a 5 min film on my work here in the Amazon– Interesting when we did my two days workshop together back in the early 90′s, some of my loves were, clouds, water to name a few… Ya just never know where your workshops will lead people. Know I’d be grateful if you share the film with colleagues and friends, help me raise awareness and funds for this labor of love in union with humanity. I hope you’re well, Lots of love, Nan
.. Founder, Nancy Santullo, Manifests Love! .
Nancy Santullo, Founder and Executive Director of House of the Children, first visited Peru in 1999 because of her interest in the medicinal healing properties indigenous to the region.
“What interested me about Peru, was that the indigenous people there still lived so connected to nature. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of their natural medicines and traditions.” Nancy, a successful freelance fashion and advertising photographer for over fifteen years in Los Angeles, has shot national print campaigns for corporations such as Levi Strauss, Warner Brother Records, Toyota, NBC Television, and Walt Disney Pictures.
Touched by the needs of the children of Peru, Nancy returned three months later with family donations and began working with a small group of homeless street children in Cusco and, later, with a group of native children in the village of Huacaria in the Manu Rain Forest.
As she was helping them Nancy realized, she was no longer looking at these children as poor. Their spirits were rich and their wills strong. She became inspired to support these children from their place of strength.
Nancy’s love of the rainforest drew her back to spend more and more time with the children of Huacaria. Working with the village teacher, she established trust among the children and the villagers. She helped teach basic hygiene practices, and created an art workshop for creative activities, supplying art materials, as well as needed school supplies. The pencil sharpener was a big hit, because the children no longer needed to use their teeth to sharpen their pencil.
The children’s response was immediate and enthusiastic and she soon came to be known by them as “Senorita Nancy!”
Nancy observed that children were drinking contaminated water, suffering from chronic health problems and extremely limited educational opportunities. She also learned there were no organizations in Manu dedicated to creating opportunity for children.
Nancy knew in her heart that she had the capacity to do more and made the decision to focus her efforts on the children of Huacaria. With a small group of supporters, she established House of the Children (HOTC.) HOTC is a grassroots 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to creating support, inspiration and opportunity for indigenous children in the Manu Rain Forest of Southeastern Peru.
Nancy is often asked, “Why Peru, when there are children in America who need our love and attention?” She responds, “When I was guided to work with the children in the rainforest I didn’t really ask ‘Why?’. The children, native cultures, and the rainforest have offered me an opportunity to grow and contribute to life beyond all that I could have ever imagined. ”
“I believe that our lives are interconnected, and that as I help one child, I help all children.”
This is the beginning…
PLEASE join us for the next chapter…
Ian Summers Heartstorming Blog is about the creative spirit, the generation of ideas, the creative process, inspiration, marketing what we create, pithy quotes, questions and pondering on the creative process, idea stimulators and much more.
I co-create an environment where people are safe to bring what they love and what matters to come into being by being a compassionate teacher and expressive painter.
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