The Creative Sisterhood completed our second project for the girls of Kenmare High School at the York Street Project in Jersey City, NJ. It was in partnership with Enchanted Makeovers, an organization that brings joy to abused women’s shelters.

The project is part of our yearly give back and we worked with Terry Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers. Our mission is to bring friendship, paint dreams and create spaces the viewer never thought possible through the work of our hands. In this way we contribute to creating a better world.

The York Street Project-Kemare High School Mural

with Enchanted Makeovers in Jersey City, NJ

sisters at work

sisters at work

These are the sisters:

Karina Astete

Laine Discepoli

Jane Drew

Colleen Drew

Lyna Farkas

Rebecca E. Parsons

Patricia Travis

The Project – The Journey… Discovering Our Inner Treasures (NJ Event)

True beauty lies within. Courage, compassion, faith, strength of character … these are our inner treasures, available to all of us. But sometimes life’s many challenges can conceal these gifts and make them difficult to find. On October 16-17, Enchanted Makeovers will host “The Journey: Discovering our Inner Treasures,” a weekend event to benefit the women at Saint Joseph’s Home in Jersey City, NJ.

The Cre8Tive Sisterhood helped the women explore the canvas of their dreams through a mural ceremony, and singer Jacqueline Astete sang an original song for the mural ceremony…inspiration through music.

After the mural ceremony, the girls wrote wishes and dreams on the nural…

Jennifer Tuma-Young, a writer, speaker, licensed coach, wife, mother, and down-to-earth ‘inspirer’ who understands what it’s like to try to find balance, shared how journaling can be a valuable tool for unearthing hidden potential and how yoga can help heal the body, soul and mind. (See article below) Rev. Edie Weinstein, a licensed social worker, interfaith minister and blogger for Beliefnet, discussed how to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The women were pampered with makeovers, compliments of artists from Make-Up Designory (MUD). And to further demonstrate that they are worthy of the best life has to offer, the women were treated to an exquisite meal at Michael Anthony’s waterfront restaurant. The event closed with a flower being placed in the water along with each woman’s prayer. All of the women receive dgift bags filled with personal treasures, handcrafted lap quilts and other gifts during the event.

the people who make Kenmare work...Mike, Marlene, Jennifer

the principal Marlene O'Conner

Journaling in New Jersey

by Rebecca E. Parsons

The Sisters were blessed to be a part of a journaling experience in New Jersey last weekend. It was led by the ever-so inspiring Jennifer Tuma-Young of the dreamy Inspired Girl dot net for the girls of Kenmare High School at the York Street Project in Jersey City, NJ.

Journal keeping is a tool to find the connections between your thoughts and your observations…a way to invite inspiration…to take the time to notice your life moments…a way to learn to play…it is a way to talk to yourself deeply…Jennifer says, “Putting your thoughts on paper and verbalizing it is powerful. Saying a dream aloud actually puts it in motion.”

I have been journaling since I was in high school. It is a practice that has kept me moving forward on this not so steady life path.To turn the pages is to know the woman I am…the spirited, witty, sometimes forlorn voice that leads you through doorways to unknown places of my hopes, dreams and inspiration.

I am in good company as Louisa May Alcott began at age seven. Edith Wharton wrote before breakfast like I did for many years. Virginia Woolf was a journal keeper. You can find George Orwell, Samuel Pepys, Charles Darwin and Thomas Hardy journals online today as blogs. Benjamin Franklin recommended it as “a means to virtue.”

I keep many journals…The sketchbook journals, the prayer journals, the Moleskine notebooks, binders and spiral bound notebooks full of lined sheets with random thoughts, musings, quotes and images, writings and of course my blogs. All these have their special place in my life; each has a specific task; all are priceless.

Jennifer said, “Journaling is like brushing your teeth…habitually there when you awake or before you sleep.” She uses the prompts Live – Love – Learn. How did I live today? What did I love today? What did I learn today?

Over the next few weeks I will be recounting my wonderful journey to New Jersey…the beautiful souls I met and the amazing events and happenings.

The mission of York Street Project is to weave innovative programs that shelter, feed, educate and promote the healing and independence of persons in need, especially women and their children. Kenmare High School – An Education for a Lifetime is a fully accredited alternative high school providing women aged 17-35 who dropped out of the public or private school system with a second chance to earn a diploma. Additionally, we furnish the counseling, social services, and childcare support at our onsite center, The Nurturing Place. St. Mary’s Residence – A Place to Call Home is a safe, affordable housing for single working women with limited incomes. The Residence provides affordable housing, meals, and communal living services for each woman, allowing her to concentrate on improving her language and job skills for a better future.

Photos by:

Eric R. Velarde

Laine Discepoli

Patricia Travis

Rebecca E. Parsons