Civic Duty Glad to See Smiles through Art Building Bridges in Mexico City
(PRWEB) August 27, 2013 -- Civic Duty cofounders Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi are big fans of Smiles through Art and its founder Sharon Persovski and are gratified by the meaningful new partnerships forged on a recent trip to Mexico City. Persovski is an advocate of environmental design and the healing power of human creativity and art. Smiles through Art is dedicated to giving those with serious medical conditions a voice through their creativity and art while elevating the environmental design of hospitals and medical facilities to alleviate stress and promote healing.
During a recent visit to her hometown of Mexico City, Persovski was able to meet with three organizations that are interested in incorporating Smiles through Arts’ programs and design services.
“I am honored that Smiles through Art has entrusted by these three organizations which are pillars of the community and provide such important services to the people of Mexico City,” says Persovski. “It’s beyond exciting to begin developing these healing arts programs. I look forward to working with the administration and employees, as well as students, patients, and patrons, to provide added value and meaning to the vital work of these community-orientated organizations.”
New Latin American partners of Smiles through Art are:
Hospital General de Mexico which wants to introduce arts/creativity healing programs and then use the patient art as a design element throughout the hospital. Persovski is now working with directors from the hospital’s education and foundation to begin program development.
Universidad Iberoamericana, a well-known, large education and research institution which also happens to be Persovski's alma mater. The school's Deans of Architecture and Design were thrilled to meet with one of their distinguished alumni and learn of her great design work and accomplishments. They are very interested in forging a partnership with an U.S. educational institution such as theirs; a highly-regarded, top tier, private postgraduate school in a large metropolitan area. The University of Southern California immediately came to mind and Persovski committed to initiating discussions with the two institutions.
Centro Comunitario Santa Fe operates a network of community centers concentrated in areas of poverty and marginalization within Mexico City. Following a meeting with operations and public relations staff for the centers, Smiles Through Art was enlisted to create art and design programs for the children in these communities, using art as a tool for promoting human dignity and healing.
“Wow, the success of Sharon Persovski and Smiles through Art is simply tremendous. We knew right away, when we became aware of Sharon’s creativity and passion, that she was going to have a great impact, helping many to improve their well-being and lives,” says Civic Duty cofounder Julian Omidi. “My brother Michael and I wish Sharon much success with these new endeavors.”
Smiles through Art (http://www.smilesthroughart.blogspot.com) was founded by Sharon Persovski, a graphic designer with a passion for community development through art and design. The organization helps ill people explore different avenues of emotional healing. Adults and children in particular are allowed to use their creative instincts to help navigate the fears and anxieties about their illnesses in a way that expands their horizons.
Civic Duty (http://www.civicduty.org) is dedicated to mankind’s search for meaning and promotes the values of its founders, philanthropists Julian Omidi and his brother Dr. Michael Omidi. The charity’s mission is to inspire creative outreach, community service, and volunteerism through the stories of every-day people who are making an extraordinary difference in the world. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow men.” To get involved and help make a difference, send us a message using the website’s Contact Us function. More information about Civic Duty can be found on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Twitter.
MORE about the Mexico City partner organizations:
The Hospital General de México (http://www.hgm.salud.gob.mx) is a 108-year old government institution operated by the Mexico’s Secretary of Health and the federal government. The largest public hospital in Latin America, General Hospital offers patient treatment and care within 39 medical specialties. It is located in Mexico City and is affiliated with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), the country’s largest public university. Every day the hospital provides nearly 3,000 patient consultations and performs hundreds of surgeries through their skilled workforce of more than 6,000 doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrators.
Universidad Iberoamericana (http://www.ibero.mx) is one of Mexico’s leading private academic and research institutions. Dedicated to real-world learning, the university offers its 11,000 students more than 33 undergraduate and 33 graduate programs. These rigorous programs of research and study are 100 percent certified and prepare students for life by educating the whole person through the exposure to different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. IBERO was established nearly 70 years ago in the Santa Fe area of Mexico City.
Centro Comunitario Santa Fe was established in 2005 by families, institutions, and business entrepreneurs to provide a safe haven for the impoverished people of Mexico City. These community centers offer a series of educational, recreational, and cultural workshops, as well as psychological services that seek to improve the quality of life of the population and strengthen the social fabric of communities. All services of this non-governmental organization are provided free of charge. Today, the CCSF serves more than 4,000 people every year at 28 community centers located throughout Santa Fe, the poorest neighborhood in Mexico City. More than 90,000 people, 62 percent of them children, live in the Santa Fe area without public services and very limited access to medical care. The support and services provided by these Community Centers are critical to the severely marginalized local residents living in extreme poverty and miserable health conditions.
Media Relations, Civic Duty, http://www.civicduty.org/, 855-330-5600, [email protected]
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