Red Hook Initiative
We attended the Red Hook Initiative this past week, their annual fundraiser. The RHI's mission is a belief that I believe in myself that change comes from the youth. Helping underserved young adults in Red Hook pursue their dreams and empower them to become meaningful contributing adults is the key to happy families and powerful communities.
The event took place at Pioneer Works that had been hammered by Sandy last year. An incredible soaring structure devoted to contemporary arts created to be a hub for the social exchange of arts and ideas. Dustin Yellin has led the charge around this organization and his own studio is next door.
The outdoor space is just as nice as the indoor space. Inside there was a hanging art piece that was supposedly going to be blown up sometime over the weekend.
The event as a whole was a total Brooklyn community event. I am a little bit over the events that have a variety of tables with food from different chefs and restaurants but what was special about this is that all the restaurants were local Brooklyn places. Baked, Buttermilk Channel, Good Fork, La Slowteria, Pok Pok, Mile End and Van Brunt Stillhouse to name a few.
I happened to see Dustin Yellin and he gave me a quick tour of his studio next door. I am a fan of his work. Layered pieces of glass with each building out the image that you eventually see looking straight at it. The large tall pieces weigh 3000 pounds.
Really glad we went. Like all NY events these days we bumped into a quite a few friends which always makes for a nice evening.
Comments (Archived):
A good Chicago friend took her uber devotion to helping others and has channeled it to the Survivor Mitzvah Project. For some reason this post made me think of it and that you may be interested. I could see you and Jill Cahr hit it off….http://www.survivormitzvah.org
Very cool initiative.
As someone born in Brooklyn who moved to the suburbs at 7 then away from NY at 17 – 30 years ago I find the transformation of Brooklyn to be just amazing (and wonderful!)
Where in Brooklyn
So glad you came – we like a night that combine justice and joy (and food!). Thanks for writing about it – Lisa Cowan (RHI Board member)