Page 52 - November2018

Members Only Section
Cele
e
br
r
r
r
a
a
at
t
in
n
n
g
g L
L
Lo
od
dg
ge
e 7
7
7 m
m
e
e
em
m
b
b
e
er
r
rs
s
s a
a
a
nd
d
d t
the
ew
wa
a
ay
y
y
t
th
Painting with a purpose in the 11th
h
ey se
erv
v
e
e e
ev
ve
e
r
ry
y
y d
da
a
ay
y
■ BY ERIKA WURST
Officer Yesenia Rodriguez loves art.
She loves the way it allows people to express themselves. She loves the way that art heals, and she loves the way that feelings pour out onto canvases in unex- pected ways.
“You can tell a lot by the way a person paints,” says Rodriguez, an 11th District officer. “Domestic violence victims have a lot of feelings they need to express. Painting helps release that, and it be- comes a healing process.”
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Rodriguez wanted to bring victims together for a free event that allowed them to creatively take steps to heal from their pasts.
“Let’s Paint and Advocate,” held on Oct. 11 at Nichols Tower in Homan Square, drew approximately 40 participants. A local company, Pinot’s Palette, gave the district a discounted rate and stepped up to host the painting party. In between the fun, domestic violence advocates shared information and resources, and there were spoken-word performances featur- ing uplifting and empowering messages. It’s an event that Rodriguez has tried to host for quite some time.
“It’s important to have strong commu-
nity ties,” she says. “When someone sees an officer in uniform, they think some- one is going to jail. We want them to see an officer and think, ‘This person is go- ing to help me.’”
For many participants, it was their first time creating a piece of art, which was a delight for Rodriguez to witness first- hand. Although everyone was instructed to paint a single specific picture, once given permission to stray from the norm, most did. That’s when Rodriguez says the event really came to life.
Emotions and feelings poured out onto canvases, smiles crept onto faces and Rodriguez knew something special was happening.
“For those couple of hours, we were able to help them and give them a new
perspective,” she says. “’Yeah, you’ve been hurt, and it hurts a lot, but there is light at the end of this tunnel.’ There is still hope, and I knew this was something that would be really good for them.”
That fact was confirmed at the end of the event, when participants gushed about how much fun they had. The painting party is just one of the many events hosted by the 11th District CAPS office.
“I came from the 11th District. That’s why I’m still here,” Rodriguez says. “Someone was there to help me out, and I want to be that person to someone else.”
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2018 51