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A Shield And A Crown

Robin Schwartzkopf | September 7, 2020

Topics: angela patton, art, community, face masks richmond va, face shield flower crown, Girls for A Change, Hamilton Glass, larkin garbee, richmond va coronavirus, richmond va face shields

Local entrepreneur Larkin Garbee teamed up with Girls For a Change and artist Hamilton Glass to create face shields that double as flower crowns: keeping the community safe, and teaching innovation along the way. 

A year ago, personal protective equipment (PPE) would not have been on many people’s fall accessory lists. But the coronavirus pandemic has made widespread use of face shields, masks, and other safety items critical to public health. With kids returning to virtual and in-person learning, entrepreneur Larkin Garbee paired up with Girls for a Change CEO Angela Patton and artist Hamilton Glass to design and produce a flower-adorned face shield that could raise funds — and save lives. 

PHOTO: Jay Paul

When Garbee started making face shields in March, it was to support hospitals that were running low on gear in critical times. Her sister and brother-in-law, both employed in medical fields, shared concerns about being completely out of face shields. So Garbee, using her background in entrepreneurship, started a “Buy One, Give One” program to cover the cost of producing the masks. For every mask purchased, one would be donated to an essential employee or healthcare worker. 

“It was important to us because we’re not in the business to make all the profit,” Garbee said. “It’s about [serving] the community and making sure the impact is there.” 

But making face shields for kids comes with different considerations. PPE can be intimidating, restrictive, or just not fashionable. Garbee thought kids might be more interested in a fun-looking shield that still met industry standards. 

“I’d wanted for quite some time to create a more user-friendly version of [face shields]. Early on, I reached out to Angela with Girls for a Change based on the relationship I have with her as friends. We’ve done projects together in the past,” Garbee said. “I thought it would be a really great opportunity to launch the first art shield, specifically with Angela and her program.” 

PHOTO: Jay Paul

Enter Hamilton Glass: artist and frequent collaborator with Girls for a Change. After working with Patton on several projects, including a mural in Jackson Ward, Glass was approached by Garbee to design a shield the girls would want to wear. 

“The premise behind the design was making a crown out of flowers,” Glass said. “I’ve done a lot of work with Girls for a Change, and flowers are pretty much always a part of it.” 

The mission at Girls for a Change has long been about growth and empowerment. The youth development organization was designed to help Black girls, and other girls of color, to see their goals and innovations come to life. Glass reflected on the symbolism, which he described as frequent, but unintentional. 

“I was trying to find a way for the girls to make [the shields] cool, and expressions of themselves,” Glass said. “To bring out their personality through not just having a normal face shield.” 

PHOTO: Jay Paul

Glass finished a few designs for the shields before the final idea was chosen. It was revealed at the Girls for a Change garden party, where girls in the nonprofit’s summer programs gathered in a safe, socially-distant atmosphere. At the party, all the girls received a free shield, and could learn about production as well as try their hands at designing their own. 

“I wanted the girls to see how they can take a creative skill and apply it — and have some kind of outlet for understanding small-batch manufacturing,” Garbee said. “I was thinking it would be a fun exercise, but it was almost more fun to see them creating their own shields.” 

The need for PPE is not going away anytime soon. Garbee wants to support more nonprofits, and she has a plan to do it. 

“We just got a printer that arrived this week. It will allow us to locally source our own printing, and do it in-house,” Garbee said. “If we do them locally, it means we don’t have to do 5000 at a time. We can do small batches — 100, 200, or 300 — that could be meaningful for small organizations that don’t have the budget to commit to thousands of these.” 

PHOTO: Jay Paul

While more partnerships may be coming in the future, Garbee expressed the importance of working with Patton and Glass for their first art shields.

“For me, it was important to specifically work with Angela. I was very excited that Hamilton was willing to work with us as a collaborator,” Garbee said. “We intend to create more of these, but to make our first splash through this partnership was really exciting.” 

Their flower crown face shields are available on the GOOD WORK Society website. For every shield purchased, a donation will be made to Girls for a Change. 

First Lady Pam Northam Introduces Progressive Platform Over Post-Inaugural Brunch

David Streever | January 14, 2018

Topics: angela patton, Girls for A Change, governor ralph northam, inauguration, Justin Fairfax, larkin garbee, Mark Herring, pam northam

First Lady Pam Northam hosted a post-inauguration brunch headlined by Angela Patton, the CEO of Girls With A Change, a Richmond area non-profit that supports young women of color, in a ticketed event at the Jefferson Hotel this morning.

The brunch opened with a recital by the American Youth Harp Ensemble, a nationally-recognized ensemble that accepts youths regardless of financial means.

GFAC youth with Northam, Patton. Photo by AM

Patton’s opening remarks introduced her organization. “Girls For A Change starts with one of the most powerful and wasted resources on the planets: Girls. Specifically, girls of color.”

She introduced Karen Forget, an executive director of river conservation group Lynnhaven River NOW, and Northam’s former boss. Forget spoke about Northam’s background in education and ecology before introducing the new First Lady. “We will need to bring everyone to the table,” to fight challenges like climate change and rising sea levels, she said, “and I don’t know anyone better at that than Pam Northam.”

The Jefferson Ballroom. Photo by BW

Northam spoke to the importance of protecting water, noting that the tables were named after rivers all over Virginia, from the Shenandoah to smaller rivers like the Dan. “The next brunch will be a little different,” she said, referencing the splendor of the Jefferson ballroom. “I’ll invite you all to put on your waders and join me for a river clean-up.”

Following heavy applause, she extended an invitation to join her at a volunteer effort to clean up Richmond’s historic Evergreen Cemetery for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. day of service tomorrow, 9 – 12 PM.

After thanking the inaugural committee for choosing a vegetarian brunch, she teased the new governor, saying, “Ralph you can have a sandwich when we get home.”

American Youth Harp Ensemble. Photo BW

The importance of women carried through the event, from the all-woman harp ensemble, to her thank-you speech. She said she was singling out two more, Cerina Fairfax and Laura Herring, married to Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring, for their help with the Democratic sweep of the top offices.

Northam proposed to focus on early-education over the next four years. “I’m surrounded by neuroscientists,” she said as she spoke about the importance of pre-k and developing minds. “Let’s start at the beginning with our greatest treasures….our children.”

First Lady and Governor Northam. Photo by BW

Outgoing First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe drew praise for her work to provide “12 million additional meals for Virginia children,” and Northam said she would build on that work as well as a range of issues including healthcare, clean air, clean water, and spaces to play and learn.

She finished her remarks with two quotes. The first was a much-quoted line from The Summer Day, a poem by her favorite poet, Mary Oliver. “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Northam recruits volunteers after. Photo by BW

The second, from Michelle Obama, underscored the role of women and the importance of equality. “As women, we must stand up for ourselves. As women, we must stand up for each other. As women, we must stand up for justice for all.”

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Photo by AM

In attendance were many of the newly-elected delegates, including Danica Roem, Debra Rodman, and Schuyler VanVelkenburg. Justin Fairfax was also spotted mingling with guests before the brunch program began.

Larkin Garbee and Angela Patton. Photo BW

Patton was sitting with local entrepreneur and philanthropist Larkin Garbee, a supporter of her organization. After the brunch, Patton spoke about the incoming administration. “Things are shifting fast. This opportunity wouldn’t even have been available to my mother, and she’s a young 70-years old.”

“Most everyone appreciates what we’re doing,” she said about the work, but she brought up that she’s had a few critics. “One gentleman today, just one, told me that we’re going backward. Working with girls of color isn’t about excluding anyone, though. We’re just tapping into the most vulnerable population with a goal of getting us caught up.”

Danielle Freeman-Jefferson. Photo BW

She’d brought several of the girls she works with, including Danielle Freeman-Jackson, a senior at Henrico High School, who told us what the day meant for her. “It’s big. She’s not just Ralph Northam’s wife, she’s a successful woman in STEM. I’m going into STEM, and it’s so empowering to see her with Angela Patton, supporting girls of color like myself.”

Cover photo by Branden Wilson. Other photos by Branden Wilson (BW) or Allison MacEwen (AM). 

Virginia Politics Sponsored by F.W. Sullivans

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