Last week, I was lucky enough to be asked to photograph the Vickery Meadow International Festival of Lights, put on by Heart House along with other amazing other organizations.
The Festival of Lights
This year’s event was celebrating a few big things to go along with the Festival of Lights – most importantly, the official groundbreaking for the new public library to be built in that spot. There were appearances from some Dallas County Representatives including Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Councilwoman Jennifer Staubach Gates and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. There was a musical performance by the school right across the street, Sam Tasby Middle School.
The first Festival of Lights was put on in 2014 and is set up like a block party. More than 300 people come out annually, and the entire event caters to the area’s diverse community.
Who is Heart House?
Heart House, the leading charity of the event, is a nonprofit designed to serve refugee children by creating summer and after-school programs that help them adjust to their new surroundings and communities, in a more seamless way.
Since 2000, Heart House has collaborated with area partners, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers to provide holistic, year-round services such as learning clubs, art therapy and counseling to support the refugee and underprivileged children of Vickery Meadow. Annually, Heart House serves 240 students, free of charge, to families.
To help address the traumas of fleeing war, persecution and life in refugee camps, Heart House provides a place for refugee children to move “From Chaos to Calm” through year-round, holistic programming, which supports academic, social-emotional learning, and character development.
The Vickery Meadow area, one of the more densely populated areas of Dallas. Dallas is their primary hub, where more than 22 languages are spoken, and the poverty rate is high.
Volunteer and Give Back
The night was full of incredible people bringing the Vickery Meadow community together, to help the refugee kids and families have a sense of belonging. It was a truly beautiful night, and I am so glad I got to be a part of it.
If you are interested in getting involved with this community, and the Heart House Foundation, check out their website. There are always opportunities to give or volunteer to be a part of their after-school and summer programs.
Other organizations involved include the City of Dallas, Vickery Midtown, Literacy Achieves, International Rescue Committee, Trans.lation Vickery Meadow, Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation, Temple Emanu-El, Northwest Community Center, Park Cities Baptist Church, Healing Hands Ministries, Citizen D, Dallas ISD and Junior League of Dallas.
Follow Heart House all of their Social Media channels
