Artists For World Peace Inc

Truly amazing work being done by this soulful organization. From the founder and director, Wendy Black Nasta (an amazing woman with a big heart), down to the most recent volunteer, everyone involved is fully and joyfully committed to meeting the needs of the people they serve, both internationally and on our US indigenous reservations. Their efforts deserve both wide and deep ongoing support.

Amazing organization, helping people here in the U.S. as well as other countries. If you are volunteering, Wendy and Bob make sure you are educated about the people that you will be serving. The volunteers I have worked with are true team players, with helping people their number one priority. One of AFWP goal is to find ways to help the people, help themselves when our mission is over, which it is never really over.

For fifteen years I have been a member of the Council Of Elders of AFWP. I'm glad to have an opportunity now to share the joy that comes to me in being one of this circle of active women. We meet monthly, addressing both domestic and international needs with our creative projects.

Internationally known jeweler Wendy Black Nasta, the founder and director, is a strong ally of the Lakota tribe; its traditions are a deep force in our work. The organization has a Board of Directors, but Wendy also relies on the collective, spiritual wisdom of the Council as we gather monthly to share ideas. We discuss the beginnings of new projects, volunteering ways that we can share responsibilities for carrying them out.

AFWP paths are diverse! As a result of early efforts in the country of Tanzania we share the care and educational needs of 25 children there. Organizational projects in the United States have included several years of eye care clinics on the Rosebud Reservation, two years of "Buckets of Love" Saturdays during which art materials were given to the children of Middletown during the pandemic, many ""Dances for Peace" evenings at The Katherine Hepburn Theater in Old Saybrook, CT, and annual fundraising performances on Broadway. In addition, for several years we have expanded our community by inviting artists across the country to donate 6^x6^ drawings of their own concepts of peace, tiles that would then be sold for the benefit of AFWP projects.

The project plans we design and carry out together carry newness and hope wherever it is most needed in our world. You can see why I am moved to be a trusted member of the Council of Elders of AFWP: volunteering my energy in this way I have become part of a precious sisterhood while contributing in my own small way to world peace..

An amazing organization with heART and soul dedicated to enhancing and improving lives around the globe. I have been witness to their work and was deeply moved and inspired by it. I support them personally with every opportunity.

I’ve volunteered with Artists for World Peace since 2017. It is a small and effectively run organization that commits to impactful projects around the world from supporting children in Tanzania to running comprehensive care eye clinics for Native Americans. Funds raised go far with this visionary and effective group.

One by one, people who I have known for decades have been directly involved in the planning, decion making and fundraising of AFWP. I became involved in the past 12 months, yet it already seems like years. I believe this to be the case as AFWP has accomplished so much with the Native Eyes Clinics and The Children’s Peace House. The planning meetings are dynamic, as these are heavily influenced by Native American Culture, which customarily respects the voice of all. Decisions are made in a spirit of unity. I know each penny is being used for the prosperity of our national and international communities. These are not band-aide projects either as the ultimate goal is for sustainable results, which we are seeing in the near future. Although my time On the board has been short I have observed the actions put forth currently stearing the course for successful outcomes.

AFWP helps people all over the world, one community at a time. From tuition, clothing, eye and dental care, and community building for children and villages in Tanzania, to free eye clinics for Native Americans in Connecticut and South Dakota, there's no end to what AFWP can accomplish!! All this with very little overhead, lots of volunteers, in-kind and other contributions: Artists, people and companies together making a difference.

Artists for World Peace changes lives! The reach and impact of this organization is astonishing. I have the privilege of seeing this first hand. Wendy Black- Nasta, The founder and executive director is a visionary with endless energy and compassion. AFWP is responsible for the education and welfare of 24 children from Tanzania. This organization has held numerous free eye clinics in Tanzania, free dental clinics and has created many sustainability projects for the villagers to bring water, food, generate income.

In the US, AFWP has held its third free eye clinic on Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota- bringing free eye exams and prescription glasses to thousands of Native Americans. The gift of sight is life changing. The organization has identified a significant need of prescription glasses for very young children with astigmatism in this population. This will translate to fewer children dropping out of school as now they can see and learn.

AFWP also holds eye clinics serving the Native American population here in CT.

Other local projects include “Buckets of Love” where free buckets of art supplies are given to children in the community of Middletown, CT. The children look forward to this community event each year which is surrounded by musical and dance performances.

If you are looking to make a donation to an organization where every dollar makes a huge impact and changes lives- look no further - AFWP is it!

My tribe is a state recognized tribe In Connecticut. Most members have very limited medical benefits especially eye care. We were very fortunate to receive eye care and glasses from Native Eye Care. The smiles and happiness that went through the tribe is hard to put into words. As a counselor it brought joy to my heart to see my people with those big smiles. We are not able to provide services to our members so this was truly a blessing. The staff made our members feel so special and when they received the glasses they were so happy. Most of our members had not been to an eye doctor in years. One of our elders said she did not know how bad here eyesight was until she received her new glasses. Our tribe will always be grateful that we were selected to receive this service. The service they provide is life changing for our members.

Words are insufficient to describe the good that is Artists For World Peace. True to its name this organization gives and gives in numerous ways, hands on participation making it quite special. I am proud to be a part of this AFWP community. This dynamic group of mostly women ensure the efficient and worthy use of all assistance. Drawing on creative & artistic approaches, AFWP continues to be the Light for many in both education and health within Connecticut, South Dakota and Africa.

I joined Artists for World Peace to assist in an optical mission on Rosebud Indian reservation in SD. The trip was fabulous, from the people on the team, to the organization of each day and the overwhelming sense of love. This is a fabulous nonprofit.

Artists for World Peace is a small organization that makes a big impact. Energized leadership and dedicated volunteers raise funds used to house and educate 24 children in Africa, support over a dozen women to make incomes with AFWP supplied sewing machines, provide free art supplies to local children in Middletown, and bring free eye care to Native Americans on tribal lands in South Dakota and New England. All of this wonderful work is accomplished with the spirit of joy, love and peace. Being part of AFWP has brought great happiness and friendships into my life.

I got involved as a member of the Elders Council. We meet monthly and this small group of women are so effective at brainstorming ideas and finding ways to support our humanitarian work. Our Founder, Wendy Black-Nasta is a true visionary and passionate about supporting those in need through the generosity of our artists and supporters.

Artists for World Peace is one of those organizations that has been making life-transforming changes in people's lives across the globe. A child struggling in school because they cannot see - AfWP changed that child's life-trajectory by providing eye care and prescription glasses. An adult able to get a job and take care of themselves after getting cataract surgery and eyeglasses at one of AfWP's eye clinics. An orphan destined for a thieving drunken life on the streets able to get food, clothing, shelter and an education and become a caring productive member of society due to the efforts of Wendy and AfWP. If looking that child in the eye doesn't stir something deep inside you - you might be dead inside! So many lives have been dramatically improved by this organization that their impact is impossible to overstate. I'm extremely proud, excited and humbled to be a part of this great organization.

A good friend invited my wife to join her on a mission organized by AFWP to provide free eye care to the Native Americans on the Rosebud Reservation in North Dakota in June 2019. While my wife had medical care experience, I had none. Nevertheless, AFWP apparently appreciated my enthusiasm and allowed me to come along as a volunteer. This was my first mission experience. Due to an unexpected layover caused by weather, we arrived in Rosebud a day late just in time to join the AFWP team for dinner at a nearby restaurant. The moment we entered the dining room, we were met with cheers, warm welcome and hugs from a group of about 40 volunteers, most of whom we had never met. It was an amazing experience transforming our travel-weary moods into a feeling of warmth and elation. That set the mood for the balance of the week. The vast majority of the volunteers were medical professionals specializing in eye care. Ray trained me to operate an autorefractor, and I spent the balance of the week meeting and conducting autorefractor eye exams on hundreds of local patients. The autorefractor exam was just the start of a streamlined process that aided the medical professional volunteers to perform their eye examinations on each patient. The patients were so appreciative of the work we were doing. I believe the team provided eye exams to almost 1000 patients during that week. Each patient that needed corrective lenses, received a free pair of eyeglasses. The energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers and AFWP's leadership is infectious. After our trip I gladly accepted an invitation to join AFWP's board and to return to Rosebud as a volunteer for the next eye clinic.

Wendy Black Nasta and husband Bobby have dedicated their lives and resources to the principle that love and a helping hand can change the world. From raising and educating a house full of children in an African orphanage to providing eye care on a South Dakota indian reservation, AWFP's resources are spread to people in need around the globe. Behind AWFP are a small army of people who donate, volunteer, organize, strategize and with laser focus make it work. Participation in AWFP's mission to promote peace through love and giving changes everyone - those who receive and, of course, those who give. It's a win-win.

AFWP is a collective of extremely dedicated and generous volunteers and donors. Wendy Black-Nasta has extraordinary vision and her passion for helping others is contagious. All the projects carried out by this organization both near and far are helping give people access to things they need like stability, education and vision.

Artists for World Peace, a volunteer group in MIddletown, Connecticut, has worked for nearly twenty years to provide health care, financial support, educational opportunities and hope both domestically and internationally. Year after year our projects have answered perceived needs with art and social action projects.

I am one of fifteen women from diverse parts of the state on the AFWP Council of Elders. Our meetings, led by the founder and director of the group, Wendy Black Nasta, follow the Lakota way that is her native spirituality. Using our intuition we brainstorm projects and future directions, loose visions at first. We speak with levels of trust and compassion that have emerged among us over years of dreaming and manifesting projects together.

Small working committees form rapidly at the meetings after suggested projects have been discussed. Previous projects have included soliciting art work and creating "Peace Walls" in various parts of the country; building a health facility and other resources in a small Tanzanian village; constant financial and emotional support of many Children of Peace; organizing eye clinics on Rosebud Reservation; assembling and sending warm clothing and other resources annually where desperately needed; sharing art supplies with Middletown children during this pandemic ("Buckets of Love"); holding three moving statewide Interfaith Dialogues and much more.

I am continually amazed and gratified by the generosity of artists across the country and other supporters of our work, none of which could be accomplished by AFWP alone. The extended Artists For World Peace family thus changes the world, one considered action of love at a time

AFWP has exceeded my expectations as an employee — it is a beyond loving work environment. Wendy and Robert are truly compassionate, humanitarian individuals striving to change the world. Each project is conducted with so much heart and attention to detail; it is clear that this organization truly takes the time to consider the needs of the people they work with. I am so honored to be considered part of the AFWP family, and consistently in awe of the noble work they are doing.

-Cameron, Assistant 2021

I've worked with Wendy and everyone at AFWP for 10 years. It such an amazing organization fueled by love and compassion. They do incredible work all over the world and truly change lives. I feel so honored to have worked with them and helped them make a difference to so many.

I am so grateful that Wendy Black-Nasta and Artists for World Peace have been a part of my life. I’ve known Wendy for over 20 years and cannot overstate the positive energy and absolute goodness that she shared with all who have the good fortune of crossing paths with her. I have watched AFWP grow and am continuously amazed witnessing the incredible impacts of this grassroots group across the globe. I had the honor of serving on AFWP’s first board of directors as well as volunteering and donating artwork for some of the truly innovative and visionary fundraising programs. Artists for World Peace has always and will continue to change lives and uplift communities through art and love. I encourage everyone to check out their website and get involved

Wendy pretty much is the one-woman dynamo behind this foundation; with her unwavering enthusiasm, optimism, and energy, she provides a true example of making an impact at the grassroots level. Her life, and her foundation, exemplifies the concept of enriching community through the arts. As just one example, the annual "Hats for a Cause" event brings together any interested volunteers who work together to design, create and sell fleece hats. This is truly a group effort where members learn specific skills from each other and are inspired to create functional art pieces beyound their imaginings, and which is in itself community-building, and enriching in a life-changing way for many of the younger -- and older!-- members. The proceeds from the first years' event were sufficient to build and staff a safe house in Cambodia for battered women and their children, which is literally saving lives. That is powerful stuff.

Since 1988, we - Leonard and Natasha Singer, licensed clinical social workers, in conjuction with a community of volunteers, has helped lead an annual food and clothing drive at Christmas time to an American Indian reservation in South Dakota. We have known Wendy Black Nasta for over 22 years and have witnessed her dream and vision come to fruition in Artists for World Peace. Led by Wendy, Artists for World Peace has been a major and important contributor to our annual food and clothing drive. Through Artists for World Peace, Wendy has organized an impressive group of volunteers including children and teachers from local schools and universities, boy and girl scout troups, local businesses, neighbors and families to come together to donate gifts, food, blankets, clothing and other much needed items, as well as the effort to sort, organize and help us pack these items in our truck that we drive out each year to South Dakota. Not only have they generously provided a major portion of donations to our annual drive to the reservation, but Artists for World Peace makes donations to local food banks at the same time. Wendy involves many different types of artists and artistic ventures to create ways to raise funds and inspire others to work for peace. Artists for World Peace is doing wonderful and much needed projects around the world, to help provide children with shoes, educational scholarships, and have "adopted" children from different parts of the world to help with living expenses. The way that local people are involved as volunteers, working with each other to bring all these ideas to action is so inspiring to see. Not only is Artists for World Peace becoming an important contributor to world peace through active projects, but is also a place where many are learning about generosity and selfless giving.

Artists for World Peace has greatly impacted hundreds here in the U.S. and around the world. Each winter, Artists for World Peace founder and executive director Wendy Black-Nasta coordinates a food and clothing drive to benefit a Native American reservation, raising a truck load of supplies and gifts for families. Also, through its fantastic "Children of Peace" project, Artists for World Peace has collected thousands of shoes for children in Ecuador and Brazil and has sponsored children in Haiti and China. Now, with the help of its dedicated volunteers and donors, Arists for World Peace is beginning a scholarship fund for children around the world. It has been a pleasure to volunteer for this foundation, and I am confident that it will continue to make the world a better, more peaceful place by helping one child at a time.

Artists for World Peace is a fun, supportive communiy of artists which challenges and channels my creative energies. I so enjoyed designing and making whimsical hats as well as watching people don them knowing that all my joy will materialize in help for others.

I have known Wendy Black Nasta for over 10 years and I watched her bring the organization from just an idea to reality. She gives heart and soul to Artist's For World Peace and the many entities it now supports and those that are in the works. She and the organization have touched and helped many lives and continues to work to promote Peace, Love and Understanding to all peoples.

I have been involved with the Peace-belt with my return to Vietnam in 2004. The honor of wearing it in a simple ceremony of hope, made an eternal impression on my life. I am sure anyone else that was present at any of the many celebrations have been equally touched. the artistry and simple truths of person to person and culture to culture to strive for more Peaceful solutions to humanities many challenges is truly a worldly need. The evolving needs of peaceful coexistence are better brought to awareness when coupled with the talents of the arts. "A great foundation organization" Many thanks, John Marcoulier, Myotouch Healing Arts

I have been on the board for this organization since its inception. The founder, Wendy Black-Nasta has worked tirelessly to achieve her goal of supporting humanitarian causes in the US and abroad - and bringing peace with the travels of the spectacular international peace belt. This organization raises awareness of global struggles and addresses those challenges by meeting needs identified by the communities (schools, food, shoes, safe housing). Its promise is significant for those Americans inspired by peaceful actions -- and our brothers and sisters around the world who believe in change.

I THINK THIS ORGANIZATION HAS CHANGED LIVES. THE DEDICATION OF WENDY BLACK NASTA AND ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED SHOW THAT IT DOES TAKE A COMMUNITY TO MOVE MOUNTAINS........ ARTISTS FOR WORLD PEACE IS NATIONWIDE AND WELL KNOWN... THE PEACE BELT IS WORN AROUND THE WORLD AND DEMOSTRATES HOW WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE AND ONE NATION UNDER GOD...BLESSINGS AND LOVE AND LIGHT......... KANDY FESTA. REFLEXOLOGIST AND CAREGIVER

Seeing and hearing about the lives that are directly affected by Artists for World Peace has changed my life. The 2009 Hats for a Cause Event sticks in my mind the most because of the progression. Artists' hands meet scraps of fabric, beautiful remnants, and even someone's favorite stuffed animal. At this point, peoples' lives were already changed, as they came together to learn, teach, and create. At the fundraising event, energy levels were high, and some wonderful connections were made as families came through to browse through our hats and make their donations to AFWP. This particular event raised money for local food banks. It was amazing to see how much food we loaded into trucks and vans to distribute to different food banks in CT.

I have been involved with Artists for World Peace for the past three years; however, I have known the founder, Wendy Black-Nasta, for over 10 years. I was one of her devoted jewelry students as a teenager, and I gained so much from my relationship with her. I was thrilled when I returned home after graduating from college and was invited to the first "sewing session" of a new project for AFWP: Hats for a Cause. I have been a core member of this group since then, and have loved every minute of it. I love working on a creative project with other strong, fascinating women and being able to sell our products to raise money for such worthy causes as building a domestic violence safe house in Cambodia and providing scholarships for children in Brazil, as well as helping local shelters and food banks in our community. I have also helped AFWP with their food/clothing drives for the Rose Bud Reservation in South Dakota. Artists for World Peace is an amazing foundation. Wendy has the biggest heart of anyone I know, and she is determined to make the world a better place. It has been an honor for me to work with AFWP and be part of something much bigger than myself. I have also attended presentations on the Peace Belt, another phenomenal project of AFWP. The impact that the Peace Belt has had on the people of the countries it has traveled to is incredible. It is very inspiring to be part of something so powerful.