The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office marked its 13th anniversary with an event at the historic Fraser Mansion in Washington, DC, honoring individuals and groups for humanitarian efforts to improve society through the arts. Executive Director Beth Akiyama outlined the office's work over the past year in arts, human rights, disaster response, drug education, and international religious freedom protection. The Arts Humanitarian Awards, inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's quote that "A civilization is as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists," were then presented to three recipients.
The first award recognized the First Friday: Dupont Circle Art Walk, organized by the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District (BID). This monthly event highlights Dupont Circle's art galleries, embassies, and other organizations, opening venues free of charge and allowing artists to display work, including at the Fraser Mansion housing the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office. William (Bill) McLeod, executive director of the Dupont Circle BID, accepted the award from Reverend Susan Taylor, explaining the Art Walk's origins in the area's transformation into an art gallery hub and expressing pleasure in working with galleries and the Church over years.
The second award went to Dr. Kate Ndi, founder and CEO of the Miss Africa USA pageant, which empowers young African women in the United States to become leaders while promoting African cultures through traditional dress and artistic performances. Participants must maintain humanitarian platforms focusing on human rights, disability rights, arts, education, or similar causes. Dr. Ndi's work has empowered hundreds of African women over the pageant's 20-year history, including leading a delegation of finalists to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the Youth for Human Rights International Summit, sponsored by the Church of Scientology International at https://www.youthforhumanrights.org. When accepting her award, Dr. Ndi called pageant participants to join her, emphasizing that the award recognized using arts through fashion and cultural enrichment to impact humanity.
The final award was a Lifetime Achievement Arts Humanitarian Award to Chateau and John Gardecki, founders of the Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC). Inspired by their love of classical piano music, they created a competition for adult, nonprofessional pianists, with WIPAC established in 2002 holding 20 annual competitions to foster appreciation of classical music. Chateau Gardecki thanked supporters, sharing her message that "Love only grows if you share it," and acknowledged Rhoda Septilici, who introduced WIPAC to the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in 2013. John Gardecki, an accomplished amateur pianist, concluded the ceremony with a performance of three classical pieces.
The event underscored the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office's commitment to recognizing individuals who enrich society through humanitarian efforts, as the office represents the Church in the nation's capital and collaborates with organizations to advance human rights, criminal law reform, drug education, and religious freedom internationally.
