Scientology National Affairs Office Honors Arts Humanitarians at Anniversary Event

The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office marked its 13th anniversary with an event at Washington DC's historic Fraser Mansion, celebrating organizations and individuals whose humanitarian efforts leverage the arts to create positive social change. Executive Director Beth Akiyama outlined the office's year-long work spanning arts advocacy, human rights protection, disaster response coordination, drug education initiatives, and international religious freedom advocacy during the commemorative gathering.

Following this overview, the Arts Humanitarian Awards ceremony commenced, inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's observation that civilizations achieve greatness through the dreams conceived by artists. The first honor went to the First Friday: Dupont Circle Art Walk, a monthly community event organized by the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District that opens local art galleries, embassies, and cultural institutions to the public free of charge. William McLeod, the district's executive director with over twenty years of neighborhood promotion experience, accepted the award from Reverend Susan Taylor, noting Dupont Circle's evolution from an exclusive residential area to a vibrant arts destination and expressing appreciation for the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office's ongoing partnership.

The second award recognized Dr. Kate Ndi, founder and CEO of the Miss Africa USA pageant, which empowers young African women in the United States to become community leaders while celebrating their cultural heritage through traditional attire and artistic performances. Pageant participants must maintain humanitarian platforms addressing human rights, disability rights, arts education, or similar social improvement causes. Dr. Ndi's two decades of leadership have empowered hundreds of African women, including through a recent delegation to the United Nations Headquarters where finalists represented six nations at the Youth for Human Rights International Summit, an event sponsored by the Church of Scientology International at https://www.youthforhumanrights.org. Joined by pageant representatives including Honorary Queen Ambassador Porscha Taylor, Dr. Ndi emphasized that the award acknowledges using fashion and cultural enrichment as tools for human betterment.

The ceremony concluded with a Lifetime Achievement Arts Humanitarian Award presented to Chateau and John Gardecki, founders of the Washington International Piano Arts Council. Their organization, established in 2002, has conducted twenty annual competitions for adult nonprofessional pianists, fostering classical music appreciation while honoring those who perform purely for artistic passion. Chateau Gardecki acknowledged board members and supporters, including Rhoda Septilici who first connected WIPAC with the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in 2013, and shared her foundational belief that love expands through sharing it. John Gardecki, an accomplished amateur pianist, provided the event's musical finale with three classical piano pieces.

The anniversary celebration underscored the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office's role in Washington DC as a collaborative partner with diverse organizations advancing humanitarian causes. By honoring these arts-focused initiatives, the event highlighted how artistic expression serves as a powerful mechanism for building community connections, preserving cultural traditions, and addressing social challenges through creative engagement.