The Power of Play! Re-Play

WUSA9’s Lesli Foster Emceed the Program

The evening’s emcee, Lesli Foster – an award-winning journalist, WUSA9 anchor, and one of Safe Shores’ most steadfast friends – stepped away from the anchor desk to lend her voice and her heart to this year’s program. Her presence alone said something important about what the evening meant, given her longtime and unwavering support of children and children’s causes across our region. She welcomed guests and set the tone with warmth, speaking to the intentionality behind the evening’s theme of play and why it matters for every child everywhere, as well as its particular power in the healing of children who come through our doors. She thanked the sponsors whose generosity made the evening possible, then introduced Safe Shores’ Executive Director, Michele Booth Cole.

The Executive Director of Safe Shores Strategically and Succinctly Shared Safe Shores’ Story

Michele Booth Cole took the room back thirty years to the founding of DC’s only child advocacy center (CAC) and forward again into the work Safe Shores continues to do today implementing the CAC Model. The model brings key agencies in child abuse investigations together under one roof, in a space built for safety and care rather than interrogation, with the goal of minimizing the trauma child victims might experience in the course of an investigation.

She offered heartfelt thanks to those who built and sustain this work: founders, board members, MDT partner agencies, longtime supporters, and Safe Shores staff. She also acknowledged the public officials in the room: DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, who came out to show his longstanding support and stayed to play alongside guests; Tanya Trice, Director of DC’s Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), representing her agency and Mayor Bowser; and staff from the office of Council member Zachary Parker, Chair of DC Council’s Committee on Youth Affairs. Michele closed by bringing the room back to the evening’s theme of play and the safe, happy, healthy childhood every child deserves and that Safe Shores exists to protect.

WPGC’s Poet Taylor Hosts a Glow Moment

Next, Safe Shores Board Member and WPGC media personality, Poet Taylor, led the crowd in a “glow moment.” She reminded the event-goers how vital the work of Safe Shores is and how their entire futures can shift by centering the wellbeing of children. That work is done through a community of people who truly, deeply care about children. One by one, she asked Safe Shores’ donors, volunteers, board members, staff members, and supporters to raise their glow bracelets in the air. As the dark auditorium illuminated with waving, sparkling light, she emphasized how all support, no matter how small, helps to brighten the lives of child victims of abuse. She then encouraged the crowd to donate and announced a generous monetary match, which meant that every donation was doubled! Gifts ranged from $2500 for a full round of trauma-informed therapy to $100 for a take care bag filled with clothes, toiletries and gift cards.

Michele Booth Cole is Given Her Flowers

Finally, Lesli Foster took the stage again to close out the program and invite Michele Booth Cole’s daughters to join her on the stage. The trio presented their mother with flowers as thanks for her over 25 years of service to the organization.

The Safe Shores Arcade

The Power of Play! had no shortage of opportunities for attendees to… play! The Safe Shores arcade featured a little something for everyone. Attendees could dive into high-energy games like Dance Dance Revolution, air hockey, and light-up skeeball, or try classics with a twist, such as life-size Connect 4, Pac-Man Battle Royale, and even indoor putt-putt. Recognizing that play is not one-size-fits-all, the event also included dedicated spaces for quieter activities like coloring and knitting.

Khalid Thompson Painted the Moment

Throughout the night, Khalid Thompson, improvisational artist extraordinaire, captured the spirited atmosphere in real time with paint and canvas. Memorializing the evening through color, texture, and intricate brushwork, Khalid’s finished piece, titled “Spiritual Activation II,” drew inspiration from the energy of this “playdate with a purpose” and brought it to life on canvas.

This one-of-a-kind piece was featured in our Silent Auction [Link to section], with proceeds benefitting Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center.

Art Therapy Demonstration

Supporters had the unique opportunity to participate in an Art Therapy demonstration called “The Power of Playful Healing: Creating Art for Your Inner Child.” This activity, led by Safe Shores’ own art therapist, had attendees learn what art therapy is and how Safe Shores’ Clinical Services Program helps children process their trauma and begin healing using this modality in a hands-on activity.

Small groups of attendees were prompted to create art for their inner child and were able to create using small canvases and paint. Many supporters shared that they found this experience incredibly informative and insightful.

Silent Auction

Thanks to creative and generous contributions from artists across the country, The Power of Play! featured a jam-packed silent auction. Guests had the chance to bid on items, with all proceeds going directly towards Safe Shores’ trauma-responsive services for child victims of abuse in DC. From a framed Keith Haring collectible to custom handblown glassware and retro iPod Nanos, there was a wide array of unique pieces that captured eventgoers’ attention!

The Safe Shores Sweet Shoppe

Each detail of The Power of Play! was purposeful, down to the desserts served!  We asked each program at Safe Shores what candy best represented their work and why. Their answers comprised our “Safe Shores Sweet Shoppe,” a candy buffet where guests were able to scoop their favorite sweet treats into custom packaging, all while learning more about the work of the DC Children’s Advocacy Center. Candy has a wide range of tastes and textures, and similarly, the teams at Safe Shores all do a range of specialized and unique work, all centered around Safe Shores’ mission to provide hope, healing, and intervention to child victims of abuse.

As supporters left the venue, they were gifted something to help them continue to tap into their childlike joy, even though the night had ended: a Safe Shores’ Activity Book! Each of Safe Shores’ teams and programs were represented in the booklet with a corresponding activity to help remind participants about the vital work Safe Shores does through their support. Supporters could “spot the difference” between two forensic interview rooms, complete a dot-to-dot to find a therapeutic message, find their way through a maze to learn about the CAC model, and more!