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 areas including 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 them to the community free of charge and allowing artists to display work at venues including the Fraser Mansion. William (Bill) McLeod, executive director of the Dupont Circle BID, accepted the award from Reverend Susan Taylor of the Church of Scientology. McLeod, who has promoted Dupont Circle for over 20 years, noted the area's evolution from a residential zone to an arts hub and expressed pleasure in collaborating with galleries and the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.
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 their cultures through traditional dress and artistic performances. Participants must maintain humanitarian platforms focusing on human rights, disability rights, arts, education, or similar causes. In July, Dr. Ndi led a delegation of Miss Africa USA finalists to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, where they represented six countries at 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 several pageant participants to join her and emphasized that the award recognized using arts through fashion and cultural enrichment to impact humanity.
The final award was a Lifetime Achievement Arts Humanitarian Award presented to Chateau and John Gardecki, founders of the Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC). Established in 2002, WIPAC has held 20 annual competitions for adult, nonprofessional pianists to foster appreciation of classical music. Chateau Gardecki thanked her board members and shared her message that "Love only grows if you share it," while acknowledging 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 piano pieces. The event underscored the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office's role in recognizing and supporting individuals who enrich society through humanitarian efforts, as it 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.
