Editor’s Note: Writer and photographer Nakeshia Shannon shifted from her “Always an Adventure” column to a new mission: highlighting the people, programs, organizations, and businesses that stand out as she makes her way across the Upstate – unique, local stories that make this community one that we all love. Join us in celebrating these local voices!
The quote “it takes a village” is a true representation of how I was raised and how I still perceive the world. I grew up in a community where people held family titles, despite lacking biological connections. They instilled in me the values of kindness, community, and service to others. More importantly, they nurtured in me the desire to make a meaningful difference.
My mother spent 13 years as a foster parent, during which both she and I specialized in caring for children classified as medically fragile. These children had diverse needs, ranging from requiring feeding tubes to managing seizures, coping with drug addiction withdrawal, autism, and more. This heightened my awareness of others around me – not out of fear, but because I could intuit medical conditions and intervene if necessary.
As a photographer, I've contributed to the community by offering gift sessions, donating sessions to charity events, covering events pro bono, and raising awareness for worthy causes. However, I've always felt there was more I could do, more I wanted to do.
Last year, I toured the Meyer Center for Special Children and glimpsed the incredible work they do for children in their care. Though I had heard of and experienced the Meyer Center previously, I never fully understood it until that day. As we walked through the halls, I captured moments with my camera, preparing to tell their stories through images.
Throughout the tour, a recurring thought echoed in my mind: “What more can I do? How can I help?” I vividly recall our stroll through their playground, where they shared how the children affectionately referred to the play cafe as “Chick-fil-A.” That's when inspiration struck. I photographed the playhouse, returned home, and sprang into action.
Having personal connections with several franchise owners and managers at local stores, I reached out to them for guidance. Upon receiving the green light, I enlisted the help of Luisa and Rafael Puba of We Art Design, kindred spirits who share my belief in community engagement and spreading joy through art. I shared my vision with them, showed them the project, and proposed collaboration. They enthusiastically agreed, and after some logistical coordination and schedule adjustments, we set a date.
Initially, I thought it would be just my children and me, Luisa, Rafael, and their daughter Sami, but their village rallied behind us. At one point, multiple teams were simultaneously working on different sections of the structure, cleaning, painting, and supervising the children.
As we neared completion, our excitement grew not from seeking praise but from envisioning the children's reactions. We cherished the laughter and connections formed during the process, unknowingly evolving into a true village – uniting through art, creativity, and above all, a joyful willingness to serve our community, armed with gallons of high-quality paint and boundless laughter, demonstrating that a village can indeed make a difference.
For more information about the Meyer Center and how you can help, visit meyercenter.org . For more information about the amazing services Luisa and Rafael can provide, please visit weartdesign.com.co .
Nakeshia Shannon is a photographer and mother of three. Visit her online at .nakeshiashannon.com .
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Local Voices: Meyer Center for Special Children
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