“A Fashionable Verdict”

“A Fashionable Verdict”

Fun event to benefit the Jackson Center

By Sharon Witchey

 

   While the ultimate goal may be education, the short-term goal is enjoyment. Enjoyment can foster human connections, which can result in a broadened understanding of a scope of work.  That is the goal of a unique event that will take place at the Robert H. Jackson Center on August 17, 2019.  It will be fun and it will foster relationships.  It will also serve as a benefit for educational outreach programs sponsored by the Jackson Center.

The event is titled A Fashionable Verdict and it is described as “a pop-up Fall Shopping Event.”    Marion Beckerink, Director of Development at the Center, is excited that the Jackson Center will host this new opportunity for the greater Jamestown community.  Ms. Beckerink is grateful for the support of women like Ali Russell and Joyce Sechler who are supporting the behind the scenes organization of the day.

A Fashionable Verdict begins at 10am; there is no charge for admission.  There will be “mocktails”, snacks, and small prizes given away every hour.  The event will end at 4pm.

Twenty percent of every purchase made on August 17 will be donated to the Robert H. Jackson Center.  Two women-run businesses will provide the fashions and the jewelry.  Ms. Beckerink provided a “sneak peek” of accessory items to be offered that day by Take a Bough -a business owned by Kathy Clingan of New Jersey.  Ms. Clingan will feature fashions found in NYC, beautiful scarves and soft turtleneck style ponchos-perfect for the autumn weather in western New York-were among the first items to arrive at Ms. Beckerink’s office.  She and I admired them in anticipation of the other fashion items to come:  sweaters, jackets, shoes, handbags, accessories and resort wear.

“You’re not going to see yourself,” Marion explained, referencing the unique items that will be part of the Take a Bough collection.  The prices will range roughly from $25 -$500(for outerwear).

Rebel Nell will supply the jewelry featured at this event.  Rebel Nell has a local connection as former Lakewood resident Amy Peterson started the company in 2013.  In response to an email, Amy Peterson wrote:  “Rebel Nell is excited to participate in this event to benefit the Robert H. Jackson Center.  Rebel Nell is a social enterprise that exists to employ, educate, and empower women with barriers to employment (refugees, homeless or formerly incarcerated).  Rebel Nell is grateful to trailblazers like Justice Jackson, whose footsteps we follow to promote fairness, opportunity and equality.”

The jewelry pieces are created by the female artisans from colorful chips of paint that peels from aging graffiti in the city of Detroit.  There is a special procedure for lead testing, cleaning, and rendering the paint chips design-worthy.   Rebel Nell is achieving wonderful things and has been in the national media.  Most recently, NBC has featured “Amy’s significant work” revealed Ms. Beckerink.

Significant work is the legacy of Robert H. Jackson.  In Ms. Beckerink’s words the work of the Jackson Center in Jamestown, NY is to “educate the community on issues of law that affect the way that we live.”  That education can begin at a young age; the programming at the Center tries to link concepts with what local students are already learning in school.   Other programs provide insight into the effects of the law for adults.

Ms. Beckerink counsels women and men to come to the Jackson Center, located at 305 East 4^thStreet, Jamestown, on August 17 with a friend to enjoy a “great day out.”  Make it a part of a day spent in Jamestown enjoying the many businesses and activities downtown.

For more information on the Robert H. Jackson Center and its upcoming events go to www.roberthjackson.org/events.