"Having someone purchase and appreciate your creation is very affirming."

-Carol Newton

Having someone purchase and appreciate your creation is very affirming," says Carol Newton, one of the first women to participate in the jewelry program, which began in 1996. Carol credits her growth in self-esteem directly to her involvement with this supplemental income program.

She speaks freely about the manic-depressive condition that hindered her from interacting with others, especially in unfamiliar environments. Her days were spent inside her Over-the-Rhine apartment, focused only on family members. Now she is heard to say, "If there is anything I can do for the Center, I will." She makes herself available in a variety of ways: answering the phone, calling bingo, and instructing others in jewelry-making and working booths at craft shows.

Involvement at Sarah Center has afforded Carol a variety of opportunities. She has developed an expertise in jewelry making evidenced in the many custom orders requested by those who have seen her work; she has been interviewed on radio and in the press; she has given presentations to various groups. She has even met the President and presented a pair of her earrings to him for the First Lady on his visit to Findlay Market. Carol has grown in self-confidence and is a valuable asset to Sarah Center, not just for all she does but for who she is.
In addition to teaching other women how to make jewelry, Carol has also taught the skill to her 13 year-old daughter, Charlyn. This hobby allows them to share quality time together.

One of the women in the program has coined the phrase, "Sarah Center, a place to bloom." Carol came to the Center possessing wonderful creative seeds. Her involvement in the various activities has caused her to blossom. Her presence adds to the beauty of Sarah Center.

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