A week ago, I visited the PW Arts Council at Stonebridge Town Center and their amazing exhibit “A Walk Through Ghana.” Whether it was through beautiful displays of the countrymen, to the colorful cloths placed for everyone to see, as well as the history of the nation being explained through video, each design was placed with a purpose of providing knowledge to those who entered. This was a rare opportunity to gain a vivid portrait of our ancestors and to take part in their struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. What made this even more special was that you didn’t have to travel to the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, or even to a Smithsonian museum in DC; it was in our own backyard in Woodbridge.

This and other artistic displays are crucial to the development of the county. Over the past few months, we have seen a greater cultural appreciation on a local level, with stories being told from all nations and narratives being shared that echo through time. It is through these works that we gain an experience to see what they had to live through and creates an attachment that we share with future generations.

It is why the PWC Arts Council exists to help us experience these stories. We met artists such as Anna Gatling, who had a beautiful display of her incredible works, and Susan Furr, who took us through a tour of Cuban art. Having a place such as the PWC Arts Council in Stonebridge provides an opportunity to have their works displayed in a public setting.

Another benefit is that it helps with youth participation. We picked up one of their magazines, and to our surprise, young volunteers with a passion for art created it. We met with Herb Williams, Arts Recreation Specialists, and he told us how they worked tirelessly to put it together. What this council does is an excellent job of providing them with a space where they can express their gifts. If we’re about revitalization, then shouldn’t the arts be as much of the process as grocery stores and townhomes? Often, an area with increasing crime is due to lack of activities for youth; so it would benefit them to have an outlet and potentially reduce crime in our area.

Our county is one that touts its status as a minority-majority, and if that is the case, then embracing places such as the PWC Arts Council and keeping it around is critical to its growth.