The Young Men of Life Pieces to Masterpieces Share How “The Washingtonian” Inspired Them

Life Pieces to Masterpieces, an art program that changes the lives of young men in DC’s Ward 7, presented a painting to
Washingtonian publisher
Cathy Merrill Williams today, to thank the magazine for helping the program grow.

Mary Brown, cofounder of Life Pieces, was named a Washingtonian of the Year in 2010. “Young black men grow up in the belly of hell,” she said. “We teach them that obstacles can be opportunities.”

The Washingtonians of the Year Award proved to be an opportunity for LPTM to expand its work and strengthen its base. After
the story about Brown appeared in the January 2011 issue of
The Washingtonian, the program received a personal contribution from the Obamas.

Since then, Brown has launched a corporate art program that
enables local businesses to purchase or lease art works created
by the young men. The organization’s revenue doubled in one
year, and more DC schools have asked to partner with LPTM to replicate
the program.

The painting wasn’t the only gift LPTM presented to
The Washingtonian. The older participants wrote a poem about seeing their work in the magazine:

Leslie Milk