My Role:

My role was to design and conduct a floral arrangements workshop for Mulheres do Brasil, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women, supporting mental health, combating violence against women, and preserving Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language. I participate in the organization as a member of its Art Committee.

For the Mother’s Day workshop, I developed and led a hands-on floral design experience for members, friends, and invited guests, including my son Brian Pollard and fashion designer Harley de Oliveira. I guided participants through the creative process while encouraging individual expression and experimentation.

The workshop created a lively and joyful atmosphere. Participants became deeply engaged in their designs, with some describing the experience as therapeutic and “food for the soul.” Watching everyone become increasingly focused and confident throughout the creative process was particularly rewarding. Each participant completed a unique and beautiful floral arrangement.

Solution:

I organized the transportation and handling of the floral materials with the assistance of my sons Lee Pollard and Brian Pollard. I also worked closely with Antonio Oliveira, the library keeper, to prepare the space and ensure that the workshop could run smoothly.

Through careful preparation and collaboration, I was able to create an environment where participants could focus entirely on the creative experience. The result was a successful and engaging workshop that combined floral design, artistic expression, community, and cultural connection.

The experience was both delightful and deeply satisfying, particularly because of the enthusiasm, creativity, and sense of accomplishment demonstrated by the participants.

Challenges:

A primary challenge was transporting the flowers, containers, and floral tools required for the workshop to the library. Because the materials were delicate and needed to arrive in excellent condition, transportation and preparation required careful organization.