The AFWP Council of Elders
At the heart of Artists for World Peace you’ll find our Council of Elders. The council is a circle of 16 women who meet monthly to discuss and plan the future. This is a completely democratic circle where ideas are brought up and discussed so that, in the end, we can take a vote on whether or not, and specifically how to proceed. It was in this circle that we manifested projects such as our 6x6 4 PEACE MOVEMENT, #DollarsForDirt, #EyeDonated Campaign, Hats for a Cause and The Interfaith Dialogue. During Covid some our solutions to the pandemic were the creations of BUCKETS OF LOVE and online art and spiritual classes. We all feel safe enough to say anything–no matter how outrageous the idea seems. Truth be told, almost every idea discussed has been manifested and has brought us to where we are today.
As Council members have moved, we fill their “seat”, however, since Covid and the adaption of the zoom platform, even our furthest member living in Florida can still join our monthly meetings.
Our new Executive Board is made up of 4 of our Council of Elders as well as our Musical Director and office manager, Dr. Robert Nasta. This has been a fluid transition since it is the council members that are the true “worker bees” to all that we do. The Board meets quarterly, where the Council meets at least monthly. We also organize work meetings in between our monthly meetings where we just focus on the project at hand.
Introducing Some of Our Council Members:
Wendy Black-Nasta, Founder/Executive Director of Artists for World Peace, launched her organization by asking one simple question back in the year 2000, “How can artists help change the world?” That question led her on a journey that has lasted all these years, brought her around the world to help design and create humanitarian projects, while also continuing her own career as a professional jewelry designer and artist. She is surrounded by her amazing Council of Elders, friends and supporters of AFWP as well as her close friends and family who cheerlead and support all that AFWP does. Her life partner, Bobby is her “person” through all that she does. She’s the mom to their two birth sons and 24 children she has become the “legal guardian” to until they reach the age where they are on their own. After that, she’s just their “Mama Wendy.”
Faraneh Carnegie-Hargreaves, DC is a Middletown resident and has been a member of the Council of Elders since 2017. She is inspired by AFWP’s commitment to joyfully implementing impactful supports for people (especially children) locally and abroad. She works as a chiropractor and enjoys creating spaces that nourish and heal.
Terri Atkinson was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, spending most of her early years in Western Massachusetts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from UMass and eventually an MBA from the same university. She began her career in insurance over 40 years ago where she met her husband, Jerry. They raised two daughters, Emma and Tess and the family eventually settled in Connecticut over 20 years ago. She has a background in sales and marketing where she developed skills in event and project planning, training, business development, and written communication.
Fate intervened when she met Wendy at an Art Show at the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain shortly after she moved to Connecticut. While attending one of her jewelry shows, she was introduced to Wendy’s humanitarian work and was inspired by her dedication to improving the lives of others in Tanzania, from building a school and health center for children, to bringing a team of doctors for an eye clinic to supporting a group of women making Peace Quilts.
Before she knew it, she was invited to a meeting of the Artists for World Peace Elders Council and to bring a friend. She and her friend, Joanne, left that meeting as new members of the Elders Council - a group of strong women from different backgrounds with unique perspectives but a shared purpose and commitment to help communities in need. With Wendy’s vision and passion, the generosity of our many artists and supporters, and our small group of fierce women, we have accomplished so much but there is more work to be done!
Joanne Lombardo grew up in Berlin CT and sill resides there with her husband, Paul .This is where they raised their 2 daughters, Natalie and Jaclyn. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from UConn and her masters degree from Quinnipiac University. She has been a practicing physical therapist for the past 37 years and currently works at Mount Sinai Hospital.
She came to know Wendy through her jewelry shows and was so drawn to her spirit. Her close friend Terri invited her to an AFWP Council of Elders meeting and they left that meeting as new members of the council This amazing council of women is made up of intelligent, caring, passionate, creative, funny and hard working women who, together with Wendy’s vision, work to achieve humanitarian goals which seem impossible, yet are always achieved . “This sacred circle of women warms my heart and touches my soul whenever we gather .I am honored and privileged to be part of the AFWP family. In 2024 I was elected to become the Vice President of the Executive Board of Artists for World Peace, as well as choosing to remain on the Council.”
Phyllis Sheridan: Being a member of AFWP Council of Elders brought me into a beautiful circle of exceptional women. When we are together, we mirror the world we want around us, one full of caring, acceptance, creativity, understanding, laughter, equality, art, opportunity, music, and, of course, good food. Through the power of small steps taken with positive intentions, AFWP continues to make big changes in many lives. I’m honored to have been on the Council for seven years.
Maria Louise: Holding a place within the Council of Elders is both a joy and an honor. It is a sacred space where ideas are nourished into existence, being brought to light while discussed openly. By working together, ideas then become rendered through the lens of this unique organization by incredibly talented, caring individuals from across the world, genuinely working for the highest good and weaving that love through all we do.
I am thankful for this gift, and so I give, by being part of this beautiful circle of women.
Thank you, Mama Wendy. 🤍
Michele DeSimone has been a member of AFWP for several years, and a Council of Elder member for about 7. I joined AFWP because its mission spoke to me - artists and supporters doing what they can around the world for the sake of peace. In the words of Thick Nhat Hanh, "Be Peace". This is a community of like-minded people, which always energizes me as we work on the various projects, especially the Children of Peace in Tanzania, and the eye clinics here in the US. It is a wonderful way of Being Peace, and spreading it in our world!
Carolyn Shaw, known to us as Lyn, came to the Council in the early 2000's with a background of overseas travel and years in Mexico, Korea, Indonesia and Nigeria. Her experiences gave her a unique perspective on contemporary U.S, society, the needs of its diverse people and ways that our organization can be of service. Lyn's creativity manifests when she quietly applies intuition and personal spiritual integrity to Council deliberations. A graduate of Oberlin College in the tumultuous 1960's she eventually retired from the Office of Admission of MIddletown's Wesleyan University. And speaking of creativity...In 1969 and 1973 she birthed two fabulous children: they, in turn, created three grandchildren...each one a jewel.
Marylin Tyrol lives in Middletown, CT and I has been a Council of Elders member of AFWP for six years. It is a honor to be a small part of this special group’s global peace mission. I have enjoyed helping in our local community, supporting 24 orphans in Tanzania, and I was even privileged to be a part of a team bringing a free eye clinic to the Rose Bud Reservation in South Dakota.
Christine Solimini-Swift is an exercise physiologist working with the senior population in Southington, CT. She is the mom to one daughter who is going off to college in the Fall. She is an avid lover of animals and spends her free time with her 4 rescue fur babies and taking care of her mother with dementia. AFWP has been a wonderful group to be a part of and share her knowledge of health and wellness with the Lakota tribal members on Rosebud in South Dakota, in her role as diabetic specialist/nutritionist at the Free AFWP NATIVE EYES Clinics.
Rosemary Nichols is honored to be a member of the Artists for World Peace (AFWP) Council of Elders since 2016. Her background is in education, working with and supporting a variety of special needs students during her 40-year career. Being part of AFWP combines her lifelong love of the arts and her commitment to helping others in need. Rosemary is inspired by Wendy’s leadership and her vision of art’s ability to contribute to peace in the world. Being part of AFWP’s Council of Elders is being part of a community of women who won’t accept the suffering in the world without contributing to the solution.
Adele Santangelo is a nurse and a wanna-be artist, but also someone who wants to make a difference in the world and help make it a better place, AFWP is the ideal group to belong to, Wendy and the council are amazing women and I am in awe of all that they have accomplished in 21 years. They represent the power of women coming together to promote peace, through the arts, and networking to help people all over the world in dire need; they have touched the lives of so many people and have helped them to become self sustaining and live in greatly improved situations. I am humble to be a part of this group.
