On March 6, HELP USA welcomed artists, collectors, and philanthropists to the National Arts Club for the fourth annual Art of Resilience Benefit, an evening celebrating the role of creativity in healing and recovery with a gallery exhibit of artwork created by people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in NYC.
This year’s event was hosted by acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Mickalene Thomas, the HELP USA 2026 Art of Resilience Artist of the Year.
The evening was co-chaired by Addavail Coslett, Atenedoro Gonzalez, Alexis Rose, Christina Senia, and Eden Williams, with support from HELP USA’s Artist Committee including Derrick Adams, Baseera Khan, and Shantell Martin – all past Art of Resilience Artist’s of the Year.
Sponsors included Monadnock Construction, Court Square Real Estate Partners, Hudson Meridian, Camber, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, Lanvin, Loqi, Marfa Stance, ArtsRx, and Senia.
Guests who gathered at the historic Gramercy Park venue included Quincy Ballon, Julie Baumgardner, Frances Bronet, Diane Brown, Ramon Brown, Allie Card, Malaak Compton-Rock, Harriette Cole, Allison Derusha, Stevenson Dunn, Jr., Joan Fallon, David Greenberg, Alexander Hankin, Jack Hayflick, Madjeen Isaac, Erika Faye Jones, Dr. Munish Khaneja, Carol Sutton Lewis, Rebecca Martin, Preetha Nooyi Myers, Lysandra Ohstrom, Sarah Pizer, David Schecter, Jane South, Sabina and Harlan Stone, Sam Swartz, Latham Thomas, Sara VanDerBeek, Lisa von Weise, Marcy Warren, Anthony Williams, Dawanna Williams, Lisa Willis Williams.
A highlight of the night was a community artmaking experience led by Mickalene Thomas. The artist invited guests to create their own collage work, inspired by her practice and landscapes, coupled with their own reflections on the role of art in processing trauma, building confidence, and fostering connection.
In addition to hosting the event, Thomas will create a commissioned permanent mural for a new HELP USA transitional shelter for families opening in the Bronx in Fall 2026. The over 200 square foot site-specific artwork will be installed in the lobby of 1298 Inwood Avenue, creating a welcoming visual environment for families as they begin their path toward stability.
Proceeds from the evening support Art of Resilience, HELP USA’s expressive arts therapy program, which integrates art, music, movement, and poetry into trauma-informed services across the organization’s New York City sites.
