12/29/2024
Good evening, everyone,
It is with immense gratitude and heartfelt humility that I write to you tonight to accept this incredible honor. On behalf of Estela Studios, I want to express my deepest thanks to The Erie Community for voting for recognizing our work and passion and voting for us during “The CommunityVotes Erie 2024 Campaign.”
We are truly honored and blessed to have the opportunity to make a difference in our community through art. Art has a unique ability to connect us, heal us, and inspire change, and it has been our privilege to use our creativity across various mediums to spark joy and foster growth in those we serve.
This journey has been deeply personal for me. From a moment of recovery that became the foundation of Estela Studios, to working with so many wonderful individuals and families who trusted us to capture their stories and celebrate their lives—this work has been more than a job; it has been our calling.
To our community: you are the heart of everything we do. Your trust, support, and belief in the power of art fuel us every single day. To our family and friends, especially my husband, whose unwavering support has been our backbone, I thank you for walking beside me on this path.
We’ve been fortunate to partner with amazing organizations, like the African American Museum in Erie, and contribute to meaningful programs like the Young Musicians initiative. These moments remind us of the potential for art to uplift and unite us.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue growing, dreaming, and creating spaces for connection and creativity. Our mission is not just to make art but to build community, inspire the next generation, and empower everyone to find their voice.
To those of you who share the belief that art can change the world, thank you for walking this journey with us. This award is not just a recognition of what we’ve done but a promise of what is yet to come.
Thank you again for this tremendous honor. Let’s keep creating, together.
Thank you,
Dawn A Estela
