Photo exhibit will highlight successes

Newton — Project Self-Sufficiency will kick off its annual campaign by hosting Project 200 on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the agency’s Community Education Center. The evening will feature a variety of guest speakers who have turned their lives around with the help of Project Self-Sufficiency. The agency will also unveil its Portrait of Hope gallery, a collection of huge photographs depicting 31 clients whose lives were positively impacted by Project Self-Sufficiency. The series was photographed at different locations throughout the agency campus by local photographer Rob Yaskovic. The collection was printed and mounted by Mark Maruska and Chris Marston of Gravity DesignWorks in Newton. Financial support for the project was provided by a grant from the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. This year’s event will be catered by Mel Condit of Condit’s Catering. Shanna Coursen, Leslie D’Agati, Adda Pacheco and Cheryl Strumulo will be featured speakers. Teenage mother Coursen enrolled in the Even Start Family Literacy program for help in obtaining her GED. She has also participated in the Young Family Services support group at the agency, and will start college in the spring. A mother of three, D’Agati turned to Project Self-Sufficiency’s Higher Opportunities for Women to brush up her computer skills after 17 years as a stay-at-home-mom. She is now a psychology major at Caldwell College and a part-time librarian’s assistant at Sussex County Community College. Pacheco has been delighted with the positive impact on her self-confidence, both professionally and personally. Education was an important goal for Strumolo, who walked into Project Self-Sufficiency as a recovering heroin addict and nine months later had not only obtained her GED, but had passed the college entrance exam, taken a computer course, and started her college career. To donate or for more info, call 973-940-3500.