Kelly Stolar, Executive Director of the Benedictine Sisters’ Inner-city Neighborhood Art House, will be honored as a Woman Making History by the Mercy Center for Women on April 3, 2023.
“Kelly’s passion for helping children is contagious when you experience her constant efforts to provide ways to help children become confident, mature, and capable youth in the community, using the arts as a tool to achieve this,” wrote Neighborhood Art House Core Committee member Kathy Burik when she nominated Kelly for this award. “Knowing and working with Kelly and experiencing her dedication has made me want to give more to the community,” she said.
The mission of the Benedictine Sisters’ Inner-City Neighborhood Art House is to enable youth to experience beauty, grow in positive self-expression and self-discipline, and develop into full and productive human beings. The sisters launched this ministry in 1994 because they believe that the need for art and beauty in the inner city is as real as the need for bread. Since 1994 hundreds of children have participated in programs at the Art House after school and in the summer. Some of them now send their own children to take part in programs that include diverse visual and performing arts, technology, environmental programs, and reading and tutoring.
The Benedictine community named Kelly the Executive Director of the Art House in 2021 when prior director Sister Annette Marshall stepped down. It was Sister Annette who initially hired Kelly as Director of Development. “I am delighted to see that Kelly is being recognized as a Woman Making History,” she said. “Kelly has always had a keen interest in helping young people have access to the arts and has gone that “extra mile” both personally and professionally to make that happen.”
In her time as director, Kelly has already made a significant impact on the Art House and those who teach, volunteer, and attend classes there. She directs a strong leadership team with a guiding vision and together they have initiated new programs that have benefitted not only the children but also the larger community. Read about new Community Art Events.
“I have to admit that when Jennie Hagerty, Executive Director of the Mercy Center for Women, called to inform me that I was to be honored as one of this year’s Mercy Center for Women’s Women Making History, I was verklempt,” Kelly said. “She totally caught me by surprise. Thinking about it, I realized that this recognition is more about women before me who planted seeds of caring about others, like my mom, and all the women who founded the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House. To be able to do what you love while helping others to have experiences they may not otherwise have in their lifetime is icing on the cake. I hope to set the same example for my children and grandchildren.”
Kelly lives into the principles of the Rule of Benedict to respond to the needs of God’s people and she upholds this philosophy every day as she shares her love for children, lifting them up at times when they may feel lost and surrounding them with beauty and the experience of community. She sets examples not only for the children but also for all those with whom she interacts at the Art House. Her reach of influence includes committed donors and volunteers. She is making the Art House, and the city of Erie, a better place. And she is certainly a “Woman Making History.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Mercy Center for Women’s Women Making History event. Honorees are women whose service and commitment are making a positive impact on the community. They are women who model strength and courage, offer inspiration, and do the work necessary to create hope for the future. This year’s event will take place on Monday, April 3, 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, Mercyhurst University. Please join us there to celebrate Kelly and the other Women Making History in the Erie community.
