In 2026, WE'RE CELEBRATING
10 Years of Empowering and Inspiring Women
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Reflecting on the Past Ten Years It was extremely difficult, but we've chosen a few features to revisit. These are representative of all the women who have appeared in Sanctuary -- amazing artists, nonprofit founders, and business leaders who have been an inspiration to others through their life's work. ~ Sanctuary Editors |
Photo Courtesy: Karly Godoy
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2025 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Karly Godoy is director of Tashirat, an orphanage in Mexico providing abandoned, disabled children with comprehensive care, a loving home, and family within the Tashirat community.
"It’s challenging because you feel responsible for another person’s life. But it’s beautiful and satisfying when you give a child a good environment, the right nutrition, and emotional stability." ~ Karly Godoy |
Photo Credit: Richard Termine
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2024 FEATURED ARTIST
Diana Byer is the founder and artistic director emerita of New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) and director of New York Theatre Ballet School. She also founded NYTB’s community LIFT program, providing dance classes, scholarships, and services to homeless and at-risk New York City children.
"There is a program called “Dance On A Shoe String” in which the older children create choreography for the younger ones, choosing the music, lights and costumes and writing the programs for their studio performances." |
Photo Courtesy: National Museum of Women in the Arts
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2023 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Susan Fisher Sterling, Ph.D., is Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C.
"I strongly believe in the power of art to encourage dialogue on difficult topics and to foster social change. This is more critical now than ever. I believe that the arts will continue to be a bellwether of our society and can help to promote equity." ~ Susan Fisher Sterling |
Photo Credit: Rachel Logan
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2023 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Tara Storch is co-founder of Taylor's Gift Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing emotional and grief support to organ donor families through its flagship grief support program.
"I don’t think we’ll ever be at peace with losing Taylor. But I think the decision we made about organ and tissue donation helped us find strength. Seeing the families that she touched and being connected with them has given us so much strength." ~ Tara Storch |
A Viky Garden "Selfie"
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2022 FEATURED ARTIST
Viky Garden is a New Zealand-based fine artist exploring the nature of impermanence and similar themes that reflect personal and universal aspects of the female experience.
"I’ve predominantly used myself as the model for my work for the past 40 years, exploring the nature of impermanence and similar themes that reflect both personal and universal aspects of the female experience. If I’m ever asked, 'Do you still paint yourself?' I smile and think to myself, 'No, I’m actually painting something about you.'" ~ Viky Garden |
Photo Courtesy: Cameron Myler
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2021 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Cameron Myler, Esq., OLY is a four-time Olympian (luge), an assistant professor at NYU, and an intellectual property and sports lawyer. She is also an Athlete Ambassador and Vice President of Kids Play International, a nonprofit that uses sport to promote gender equity in countries impacted by genocide.
"The numbers of female athletes are also now much closer to the numbers of male athletes – participation is closer to 50-50. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement with women’s pay for professional athletics, participation in the governance of organizations, and equity within commercial partners - sponsorship and brand organizations. I believe there is room for improvement off the field more than on the field." ~ Cameron Myler |
Photo Credit: Dan Demetriad
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2020 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Nikki Feirt Atkins, M.D., is a former dancer, pathologist, and founder and producing artistic director of American Dance Machine of the 21st Century (ADM21).
"We are focused on preserving great works of musical theater choreography with the nuances and intent with which they were created. When a show closes, the script and score are preserved. The dances remain in the muscles and minds of the dancers who performed them." ~ Nikki Feirt Atkins |
Photo Courtesy: Mercy Chefs
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2019 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Ann LeBlanc is the co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Development for Mercy Chefs, a nonprofit, disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization.
"We ask local organizations to work with us, such as churches and other community groups, before we go to a location. Help from local organizations makes a big difference. But we also get help from people who will drive for four to five hours to get to us. So, one of our goals is to make their volunteer experience a very positive one." ~ Ann LeBlanc |
Photo Credit: Rex Sanchez
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2018 FEATURED INTERVIEW
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a world-renowned advocate for those on the autism spectrum, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, an animal behavior consultant and inventor. She championed the idea that “thinking differently” should not be perceived as having an inferior intellect.
"I do agree that females on the spectrum can blend in better – well, some better than others. It’s like acting in a play. However, I’ve seen so much abuse, including spousal abuse. Many women on the spectrum are so anxious to get a guy that they get taken advantage of." ~ Temple Grandin |
Photo Credit: Gordon Parks
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2018 FEATURED INTERVIEW
The late Gloria Vanderbilt was born into the prominent Vanderbilt family of New York. She was an artist, author, actress, and designer of an iconic blue jeans line. In her later years, she spent her time painting and working with pastels.
"I didn’t care what people thought. It was just what I wanted to do. It was what I wanted to do from the beginning, but then other things came in, and it was a long time before I started painting full-time. And, in the meantime, I wrote books and didn’t paint at all. It’s something that comes with great joy for me." ~ Gloria Vanderbilt |
Photo Courtesy: Bette Ann Moskowitz
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2017 FEATURED ARTIST
Bette Ann Moskowitz is an award-winning author and former educator, whose popular blog, "Vinegar Mother: A Tart Take on the World," explores life's twists, turns, and quirky mishaps with a keen sense of humor.
"This is a culture that’s all about youth and success. Older people are treated badly. They’re marginalized. They’re no longer the centers of their families. You know, everything is so politically correct these days. You can’t make a joke about anything anymore. But you can make jokes about old people. We even joke about ourselves! Old people are very self-deprecating." ~ Bette Ann Moskowitz |
Photo Courtesy: Amina Figarova
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2016 FEATURED ARTIST
Amina Figarova is an internationally-known jazz pianist and composer who was born in Baku, Azerbaijan.
"When I was growing up, a lot of jazz was always playing at home. Since it’s improvisational, it has a very natural feel. When I went to a special school, I tried to improvise everything all the time. I was learning to play, and I would interpret the music. This came natural to me. My mom always let me do what I wanted when she would hear me playing. So, I was developing a jazz background unconsciously at a very young age." ~ Amina Figarova |
