Helping hands needed to create origami peace cranes

Photographer and community volunteer Nanine Hartzenbusch is in charge of a project to create large origami peace cranes that will decorate the tables at the 20th annual MLK Prayer Breakfast, a benefit for the McCrorey YMCA held at the Charlotte Convention Center on the upcoming national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. 

That's a lot of cranes, so she came up with a creative idea: Host a workshop so those interested can learn a new skill while helping out with an important community event at the same time.

Nanine is teaching two Origami Peace Crane Folding Workshops this week at the McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Road . They're from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 8; and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 11. No experience is necessary and you'll learn a new craft for the New Year.

During the two workshops, the plan is to fold 150-200 large origami cranes (12 inches) from paper imprinted with Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. 

The workshops are free, but you must RSVP by emailing naninephoto@gmail.com. 

The MLK Prayer Breakfast is at 8 a.m. Jan. 20 in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St.

The keynote speaker is award-winning actor Hill Harper (his photo is below), a graduate of Harvard Law School and an author, whose most recent projects are starring in the TV shows "CSI:NY" and "Covert Affairs," and the movie "Mama I Wanna Sing" with recording artist Ciara. He recently published his fifth book, "Letters To An Incarcerated Brother."

Tickets to the prayer breakfast are $45; proceeds benefit the McCrorey YMCA.

All area teens are invited to the McCrorey YMCA after the Prayer Breakfast for a free MLK Day Teen Summit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss social justice, higher education, entrepreneurship and civic engagement.

Details: www.ymcacharlotte.org

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