In a meaningful intersection of art, service, and community impact, Country Day National Art Honor Society students recently travelled to Sharon Pointe, a housing community serving formerly unhoused individuals, to participate in a hands-on clay workshop focused on welcome and belonging.
During the visit, four National Art Honor Society students joined sculpture teacher Karrie Matias to create small clay houses that will be transformed into magnets and included in welcome bags for individuals and families moving into permanent housing. The handmade magnets were so warmly received last year that organizers invited the group back to create more for incoming residents.
The initiative supports the work of the Housing Collaborative and is connected with Ascent Housing, an organization dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness secure stable housing. Beyond providing shelter, the partnership seeks to foster belonging and connection during a pivotal life transition.
A powerful generational thread runs through this effort. Kay Ethridge, a longtime champion of service-based ceramic initiatives at Country Day, has spent decades encouraging students to use art as a vehicle for compassion. Her son, Mark Ethridge '06, was first introduced to issues of housing insecurity while a student at Country Day. Today, as Managing Principal and Co-Founder of Ascent Housing, Mark helps lead efforts to expand access to stable housing and supports workshops like this one that raise awareness, deepen understanding, and inspire service.
The event was coordinated through the collaboration of a dedicated clay team that included Kay Ethridge; potter Janet Johnson; artist and Country Day parent Courtney Salton; and Matias.
The educational portion of the visit was led by James Lee, a Charlotte native, Air Force veteran, and social impact entrepreneur. Lee, owner of James Lee and Associates, partners with numerous organizations and civic initiatives, including the Home for All strategy, Crisis Assistance Ministry, and the Beyond Open Small Business Grant program. Through personal storytelling and thoughtful dialogue, he helped students better understand systemic barriers to housing and the importance of informed, compassionate engagement.
Together, students shaped simple clay houses—forms that carry powerful symbolism. Once fired and finished, the magnets will become small but meaningful tokens of welcome for residents beginning a new chapter in stable housing.
“This experience allows students to see how art can extend beyond the classroom,” Matias shared. “A handmade object can communicate dignity, hope, and belonging in ways words sometimes cannot. By creating in community at Sharon Pointe, Country Day students were reminded that home is not just a structure—it represents stability, safety, and renewal. Through partnerships like this one, the school continues to demonstrate how art education can shape both skilled makers and compassionate citizens."
Kay Ethridge , Janet Johnson, Karrie Matias, and Adelaide Martin