by guest contributor Emily Helpern
Photos: Geoff Chesman ImageLink
“What I have discovered is that it is so important to take your pain … it will lead you to your passion to do your purpose. Pain, passion, purpose; tweet that!” said Rep. Elijah Cummings at The Lab School of Washington’s 30th Anniversary Gala at The National Building Museum.
MSNBC contributor and event emcee Michelle Bernard and Rep. Elijah Cummings
The gala honored five people with learning differences that have made great achievements in their field. Honorees included Karina Smirnoff of Dancing With The Stars, Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford, Rep. Elijah Cummings, Vin Roberti of Roberti+White, LLC and owner of Charm Georgetown, Jaclyn Mason.
The Lab School student Ethan Feinberg and Dancing With The Stars’ Karina Smirnoff
Several honorees toured the Lab School prior to attending the gala. “The four of us [honorees] were there at the school today…the students were extraordinary in every possible way that you could believe. They are gifted; they are not different. They may learn with a difference, but they have perspective, they can see and solve problems in a way most people can’t in a traditional education” said Vin Roberti of Roberti+White, LLC.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Honoree Vin Roberti
“In my opinion, we should have schools like Lab all over the country … this is the way schools should be!” said Karina Smirnoff after taking a tour of the school.
Karina Smirnoff
For almost 50 years The Lab School of Washington has provided an educational experience for students who learn differently, either from having diagnosed issues like dyslexia, ADHD or other learning differences that made it challenging for them to learn in a traditional school setting. The annual gala and dinner dance, which raised close to $700,000 this year, raises critical funds to continue the mission of the school: to unlock each child’s full potential.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy with Head of The Lab School Katherine Schantz
This mission also extends beyond the walls of The Lab School and is a priority of DC’s leadership.
“I’m committed to making sure no matter a child’s learning style, learning way, or how a child learns, he or she, no matter where he or she lives in the District of Columbia, has to have access to a school that serves that child’s needs, and that’s my commitment” said Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser at the gala.
Muriel Bowser with Michelle Bernard
Guests at the gala included Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Amy Kobuchar and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
