IMPART Alliance presents, in partnership with AgeAlive and the City of East Lansing
EAST LANSING, MI — A moving art-advocacy installation celebrating Michigan’s Direct Care Workers (DCWs) will soon brighten the halls of the Hannah Community Center. A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden opens November 17, 2025, and will remain on display through April 30, 2026. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the Hannah Community Center’s regular operating hours.
Created by artist-in-residence Zahrah Resh in collaboration with IMPART Alliance, the exhibit features hundreds of hand-painted butterflies—each one crafted by a Direct Care Worker or community member to honor the compassion and commitment that fuel Michigan’s care workforce. The project first debuted at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and is now expanding statewide as a symbol of gratitude and advocacy for the people who provide hands-on care to older adults and people with disabilities.
“Direct care workers are the backbone of our care system,” said Dr. Clare Luz, founder and director of IMPART Alliance. “This garden is more than an art installation—it’s a public declaration of respect for a workforce that deserves professional recognition, fair wages, and a seat at the policy table.”
“Each butterfly carries a story of love, endurance, and hope,” added Zahrah Resh, artist-in-residence. “Together they create a living, breathing testament to the invisible heroes who bring light to others every day.”
Angela Persinger, a Direct Care Worker and Support Broker who contributed to the exhibit, shared, “Caregiving found me through my daughter, but it became my calling. Projects like this remind us that our work matters and that we’re not alone.”
Through community engagement, storytelling, and art, A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden aims to elevate the public perception of care work while inspiring collective action to strengthen Michigan’s care infrastructure.
Get Involved!
IMPART Alliance is seeking host sites for 2026 exhibits, donors, painting workshop volunteers, community outreach partners, and Direct Care Workers who wish to order butterfly-making kits and join the virtual statewide garden. Learn more at dcwgardens.com.
Media Contact
Rochelle Berry
Le Vrai Nord LLC, on behalf of IMPART Alliance
rochelle@levrainord.com
About IMPART Alliance
IMPART Alliance, housed within Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, is a statewide initiative dedicated to improving the quality, availability, and sustainability of Michigan’s Direct Care Workforce through training, advocacy, and systems change.
About AgeAlive
AgeAlive is an initiative of Michigan State University committed to promoting intergenerational connections and creative engagement across the lifespan to improve quality of life for all ages.
About the City of East Lansing
The City of East Lansing supports community arts and wellness programming that fosters connection, creativity, and civic pride through spaces like the Hannah Community Center.
