CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1482727
CityViewNC.com | 35 artist, painter and graphic designer. She built the Ballash Woodworks website. "She helped me go from a hobbyist to someone in the community who creates what customers want," Ballash says. "Originally, there were four of us involved, but Jamie and I were the visionaries. "Jamie was the heart behind it. She was the true altruism behind it. I was the planner." In addition to the woodworking shop, they founded Artisans Outreach, which provides training and mentorship to active- duty soldiers, veterans and their family members who want to learn artisan skills and find an outlet for their creativity. Other than woodworking, Artisans Outreach offers classes in trades such as leatherworking, glass blowing, photography and pottery. "We wanted to do this as a nonprofit," Ballash says of his wife and their partners in Artisans Outreach. "I just know I wanted to achieve something. She would point me in the right way when I needed to be pointed. She made sure I was on direction. "at was what Jamie was to me — she was like my sea anchor. She kept me grounded and pointing in a consistent direction," Ballash says. "She brought me God. She kind of helped get rid of the anger stored in my heart, feeling like I was betrayed by a lot of people. She was the person who saw through a lot of facades I had in front of me from years of being in the environment I was in. "She kind of saw what was really inside of me and had a way of bringing out that other side of me." Ballash found solace when he again took up the woodworking tools that his grandfather had given him in 2012. "Guys like me need to be doing this with their hands. It's what I feel is my purpose," he says. Back to nature Growing up in Cleveland, Ballash spent time in a woodworking shop that his grandfather started aer serving in the Korean War. While Ballash was in the service, he would return home on leave and spend a few days with his grandfather in the shop. His grandfather and father would cra custom cabinets; Ballash says he picked up what skills he could while providing a helping hand. 100 Bragg Blvd | Fayetteville, NC | 28301 | 910 - 643 - 2778 | Email us: info@asomf.org | @ASOMF CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EXHIBITS: asomf.org/events/ " A must see in your pursuit of history, and the efforts and sacrifices made for our freedom." Every dollar helps bring quality exhibits & programming to the Museum each year. With your donation you can help us Honor America's Heroes today. TO GIVE A DONATION