By Betsy Nelson 
The Daily Record
May 6, 2005 

A frequently used motif during the Renaissance, caryatids are female figures that serve as ornamental support in place of columns. I find it quite fitting then that the courtyard at the Marian House is decorated with four unique marble caryatids, sculpted by Annapolis artist Claire McArdle.

These striking sculptures offer inspiration beyond their aesthetic beauty — they often incite inner strength for the women of Marian House.

Named after the principles of honesty, integrity, patience and trust, each figure is a testament to the journey of recovery and exemplifies what Marian House does so well — providing homeless women the opportunity to build productive lives.

The Marian House offers the kind of support that enables women to move from dependence to independence.

The caryatids hold significant meaning to the residents of the Marian House. Meant to symbolize women who have succeeded at the long-term care facility, they serve as a reminder of Marian House's greatest achievement, the cultivation of self-esteem.

For women whose roads have been paved with hardships like poverty, addiction and imprisonment, increasing self-esteem is no easy fix. Yet it is the first step in what many believe is the road to recovery.

Kathleen Lyon, development officer at the organization, says that "the process that women go through at Marian House is extraordinary. They need to overcome poverty, addiction and abuse and need service in the fullest extent of the word … and developing their self-esteem and inner strength" is a core focus of the organization's mission.

It seems all the more fitting, then, that the organization's first fundraising event will feature Marci Shimoff, president of The Esteem Group and co-author of the bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul."

Shimoff believes that "having good self-esteem is absolutely critical for the recovery from anything — drugs, abuse" and everyday challenges.

"We don't live in a bubble. It helps to give support to get support … and sometimes it's as simple as that," Shimoff says. She believes that sharing our stories helps us become more compassionate neighbors and build better bridges to understanding ourselves.

Lyon agrees. She says it makes a huge difference in healthy self-esteem for the women in her program to share their experiences with one another as mentors, mothers and educators. They want to know that they are not alone, and that they deserve support, recovery and basic rights.

In addition to a rigorous two-phase program, a critical component is the support group that they provide for one another.

As Shimoff asserts, "sometimes just hearing someone's story has changed their life." In the case of Marian House, often just hearing stories does change lives.

The Marian House event will be held May 14 at the College of Notre Dame. For more information, call Kathleen Lyon at 410-467-4246.

Betsy Nelson is executive director of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Her column appears every other week.