Rainbow Town | A Documentary about a Liberian Orphanage

Rainbow Town Art was on exhibit and the film screened at A New Community Church in Dallas, Texas. The church is a beautiful blend of homeless singles, African immigrants, and Dallas suburbanites. The conversation following the film was extremely engaging, definitely one of the best yet. The Rainbow Town team was inspired and honored to be a part. Thanks to Mrs. Kathy Keasler and the rest of A New Community. A special thanks to Stephen Slatt. Stephen, who currently lives out of his truck, said he wanted to give something special to Rainbow Town, but had no money to spare. He decided to give his brown, rugged Bible. Inside, he wrote, “With Love,” and signed his name.

Rainbow Town premiers at the Museum of Tolerance International Film Festival in Los Angeles! The scope of the festival is to explore human rights issues and prevent hatred through the medium of film. The Rainbow Town story, which tells of a group of children orphaned by Liberia’s war, fits splendidly into the scope of the festival. During the 6-day event, a variety of films including The Way Back, Iron Cross, and Strangers No More screen in theatres throughout the internationally renowned Museum of Tolerance. Director Lauren Selmon Roberts and Photographer Amy Elrod attend the festivities and field questions during Q&A sessions held after Rainbow Town screenings. Lauren, Amy, and the rest of the crew are honored that the premiere is held in beautiful Southern California at a one-of-a-kind institution committed to human rights and positive change.

Rainbow Town storms Washington! That’s Washington, Oklahoma of course!

Twenty minutes from the hometown of Rainbow Town Director Lauren Selmon Roberts, a group of volunteers headed up by Amanda Deshotels coordinated a grassroots Rainbow Town screening.

The small town evening in America’s heartland was a huge success for Rainbow Town, which is located an ocean away in a rural West African village.

There was free popcorn for everyone. The Director shared about the making of the movie. A Q&A followed the film screening. And, the community looked at Rainbow Town Art, which was on display around the venue.

Contributions from the night will cover expenses for a semester of college for 12 Liberian students.

With a population of under 600, the community of Washington proved that you don’t have to live in a big city to make a global impact.

Read here to find out how your community can be a part of the Rainbow Town effort.

Rainbow Town Art partners again with Designer Korto Momolu – this time in Washington DC at the CW’s Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Expo. Korto’s booth blends fashion and art, and all for a cause. Her handbags and jewelry are for sale right along with Rainbow Town Art, photos, bags, and t-shirts. The Washington Convention center is full of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle vendors. Runway shows happen throughout the day. Korto’s collection is the grand finale, and on stage at the end, she shares the story and effort of Rainbow Town with the crowd. The day is a stylish fuse of Korto’s fashion and Rainbow Town Art – joined in the effort to help send war-affected Liberian students to college. Click here to see Korto talk about fashion in Washington DC and Rainbow Town!

Kansas City was the recent host to Rainbow Town as it was screened in front of nearly 100 people at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Support Center. The screening was a homecoming of sorts for still photographer and KC native Amy Elrod. After the screening, Ma Feeta’s vision and desire to see the children educated was shared with those in attendance. Kansas City answered as they donated a full college scholarship for one Rainbow Town child. Thank you, Kansas City, for being a part of the process of change!

While in NY for Fashion Week, Rainbow Town Art spends an evening in Times Square!

Rainbow Town recently teamed up with Designer Korto Momolu at NY Fashion Week! We previously posted a full blog entry with photos & info. BUT NOW, the video!

Video by: Will Roberts, Sound & Edit by: Lauren Selmon Roberts

It’s a Sunday evening in New York City and inside Skylight West – a venue located just steps from Times Square – Fashion Week is in full effect. International designer Korto Momolu debuts her Spring 2011 Collection.

In attendance is model Tyson Beckford, and a handful of other recognizable faces, including numerous contestants from “Project Runway,” Kwame Jackson from “The Apprentice,” and Miss Liberia USA Mahja D. Zeon. When the bright lights flash on and the music turns up, the crowd quiets down and the show begins.

The collection is full of beautiful, bold, high fashion surprises, one of which is a bright blue Rainbow Town t-shirt! Rainbow Town is an orphanage in Bong County, Liberia, a county that borders Lofa County, which is where Korto’s family is originally from.

In addition to one of her main models sporting a Rainbow Town t-shirt, Rainbow Town Art speckles a variety of places around the venue. Also, the first three rows of guests receive a Rainbow Town goodie bag and VIP Rainbow Town bags are hand-delivered by Liberian children to celebrities.

Korto (pronounced Cut • Toe) spent her early years in Liberia and understands the challenges associated with growing up there. The children at Rainbow Town live on far less than a dollar a day and access to basic necessities such as food, health, and education is limited.

By including Rainbow Town in her show, Korto creatively uses her fashion platform to give a platform to children back home in Liberia.

Rainbow Town Bag for First 3 Rows

This weekend, Rainbow Town Art teams up with designer Korto Momolu at New York Fashion Week.

The one-of-a-kind Rainbow Town painting exhibit will be on display during the showing of Korto’s Spring Collection on September 12th. The first three rows of guests will receive a Rainbow Town bag full of all sorts of Rainbow Town fun!

You likely know Korto from Season 5 of Project Runway. She is from Liberia but left in 1990 due to the war.

Korto, Koffa, & Lauren

Her work is now known internationally, but she remains influenced by her West African roots and regularly uses her talents for humanitarian causes.

This year, she shared her incredible success story at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which is where she met Rainbow Town Director Lauren Selmon Roberts.

To follow the Rainbow Town crew on twitter this weekend, click here.

For more on Korto and her work, click here.

Original paintings by the children of Rainbow Town are now for sale! Many paintings are pictured under the artwork page. Proceeds go toward the education and/or training of war-affected children in Liberia.

The paintings come mounted and ready to hang! They are for sale as single pieces, but also work very well as sets. Below are 3 examples of Rainbow Town™ Painting Sets.

Here are the 3 sets as displayed at Common Grounds coffeehouse in Illinois.