MISSION & BOARD
Learn about how and why BTC came to be, and meet the floral artists and activists who make the magic happen.
MISSION STATEMENT
Bringing awareness, healing and hope to humanity’s dark social issues through the art of design.
VISION STATEMENT
Be the Color is dedicated to anyone who has ever been made to feel less than a human being.
We are committed to being a completely volunteer-run, inclusive organization. No individual shall profit from our work, and we will consider all causes regardless of religious affiliation, gender identity, race, sexual preference, or political affiliation.
Our events will leave communities in a better place. All event proceeds will either be contributed to relevant organizations within the community, or reinvested in the organization to produce our next event.
We believe that humankind’s visceral response to the beauty and color of flowers has innate power to unlock empathy and altruism. Our floral installations harness that power to shed light on and bring change to the social injustices they address.
WHY BE THE COLOR?
Adam started this organization because he has seen first-hand what a difference floral artistry has the power to accomplish. It was his honor to create a rape survivor runway show for South Dakota Florist Association in 2018. The goal was to give power back to survivors. Not all the women have been a survivor of rape, but they all understood the importance of the show. That show became the catalyst to for Adam to present floral in a way to help others.
Later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adam witnessed the world falling apart and that fear was everywhere. He watched the protests and unrest, and knew that it is our responsibility as humanity to make the world a better place. Adam wanted to make a difference within his community which led Adam to curate the immersive floral exhibit Be The Color. Each station within the exhibit dealt with a different social issue — child abuse, women’s rights, compassion, and seeing the beauty within ourselves all needed to be part of the exhibit. So, the planning started. Adam knew that color would play a key role in expressing the emotions of each exhibit. The viewers walked into a room void of color and halfway through the exhibit were given a tool (a flashlight) that enabled them to reveal the colors otherwise obscured by a pervasive yellow glow. After watching the emotional impact that it had on the viewers, as well as the conversations about social issues that the exhibit unlocked, Adam decided to create the Be The Color organization.
Adam has curated a diverse and talented Board of Directors to develop an association whose goal is to better the human race. We believe that we are responsible for leaving this world a better place for future generations. Too often we don’t talk about a social injustice until it affects us directly. BTC asks: “Why do we wait for that?” It is time to discuss the hard topics. It is time to make the world a better place. It is time to open our eyes and see the beauty all around and within ourselves. It is time to Be The Color!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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![Portrait of Adam Havrilla]()
ADAM HAVRILLA, AIFD PFCI
FOUNDER / PRESIDENT
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![Portrait of Jaime Havrilla, Treasurer]()
JAIME HAVRILLA
TREASURER
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![Portrait of Tina Davis, AIFD]()
TINA DAVIS, AIFD
BOARD MEMBER
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![Portrait of Michelle O'Neal Babicky, AIFD]()
MICHELLE O'NEAL-BABICKY, AIFD
BOARD MEMBER
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![Portrait of Andy Hopper, AIFD CFD]()
ANDY HOPPER, AIFD CFD
BOARD MEMBER
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![Portrait of Patience Pickner, AIFD PFCI]()
PATIENCE PICKNER, AIFD PFCI
BOARD MEMBER
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![Portrait of Kathleen Reese]()
KATHLEEN REESE
BOARD MEMBER
Support Change
Our generous donors have helped start this association and continue to offer amazing support. As a 501C-3 organization we rely on the generosity of individuals and business to support the vision for change. You can click below to help Be The Color.