We had the good fortune of connecting with Cindy Brower and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My husband Myron and I had been planning a trip to Ukraine for many years. I was devastated when the war started. I cried for a week watching my grandparents’ beautiful country being blown to bits. I then decided to get down to business and help.

I began my fundraising efforts for Ukraine by creating a painting and then having prints made of Berehynia, the Ukrainian Goddess of protection. I raised almost $5,000 for World Central Kitchen.

Through a series of unanticipated circumstances, beginning with the notion of constructing a Vinok, a Ukrainian flower crown, (plural is Vinky) to continue my fundraising efforts “Cossack Cowgirl” began. I carry my title of “The Floral Warrior” with pride.

My mother was the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, her family name was Cossack. My father’s family came to Arizona in the late 1800’s, so “Cossack Cowgirl” seemed the perfect brand for my current endeavors.

I have since connected with the local Arizona Ukrainian community providing Vinky for a variety of fundraising events, including You Are the Angel, an incredible charity working on the ground to help feed and care for displaced people. They also are helping to get people out of hot spots to safety, getting clean water to places that have had their water systems destroyed,, helping to rebuild a hospital and also animal rescue. One of the ways we raised money was with Fashion with Compassion:Rise with Ukraine fashion show, where Vishyvanka-embroidered clothing- was featured along with floral crowns. It was in incredible evening filled with love, tears, great food, singing, dancing, and fashion. To date, You are the Angel has raised $240,000 with %100 going directly to the people in need.

Cactus and Tryzub is another group that I have been fortunate enough to work with. They are a Phoenix based group that helps to connect the local Ukrainian community and support charities like Razom for Ukraine. Recently they partnered with Asian Media Network to raise money for Razom for Ukraine by putting on an evening of Asian and Ukrainian entertainment. The evening was filled with swirling colors of traditional dress and culture from around the world.

We are currently planning an incredible event, “Let the Sunshine In” – The Biggest Little Festival and Fundraiser for Ukraine, This festival will be held at a Prescott ranch. We will have incredible live music, authentic Ukrainian food, dancing, art, and culture, https;//youaretheangel.org/event/let-the-sunshine-in/.

I plan to continue my Vinok making with net proceeds going to Ukrainian relief charities. I create floral crowns for a wide variety of occasions: parties, weddings, birthdays, graduations, bike helmets, hatbands, as well as pieces for our four-legged friends! Being part of the Ukrainian community and raising money to help Ukraine in this time of need has been one of the biggest honors of my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The success of the flower crown-vinok-project caught me a bit off guard. Sometimes needing to produce 12-15 Vinki for a single event. I spent a good amount of time researching the history and traditions behind the crowns as well at the wide variety of styles. A major challenge was mastering the “structural” aspects of construction; another was/is to create each Vinok with its own, unique, individuality ie; shape, colors, flower variety, height, etc.

The beauty of the Vinok brings joy to people and pulls them into a conversation about Ukrainian culture.. Their beauty also serves as a stark contrast and poignant reminder of the Ukrainians suffering during this unjustified and horrendous war of aggression.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a best friend came for an Arizona visit we could cover a lot of territory! A day in Tucson would include a visit to Mission San Xavier del Bac, then off to the Mini Time Machine Museum, followed by lunch at The Arizona Inn and a few games of ping pong on their patio.

A trip north to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon would include a stop at Garland’s Indian Jewelry, and a late lunch in Sedona at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. On our way to Jerome for some snooping about, we could stop at Page Spring Cellars for a tour of the vineyard.

Next stop Prescott. After a hike around Granite Dells and Watson Lake we could have lunch at El Gato Azul and enjoy the great food and the creek and then a stroll around the Courthouse Square and Whiskey Row.

A visit to Scottsdale, our agenda would take us to the Desert Botanical Garden, a hike in Papago Park, a stroll around Old Town Scottsdale and lunch at Los Olivos Mexican Patio.

A day in Phoenix would take us to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to see the amazing stained glass windows, then to The Japanese Friendship Garden and dinner at Fez on Central , followed by the First Friday Roosevelt Row art gallery tour.

Last but not least we would want to include a visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior for a mosey and a picnic.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest fan and helper is my husband, Myron, who is always there to help me and never complains when the house is engulfed in Vinki and flowers. He is there to help me load and unload and set up at every event.

Connecting with the Arizona Ukrainian community, the Ukrainian diaspora, and those living in Ukraine, has been a bright light in these dark times. Their resolve and commitment to the cause of helping Ukrainians in their time of need is admirable and inspiring. I have learned and grown by knowing them all.

I would like to Shoutout to Terri New, who reached out to me with the idea of a festival to raise money for Ukraine. Terri and her husband Louis are sponsoring and hosting the upcoming Let the Sunshine In-The Biggest Little Festival and Fundraiser for Ukraine event at their incredible ranch. It promises to be an unforgettable day!

Website: cossackcowgirl.com

Instagram: cossack_cowgirl

Facebook: Urban Mystic Studio – paintings by Cindy Brower

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN6dx2aEkbI

Other: youaretheangel.org cactusandtryzub.com https://youaretheangel.org/.event/let-the-sunshine-in/.

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