Self-taught, part-time hobby baker Zawadi Parizek, who identifies as pansexual, has launched United Nations of Sugar Art ( UNSA ), an international coalition of 285 artists from 41 countries speaking multiple languages, to raise awareness and educate people about social inadequacies through edible art creations.
UNSA members will, once a year, virtually come together to create showpieces using sugar in any form such as cookies, cupcakes, gelatin, pulled sugar work or a cake. Through these creations, UNSA members will be raising awareness about World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, this year. Next year's campaign will be centered around Earth Day, April 22.
"Honestly, this started out because I'm obsessed with my own birthday, which is Dec. 1, so I knew right away that our inaugural event would be on World AIDS Day/my birthday," said Parizek. "I wanted to figure out a way to celebrate being on this planet another year by doing something that was bigger than myself and if I was going to do that then why not bring in others to help with this campaign."
Initially, Parizek wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in collaborating with her on this campaign since many people hadn't heard of her before and members would be donating their time, talent and materials.
"Two weeks after the first emails went out I was thrilled to have 40 members and then a week later I was moved and humbled to have 100 members," said Parizek. "Within three weeks, I had 280 members and had to start thinking about closing the group to keep it somewhat manageable. Administratively, it's a challenge with so many members being in different time zones speaking different languages but I do have help. Louise Wolfenden Haythornthwaite, of Alana Lily Chocolates & Cakes in the United Kingdom, and Sam Hebel, of Saima Sugararts Studio in Ireland, have been immeasurable help in keeping everything organized."
As the collaborative was forming, Parizek started researching charities and aspects of World AIDS Day that might have special meaning to her and be relevant on an international scale. She decided to focus her fundraising efforts on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmissions. This became the theme of this year's campaign.
"Each showpiece will have the color red in common and reflect how each artist wants to convey their feelings on the transmission of HIV from mother to child, as well as World AIDS Day and HIV/AIDS in any broad sense they choose," said Parizek. "My hope is that visitors to the Be Team Red Facebook reveal page sit down and take a moment to look through the gallery albums, watch the YouTube videos and read the educational information in the notes section. HIV/AIDS is still here and I hope that visitors will take the time to educate themselves on the Global Fund and the charitable acts they carry out and if they are able to, donate funds."
The GoFundMe donation link to the Global Fund will be available on the Be Team Red Facebook page beginning Dec. 1.
When not creating unique works of sugar art, Parizek works as a cardio-thoracic registered nurse in the operating room at NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital.
"I grew up in a tiny country town in Iowa, where I was first exposed to baking by my grandmother," said Parizek. "We had a garden and I remember her canning, making jams and baking pies from scratch. I didn't come back to baking until 2012 when two of my dearest friends wanted homemade birthday cakes. I did my first fondant cake in Feb. 2013 and I've been learning and baking ever since."
Parizek showcases her baked creations via her Honey Bunny Bake Shop Facebook page. Her work can also be found on her Pinterest site.
"I collaborated with this cause because we need to support good initiatives that help people who are living hard lives because you never know when you might need a group of people to help you," said Moses Delgado of Sweetmoses ( www.facebook.com/MosesSweetmoses ) in Madrid, Spain. "With this campaign, I want to make the dreams of those who have difficulties as real as possible."
"I joined the collaboration because of Zawadi and her amazing idea to create awareness for a fantastic cause and help out many moms and babies going through rough times," said Danijela Pulcini of Lilchick Cupcakes ( www.facebook.com/pages/Lilchick-Cupcakes/225054944220938 ) in Ontario, Canada. "I'm also happy to be working with amazing artists on this project as it's truly a global union."
Next year's UNSA Earth Day campaign will feature works from more than 260 sugar artists. The potential themes will center around recycling, endangered species, toxic waste, green cities and conservation. Parizek is currently researching international charities to determine which one best fits UNSA's mission.
As for Parizek's advice for would be activists, "Our unofficial slogan has become, 'Inspire and Act to Create Change.' You must be inspired by something, inspire others, make a path of action and either alone or as a force, create change. If it's for a neighbor, your city or group of people, educate yourself on a social inadequacy that touches you and do something productive and kind to make it less of an inadequacy."
Parizek will broadcast her first Periscope ( @HBBS ) Nov. 30 at 11:30 p. m. central time featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the Facebook page ( search Be Team Red ) ahead of the Dec. 1, 12:01 a.m. reveal time. The Facebook page will not be available to the public until that time.
Parizek can also be found on Twitter and Instagram.