Founders
Ivy Hawkins is a native Washingtonian, and currently resides in Bowie, Maryland with her husband Roger. She is co-founder and CEO of Portraits of Faith. Her first full-length play “The Gathering of The Queens” written in 2008 has been performed in local churches throughout the Washington DC area. Ivy’s love and passion for the stage resulted from her enrollment in a beginner's drama class while attending the University of the District of Columbia. Her sole purpose for enrolling in the class was to earn an easy three credits to graduate. Her performance of “The Lady In Red” from Ntozake Shanege’s play For Color Girls Who Have Considered Suicide, When the Rainbow is Enuf” earned her an A and standing ovation. Ivy’s love and passion for the theater blossomed. In 2004 she wrote and directed a one act play entitled Matters of the Heart. In 2005, she wrote Portraits of Faith, a collection of prose and poems that tells of the strength, struggle and endurance of eight Christian women … “The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under but over!”, a quote of Catherine Booth captures the central theme of her plays. Ivy holds an MPA from American University School of Public Administration. She is the proud parent of one daughter Nzinga, son-in-law William and three grandsons, Johnathan, Caleb and Joshua.
Fay Brake is co-founder and Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Portraits of Faith (POF). A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, her marriage to Earl a serivceman, afforded her many wonderful opportunities to live throughout the United States and abroad. She currently resides in Mitchellville, Maryland with her husband and their grandson Justin. Fay’s ability to meet challenges that call forth the best in people and bring them together around a shared sense of purpose is one of her trademarks. She is a visionary, forward and strategic thinker, with a goal to move POF into the majors. She made her stage debut in 2004, in “Matters of The Heart”, a play written and directed by Ivy Hawkins. Her passion for the stage was solidified in 2008, when she played Queen Beatrice in “The Gathering of the Queens”. She has demonstrated on numerous occasions her versatility, range and depth on stage. This was never more apparent than when she performed dual roles in “The Gathering of the Queens”, as Queen Beatrice (wit) and Queen Esther (wisdom) in 2009. Acting is definitely Fay’s passion and love and it has often been said that her stage presence commands attention. A talented vocalist as well, Fay sings in the Inspirational and the Majestic Choirs at Shiloh Baptist Church of Landover, Maryland. She is a multi-talented, gifted actress and the inspiration behind POF.
