‘The United States: Where Roots Can Grow’ – The Legacy Collection

‘The United States: Where Roots Can Grow’, 2026

Rawan Ita-Diaz of Project TheraPaint

Watercolor on Paper –  10″ x 13″
Framed, Black Metal, Tru Vue Conservation Clear Glass
Certificate of Authenticity Included

October 25th, 1993. We made it. We finally arrived in America – our forever home. We landed in one of the New York airports and immediately noticed something unfamiliar: people were smiling at us. Not just politely, but warmly. They greeted us, offered help, and made eye contact in a way we weren’t used to after our time in Europe, where assistance was rare and conversations even rarer.

My mother explains that it was a great feeling to be in America, knowing that this is where roots can grow. From there, we made our way to Detroit, Michigan—our final destination. Our new home.

In the days that followed, we stayed between different family members’ homes while waiting to move into our own apartment. Everything was still new, unfamiliar, and unfolding.

Then came October 31st.

We were staying at my aunt’s house. Evening came, and so did people, lots of them. Children and parents walking from door to door, knocking and smiling.

My parents, completely unfamiliar with American culture at the time, assumed this was the way they welcomed new families to the neighborhood. Naturally, they thought everyone was coming to greet us… and bring gifts. So instead of handing out candy, my parents did what they always do. They welcomed everyone in.

Chai and desserts were offered. Yet, for some reason, no one accepted the invitation.

The next morning at breakfast, my mother excitedly told my aunt about all the people she invited in as they welcomed us. My aunt remembered which date it was and then burst into laughter. It was Halloween!

My mother, still confused, couldn’t understand why this was funny as she had never heard of Halloween before.
And just like that, we experienced our first American holiday without even realizing it.

To this day, it’s one of the stories we laugh about every Halloween.

United States National Symbol
Tree: The Oak

Rawan Ita-Diaz is a Detroit-based artist whose paintings reflect the truths of life. A painter with a purpose, she creates art that reveals the good, the bad, and everything in between. Grounded in her Master’s Degree in Architecture & Design from Lawrence Technological University, she approaches her work with both structure and empathy, using her art to tell the stories of joy, sorrow, pride, and grief that we all carry.

Rawan entered the role of artist and advocate after a traumatic accident changed her life. In 2017, she was struck by an SUV while walking to work. Her injuries affected her mobility and introduced her to life with chronic pain. Isolated and hurting, she fell into depression and searched for purpose within new circumstances. It was then that she found therapeutic art.