Gov. Beverly Perdue and Linda Carlisle, secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, along with the chairman of the N.C.

GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and the director of the N.C. Museum of Art, announced a $2 million grant to the Raleigh museum. The grant will fund The Big Picture project. The project provides professional-development resources, workshops and distance-learning courses to help teachers with art-based educational strategies.

Beverly McIver's work is on display at the N.C. Museum of Art through April 7. The exhibition, Small Works, includes mixed media pieces on paper and oils on canvas.

Dreamscape artist Eireann Leigh, of Carrboro, is displaying her work at the Open Eye Cafe as part of Carrboro's Second Friday ArtWalk.

The exhibition, Provocative Movements of Inner Landscapes in Life and Love, runs from April 13 to May 1.

Lisa Creed, of Durham, as well as Tinka Jordy and Susan Wells, of Hillsborough, are among 11 artists exhibiting their contemporary interpretations of Totems and Talismans at the ENO Gallery, in Hillsborough, through April 22.

The Frank Gallery, in Chapel Hill, announced:
Alison Weiner, creator of mahaloArts, in Carrboro, is scheduled to host a workshop, I've Got Something to Sing: Music-Making for Everyone, on April 14.
Krista Bremer, a Carrboro writer, hosted a salon discussing personal relationships and the challenges and triumphs of raising a bicultural family.
Lauren Petrosky is the guest artist at the Sunflower Studio & Gallery in Wake Forest April 13 to May 10. Petrosky creates handmade recycled glass mosaic art.

The Cary Gallery of Artists features Wendy Musser's oils and pastels and Jayne Cluggish's clay work from April 27 to May 24.

Anita Shontel Woodely, an actress in Chapel Hill, performed "Mama Juggs," a one-woman show about women's health and living with breast cancer, in Durham. The March event was sponsored by the Triangle Association of Black Journalists and raised funds for the Sharon Randolph Breast Cancer Foundation.

Buzz, an all-female choral group and Sweet Adelines 2003 International Quartet Champion, performed last month in Cary at "Harmony, Hope & Healing," a concert benefitting the Pretty in Pink Foundation. The Raleigh-based organization aims to eliminate financial barriers and provide resources to breast cancer patients in need.

Jean DeSaix, a senior lecturer in the biology department in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the faculty-to-student mentoring award while Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, a professor of health policy and management in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC, received the faculty-to-faculty mentoring award from the Carolina Women's Leadership Council.

Kim Mayer, Ph.D., was named statewide technology director of the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center, a business development service of the University of North Carolina.

Culinary arts students from Wake Technical Community College, in Raleigh, traveled to France in March to study French cuisine. Participants included Angela Montavalo, of Apex; Leah Sheib, of Clayton; and Melanie Taylor and Suzanne Downs, of Raleigh.

Elaina Bright was named admission counselor at William Peace University of Raleigh. She graduated from the college last year.

Margot Carmichael Lester, Maxine Mills and Taylor Sisk, of Carrboro, have formed Past Forward, a personal memoir and institutional history writing company. The firm helps individuals write, edit and design biographical books ready for print.

Rashmi Shah, an attorney, joined Bashyam Spiro, a Raleigh-based law firm. Shah is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association as well as the Immigration Law Committee of the N.C. Bar Association.

Sally Webb, CSEP, who is CEO of The Special Event, a Research Triangle Park-based event and meeting management firm, announced that it received a 2011 Gala Award from Special Events Magazine for best event entertainment with a budget under $25,000.

Stacy Lindley, PharmD, was named director of business development of The Pyramid Resource Group, of Cary, a corporate coaching and leadership development company.

Cara Garney, of Raleigh, was promoted to vice president of Channel Marketing at Earthlink, an IT services, network and communications provider.

Sepi Asefnia, president of SEPI Engineering & Construction, a civil engineering firm based in Raleigh, announced the addition of Cary native Liz DiNatale, as a hydraulic designer.

Rebecca Sprowl, Raleigh native and current Clayton resident, was named executive director of the new Fast Braiin Learning Academy in Raleigh, a facility offering educational immersion programs for children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.

Cynthia Cooper joined the sales team at Roving Coach International, a Triangle-based employment engagement company.

Elaine Buxton, president and CEO of Confero, a Cary-based national customer experience measurement firm, was a preliminary judge for the 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

Vickie L. Miller, director of community investment and assistance for the N.C. Department of Commerce's Community Development Division, was elected the Southern states representative on the board of directors of the Council of State Community Development Agencies.

The City of Durham's Human Relations Commission and the Human Relations Division of the city's Neighborhood Improvement Department hosted the 2012 Human Relations Award Ceremony, which honored the following women:

• Barbara Lau, executive director of the Pauli Murray Project at the Duke Human Rights Center, received the Carlie B. Sessoms Award for her work in the community in organizing events and projects related to civil and human rights.
• Stephanie Williams, housing specialist for The Durham Center, received the Fair Housing Award for her outstanding, sustained efforts to promote and establish housing options for individuals with behavioral-health needs.

The city of Durham celebrated Women's History Month in many ways, including:

• Cynthia D. Booth, public affairs specialist for Durham Parks and Recreation, announced that the department hosted a celebration at the Holton Career and Resource Center.
• The city hosted the 10th annual Women's Forum - Celebrating Women's History Month - at Durham City Hall. Panelists included Nancy Wykle, editor of The Herald-Sun; Wanda Page, deputy city manager of Durham; Deidre Haj, executive director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival; Cynthia Penn, executive director of the Walltown Children's Theatre; Yesenia L. Polanco-Galdamez, an attorney with Velazquez and Associates; and Dr. Tara L. Fikes, president of the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Staff Sgt. Stacy Garner, N.C. National Guard soldier and 2011 Soldier of the Year, along with her family, greeted First Lady Michelle Obama upon her arrival at Raleigh-Durham International Airport last month.

Terri McClernon, of Food Fairy Personal Chef Services, joins the Cornucopia Cancer Support Center and Caring House to present "Healthier Eating 2012" on April 7 at the Caring House in Durham.

Linda Grimm, founder of Theta Healing Connect of Raleigh, announced that the Manifesting & Abundance class is scheduled for April 27 and 28.

Clara Pulley, founder of Unlimited Praise & Worship Ministries, worked with the Convington House of Raleigh and host Melissa Wade, Radio One DJ, to present the Alzheimer's Benefit Concert last month.

WomenNC hosted several events in March in honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month including:

• International Women's Day Panel at N.C. Central University in Durham, with Beth Dehgan, of WomenNC.
• UNWomen Host: International Women's Day celebration reception with speaker Beth Briggs, the new executive director of the N.C. Council for Women.
• N.C. Council for Women Host: Women's History Month with keynote speaker Anita Brown-Graham, executive director of The Institute of Emerging Issues at N.C. State University, in Raleigh.

Carlotta Ungaro, president of the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, announced:

• Primrose School at the Park, a private school owned by Leslie Moore, received the James M. Pugh Small Business of the Year Award.
• Karen Monna, membership engagement director at the Cary Family YMCA, received the 2011 Ambassador of the Year Award.

Elizabeth Wexler, victim resource director at the N.C. Victim Assistance Network, announced that its second annual 5k Walk/Run in Support of Crime Victims & Loved Ones is scheduled for April 21 in downtown Raleigh.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Executive Women's Luncheon is scheduled for April 17. Panelists include Diane Adams, executive vice president of culture and talent for Allscripts, an information technology firm for healthcare providers; Melissa Essary, moderator dean of Campbell Law School in Buies Creek; Ravila Gupta, president of Umicore USA, a global materials technology group; and Billie Redmond, CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties.

Krista Park Berry, former programs director for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, was named director of volunteer services and recruitment for Girl Scouts N.C. Coastal Pines in Raleigh.

Lou Jurkowski, FAIA, LEED AP, managing principal at BJAC, a Raleigh-based architecture and interior design firm, is the new director of government affairs for the board of directors of the N.C. chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Raleigh cyclist Kristy Jackson worked with the Raleigh Rescue Mission for the first Triangle Tweed Ride. The March event focused on drawing attention to the increasing cycling culture of the Triangle and collecting non-perishable food items as well as monetary donations for the mission.

Yvette Holmes joined DHIC, the Triangle's oldest and largest nonprofit housing organization, as director of community partnerships and development while Jamie Ramsey was named project manager.

Ammons Development Group, of Wake Forest, announced the recipients of the company's seventh annual Heritage Hall of Fame Awards. The event recognizes Realtors who have sold three or more homes in Heritage Wake Forest during the previous year. The honorees included Ginger Rogers of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston; Ashley Wilson of Wilson Realty Group/Keller Williams Realty; Kimberly Conroy of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston; Mary Bouchard of Fonville Morisey Realty; Ruby Henderson of Re/Max One and Mary McCrery of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston.

The Triangle Commercial Association of Realtors announced the recipients of its seventh annual Frontier Awards, including:

• Joni Barnes of Dilweg Commercial, recipient of a Trailblazer Award
• Cady Thomas, the director of regulatory affairs for the N.C. Association of Realtors, recipient of the William P. Eyerman Award
• Lynne C. Worth, CPM, of York Properties, recipient of the Lease Transaction of the Year Award and member of Lifetime Million Dollar Retail Leasing Club for 2006-2011
• Aldene Creech Osborne, SIOR, of NAI Carolantic Realty, member of the Lifetime Million Dollar Industrial Leasing Club for 2005-2011
• Marlene Spritzer, CCIM, of Cresa Raleigh, member of the Million Dollar Sales Club
• Tara Kreider, of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties, member of the Million Dollar Land Sales Club
• Robin R. Anders, SIOR, of NAI Carolantic Realty, member of the Million Dollar Office Leasing Club
• Janet Clayton, CCIM of Grubb & Ellis: Thomas Linderman Graham, member of the Million Collar Office Leasing Club
• Christina L. Coffey, of Hunter & Associates, member of the Million Dollar Retail Leasing Club
• Mary A. Lobdell, of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties, member of the Million Dollar Retail Leasing Club
• Mary Ann M. Peterson, of Hunter & Associates, member of the Million Dollar Retail Leasing Club

Lynn Britt, of RE/MAX United, announced that Ann Robinson and Roni Bonello joined the firm's Cary office.

Dr. Laura Bottomley, director of Women in Engineering and K-12 outreach at the College of Engineering at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, hosted a program Feb. 29 at the Raleigh Girls Club. She helped the girls with their invention ideas.

Duke University biologist Sarah Zylinski, Ph.D., was featured on National Public Radio for her work with cuttlefish and understanding how this sea animal processes visual information.

Leslie Fetzer, a biology teacher with the N.C. Virtual Public School, was named America's 2012 National Online Teacher of the Year for K-12 by the Southern Regional Education Board and the International Association for Online Learning.

Dr. Stacy Wood, Langdon distinguished professor of marketing at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, co-authored a paper on her research about the brain's response to deceptive advertising.

Ann Palmer, of Cary, is scheduled to read from her book "A Friend's and Relative's Guide to Supporting Family With Autism: How Can I Help?" on April 29 at Fearrington Village in Chapel Hill. She is the parent support coordinator for Division TEACCH, a program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders, and director of advocacy and chapter support for the Autism Society of North Carolina.

Quail Ridge Books, which is owned by Nancy Olson, announced readings from North Carolina poets Rose McLarney and Katherine Soniat on April 1; Raleigh author Angela Davis-Gardner on April 12; and Triangle reporter and writer Amanda Lamb on April 26.

Alice Osborn, of Raleigh, is scheduled to recite selections from her new book, "After the Streaming Stops," April 6 at the Re/Max City Centre in Raleigh and April 17 at Unwine'd Wine Bar in Cary.