About the Founder
Regina Hightower is the founder of PreOla Impressions, a newly-formed not-for-profit organization that specializes in casting hand impressions. She has worked with schools and various social service and community groups and has met people from all walks of life.
Having served in law enforcement for 30 years, Regina was first introduced to the hand-casting process during an event designed to create a bond of trust between youth and the police. She has since held community hand-casting events through-out the southside of Chicago. During these events Regina was surprised and saw first hand how the hand-casts enabled people to communicate, connect and create memories that will last a lifetime. She realized that a hand-cast captures the essence of the moment and tells a unique story to the participant. It captures the essence of family and the connection between friends and co-workers.
Regina is in the process of expanding her outreach to other communities throughout the city of Chicago. Her ultimate goal is to find a way to provide everyone with a hand-cast because when you create an impression, the experience will last a lifetime.
The process of creating such a beautiful work of art is best described as amazing. Regina has experienced people’s reaction and she has seen the expression on their face, as they peel away the alginate to see their story unfold and come to life--and they cannot believe their own eyes.
As Regina likes to say, “Behind every hand is a story.”
