Hi Friends,

Is it just me, or are the months flying by? It feels like I just sent my April newsletter and here we are again!

This month, I’m shifting gears a bit from my usual design tips to share a project that is very close to my heart.  As much as I love helping my clients create homes they truly love, I’ve always felt a strong pull toward using my design services to support those who might never have the opportunity to hire a designer.

This passion began during my time in design school, when a nonprofit called Cabrini Partnership reached out for help. They were creating apartments, on extremely limited budgets, for individuals who had previously experienced homelessness. Several of us immediately volunteered.  We quickly learned that the typical questions we ask clients don’t always apply in these situations. When someone has experienced homelessness, the idea of having a bed, a mattress, and a pillow can feel like winning the lottery. The joy we experienced during those project reveals was incredibly meaningful and it stayed with me long after graduation.

After finishing school, I became involved with our local ASID (American Society for Interior Designers) chapter. Through the Design for Good Committee, we’ve had the privilege of working on several pro-bono projects, including spaces for Brittany’s Place  (https://www.180degrees.org/brittanys-place.html) and Northside Healing Space.

Currently, our committee is collaborating with Joy Collaborative (https://www.joycollaborative.org), Larson Building, and Nor-Son Custom Builders on a very special project: A Great Day Farm (https://www.agreatdayfarm.org).  Founded in 2013 by Greg and Patty Closser, A Great Day Farm was inspired by their own family experience. With seven children, two with special needs, they discovered how transformative it was to live in a space where their children could move freely and simply enjoy life. That experience led them to create a place where others could experience that same sense of freedom and joy.

Today, the farm welcomes primarily adults with special needs and offers a variety of activities from games and adaptive biking to art and music programs.  The main gathering space is a 3,000-square-foot pole barn. While full of life and activity, it is in need of some thoughtful updates. Concrete floors and a soaring metal ceiling (reaching 18 feet) create significant sound challenges. Furniture is mismatched, and storage is limited.