Lovely

I came across this lovely website this morning that reminded me of conversation I had with my mom when I was about 9 or 10. I very passionately explained to her that "packaging was EVERYTHING" as I debated over which shampoo to purchase...I guess I was destined to be a designer.

Experiencing Planet Earth on the Lower East Side

There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines: they feel. E.B. De Condillac: Traite des animaux, I, 1755


When Jo last visited me in New York, we went to the most breathtaking performance at a bar called Pianos on the Lower East Side. A man passionately played the keyboard and tuba in front of a showing of Discovery Channel's Planet Earth. The way he played the instruments was completely reflective of the imagery screening behind him. A stampede of wild elephants meant that the music became dramatic and energetic, yet when rays of sunshine appeared, the music was serene and subdued. Although I was sitting in the middle of a grungy Lower East Side bar, I was taken to a place of serenity, far away from the hustle and bustle of the City.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Psalms XXIV, 1, c. 150 B.C.

Building a Better Bronx

Pro bono work is fulfilling because you can:

1. Create positive change
2. Grow your skills and
3. Meet other people in your industry

I'm an active volunteer for the Taproot Foundation, an organization that assists local non-profits with projects such as strategic planning, websites, logos, annual reports, etc. They look for nonprofits working in strategic areas such as the arts, education, social services, environment, and health.

I'm in the midst of completing my first Taproot/pro bono project in New York. I was placed on a team of highly skilled professionals to work on a brochure for a non-profit in the Bronx called SoBRO (South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation). In a nutshell, SoBRO improves the quality of life in the South Bronx by generating business growth and creating effective economic, housing, educational and career programs for youth and adults.

As a team, we spent a lot of prep time talking to SoBRO and outlining a solid plan of action for the project. They wanted a brochure that described each of their four vital program areas: Youth and Adult Education, Career Development, Housing and Real Estate Development, and Community and Economic Renewal. The brochure was to be distributed to possible funders, as well as residents in the Bronx who would benefit from SoBRO's services.

As possible funders were our primary targeted audience, we did some research about how to best reach them in a compelling, yet convincing way. I learned in this article that our brochure copy needed to appeal to the heart, not the head. Sponsors are more likely to give money to an organization when they are presented with stories about personal experiences as opposed to facts and figures. Bottom line: feelings drive donations.

After a lot of thought, my team and I came up with words that we felt best described SoBRO's program areas: LEARN, WORK, LIVE, THRIVE, and PROSPER. The concept behind the brochure design was based upon SoBRO's motto, Building a Better Bronx, and it was designed in a way that highlighted the words describing the program areas. For the cover, our team photographer took head shots of a variety of South Bronx residents who've been positively impacted by SoBRO's services. A printer in the Bronx will produce the 2,500 brochures in the next two weeks.

My hope is that this brochure successfully reaches funders, who in turn contribute to the work of rebuilding the South Bronx community.

For more information about SoBRO, visit www.sobro.org. To become a volunteer for the Taproot Foundation, visit www.taprootfoundation.org.