“… connecting the power of design to the people who need it most, and the places where it can make a real and lasting difference.”
Project H is a team of designers and builders engaging locally to improve the quality of life for the socially overlooked. Their long-term initiatives focus on improving environments, products, and experiences for K-12 education institutions in the US through systems- level design thinking and deep community engagements. Project H is a tax exempt 501c3 nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Bertie County, North Carolina.
Project H’s five-tenet design process:
There is no design without (critical) action;
We design WITH, not FOR;
We document, share and measure;
We start locally and scale globally;
We design systems, not stuff
Founded in January 2008 by Emily Pilloton a then disgruntled designer, Emily formed Project H Design as a nonprofit, and as a conduit and catalyst to provide real, socially-driven, scalable, and empowering design projects to designers, and most importantly, great design solutions to communities that needed them. Since January 2008, Project H has grown from one person’s vision to a coalition of hundreds of designer’s worldwide, working in project teams on 20+ initiatives in 6 countries.
Emily has a background in architecture and product design. She has written for design magazines and blogs, and was the Managing Editor of Inhabitat (a sustainable design online publication).
Learning Landscape Project, Bertie County School, North Carolina
I found out about Project H while on Twitter one afternoon! I then did a little research and became an instant advocate! Project H currently has a Learning Landscapes project going on…that’s right up my alley (with my background and love of kids, education, etc.). AND what a great way to support a non-profit with a great mission and the community!!! I am currently in the process of seeing how I can inspire others in my community with the Learning Landscape project. Wish me luck…possibly I’ve inspired you to do the same.
Read more on Project H Design here Read more on Learning Landscapeshere
On Friday during normal folks lunch hour, I headed out to run errands in preparation for a Mother’s Day Lunch. While out I ran into a quaint little bookstore called, “The Children's Bookstore" Actually when I think about it...a little book in the window lured me in – talk about advertising! The book, “Zoo, I drew,” by Todd Doodler. I’d say it was the color + graphics on the book cover and then the construction of the book that just stood out (amazing what the eye detects).
I immediately fell in love with this bookstore first step in the door. Cozy, small, quaint, homey, and perfect is how I’d describe this store. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Barnes & Noble’s but this store had appeal! I can only imagine what story time and book signings would be or feel like here. Being in this store took me back to the movie “You’ve Got Mail” – which I absolutely adore. Can you imagine that or see where I’m going? I’m sure you can!
Okay. So I’m rambling with this post...back to the subject matter.
I eventually left the bookstore with two books (and did I tell you I am on a new budget – HA!). The two books are:
The Zoo I Drew (the book that lured me into the store); and
Take a few moments to check out these two books…maybe add them to your library.
p.s. Within 40 seconds of analyzing the “Zoo I Drew” book my son tore the back page off the book in half – I could fight this kid. The "On Your Potty..." book, well, my son said, “poop and pot”…25 minutes later my son walks over to me and says, “poop”. I then asked, "did you poop?” He said, “yes” and ran away laughing!
I guess you could say most little girls grow up saying, "when I grow up I am going to get married and have kids.” Agree? I did say most because not all girls say that (believe it or not).
Well, I can remember saying it…thousands of time, over and over again.
Ages 24-29...
I thought about children – I didn’t have any. I wasn’t dating anyone seriously and if I was dating the relationships never amounted to anything. I then decided it’ wasn’t important if I didn’t have kids…I loved being free. And I enjoyed watching my little cousins, GOD kids, and friends kids – and then sending them home.
Jumping to age 30 on...
I’d say it wasn’t till around the age of 30 that I can honestly say I said I would not have kids at all in life. I was getting way to old! Really I was. I was enjoying my life and I learned to be alone and I was reviving my design business. Life was good.
Age 33 and some months – but too soon age34...
Oh snap I’m pregnant. A baby! What? You’ve got to be kidding me? Should I be excited or sad…I had no clue. I had said I wouldn’t have kids. I was okay with not having kids. I was dating someone but I wasn’t married. How does one explain this? There was nothing traditional here! I know I’m not the first single parent…but that wasn’t my plan.
So I’m pregnant and I still never fully realized it until the 7th month – however – everyone around me was fully aware and kept reminding me. By the way, it’s a boy (HAAAA…but you knew that)!!!
GOD had a plan.
Late Fall 2008...
I’m getting closer and closer…okay so the time is here! It’s Miller time (labor)! I knew my little beeka was coming but of course the doctors didn’t believe me. Unlike some, I had an easy labor - in by noon, out by 4:25PM. However, the time getting up to that point I had a few issue here and there.
Wow…life! You know – I still couldn’t believe it…even as I held my son in my arms for the first time. It was a rough few months. The lack of sleep, lack of bubble baths, the crying, the breast feeding, and the emergency room visits, NICU, etc.! You momma’s know the deal! I think I was delirious for about 6 months!
19 Months Later...
Wow…life! I still can’t believe it…okay, really I can! I’ve smacked myself in the face a few times, reality has set in. I’ve had some trials along the way but:
I continue to grow;
I continue to be in awe and in amazement at life’s process;
Icontinue to need caffeine;
I continue to wonder if this kid is going to eat me out of a house and home (yes);
I continue to wonder when those incomplete sentences will become full sentences and a bit clearer (so I can say shhhh or stop talking so much.J);
I continue to hold my son in my arms as I did the first day I met him out of the womb;
I continue to wonder if I’ll be the best, most resourceful, loving mom there is to be; and
I continue to gaze into my sons eyes and realize I wouldn’t trade being a mom in for anything else in the world!!!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Hey, and Happy Mother’s day to me (because last year it didn’t quite hit me…but this year it has).
