After a few years in the design industry, I’ve found a niche group of people that I love to work with and that always appreciate hard work. This group can appreciate what little acts of kindness can do and allow for grace in a project. This is why I love working with nonprofits and what sets them apart from any other client.
While I’m happy to work with any sort of nonprofit or socially-conscious enterprise, I do have a few causes that are close to my heart. Let me break them down and why:
Education
I grew up in a family of teachers and nurses. I can see the value of what teachers do for their students and the surrounding community. My education played a major role in where I find myself today and I’m grateful for all the teachers and professors that helped me get here. This is one of the reasons I love working with educators. The care they show their students is nothing short of incredible.
I also want to make sure that every child can get access to the education that they want and deserve. I’ve worked with a number of arts educators to build up a child’s STEAM education. These organizations can see the value that art and creative thinking play in a child’s development, so I want to support that as much as possible.
Youth Development
I was lucky enough to have access to a variety of programs that let me grow as a child. Between girl scouts, marching band, art clubs, and after-school tutoring, I was able to make the most of my childhood and have some great experiences on top of it all.
Youth development programs allow children to grow even after school programs have ended. Many of these organizations offer after-school tutoring, athletic programs to keep them healthy and off the streets, and even programs that teach them how to be little adults as they grow up. These programs offer resources and support that might be lacking at school or at home. They can find a place where they feel welcome and special and that only helps the child grow. Who doesn’t want to support that?
Mental Health
I myself struggle a lot with poor mental health. Getting access to resources to help me cope with traumas in my life have been essential to keeping me sane and happy. This is a cause that is particularly close to my heart because it affects me and my loved ones the most. I’ve seen what can happen when mental illness goes unchecked and I strive to help any organization to serve as many people as possible.
Anyone can benefit from mental health services whether they have a diagnosed issue or not. Therapy is a great way to get your life and goals in order or a resource to use when you can no longer cope with something. I also believe that there is no shame in the medicine game and I love organizations that can also get medication to those who need it most. Especially now, when the whole world is facing anxiety and instability, mental health is taking the forefront in the media to help all kinds.
While I love all the programs I work with, these causes I am especially passionate for and affect my life outside of my work. Do you know a cause that could use better access to design and marketing services? Send them my way!