WEEK 29 - here’s a sign
My motto is “work hard, snack often.”
I even have it tattooed on my arm! So of course I’m all about supporting groups that care about food.
However, for me (and I think for a lot of us who were mildly politically active before 2020) last year was a wake up call that I can and should do more with my resources and privilege.
That recognition was quickly followed by overwhelm because there are legitimately thousands of organizations and causes to support.
So I used another favorite motto to help me decide where to start:
“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
I really honed in on the “where you are” part and started looking for local organizations that were doing work that resonated with me and my values.
Turns out supporting causes that are “close to home” - both figuratively and literally - is a great way to alleviate some of the overwhelm.
I also feel like my time and money are going further because local organizations are generally smaller, with fewer resources, than the large national ones. Every person who volunteers or dollar that’s donated matters!
One of the local organizations I’ve become involved with is Keep Growing Detroit. The goal of KGD is to promote food sovereignty in Detroit.
Food sovereignty is about people being able to grow or locally source their own food. It shifts the power to define food & agricultural systems away from big corporations and towards the people who actually grow, distribute and eat the food.
Keep Growing Detroit empowers the Detroit community’s food sovereignty by supporting local farmers, hosting urban gardening spaces, and teaching kids (and adult newbies like myself) about gardening, among other things.
Part of my involvement with KGD has been going out to their urban farm to help out on weekends. I have learned so much just in the process of being involved! Their Garden Resource Program is the reason my balcony garden is thriving haha.
I also partnered up with the amazing Jenna Blazevich over at Vichcraft to raise some cash for KGD. I created the art and Jenna worked her magic to create a gorgeous banner that she’s raffling off. 100% of the money raised will go to Keep Growing Detroit!
Click here to grab a raffle ticket before it closes on July 31st at 12pm CST.
This awesome collaboration on behalf of one of my favorite local organizations had me noodling on other ways us artists can support causes close to home. And designing or creating a sign for a great cause or organization seems like a perfect way to put those artistic chops to work!
Your assignment: Create or design a sign that supports (or promotes) a cause or organization you care about.
Think of a local organization that’s doing important work in your community, something that resonates with you. Then create a sign that raises awareness, supports, or promotes them!
(Of course, I also encourage you to donate your time and money.)
Thought starters: Signs come in all shapes and sizes. Do what you can with what you have!
Jenna is working with an 80-year-old handcranked chainstitch machine but if you don’t have one of those (I don’t), here are some other ideas:
Window sign
LED sign display
Show card
Pennant
Billboard design
Yard sign
Banner design
Caption idea: Explain the basics of the organization you’re supporting. Specifically, talk about what the organization stands for and the kind of work they do.
Then, explain why the organization is important to you. What’s the connection for you?
Finally, make sure to include ways your audience can learn more about the organization. And encourage people to check it out.
Engagement tip: Tag the organization you’re supporting! If you have other posts related to that organization, point them out to your audience so they can learn more from you.
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Don’t forget to tag me @homsweethom and use the #HOMwork & #HOMwork2021 hashtag when you post on Instagram. I love looking through your excellent creations and sharing a few of my favs every week in my IG Stories before the next assignment is posted.
