I AM (@$#^&ing) 4 RELIEF™

// January 27th, 2010 // General

Now that I have your attention, what are you  – - – - ing  4  RELIEF

its time to take action.  You do not need to head over to our 28 Squared Site and sign up…just click this link or

If you are on one of our web  pages you can sign up below. if Your are reading a feed (we even brought it to you) You’ll need to head over to sign up!!

If you need some explanation read on but at the end YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING!

I  can ask you and even send you various emails of various length  but frankly I do not have the time… your community needs you to get of  your behind and DO…

We are good at waiting  at putting on a show at appearing busy! The truth is  most of you have the time! We have the desire. I cannot say this enough you’re an adult stop waiting for motivation get up and do something for your community

WHAT,  HOW?

As project lead I design solutions to create change!

This project from the inception has been about using technology to create solutions! The process of design  “creating to solve problems or add pleasure” , to problem and/or situations as defined, can be a hobby or a business. I chose it as an art project!  Along the way however we have helped many!

So what are the problems and the solutions.

The recent tragedy in Haiti.. Affected us all and everyone I know wants to do something,  all our communities are hurting!

Giving of oneself is a gift with it’s own rewards! We run this project in Brooklyn but for the last two years we’ve included a designer in France who has the same problems that local designers have…  and no it is not marketing, There is a lot to do before “exposure”!

If all we have is time, talent or even the ability to communicate that can go so far in helping others since accepting this challenge on October 28th last year,  I had set as a mandate to help locals needing to find a way to support themselves and their family and the team had in September decided to  use group project to help community organizations!  At Web 2.0,  I met a two women both with projects outside the US, One I have promised to help in her quest to help artisans in Senegal, the other is helping us with her technology companies technology!

Europe,  US, Africa the Caribbean..  There is more that connects us than separates us!

Ultimately the core projects help utilize natural “resources”, time talent, community to create and build change! We know it works the challenge issues in October was to take it national in the US and in then adapt it to the Caribbean region!

Fortunately we are able to communicate in real time across oceans, with little difficulty and even less cost! There is so much need how can we use distance technology to get the information out there, what do we  as leader  need to do …  how do we get individuals to to put aside fears and preconceived notions and yes work together!

We usually have had a group of young people from various backgrounds volunteer as models. They work together even when culturally it was not the  norm! It may seem simple, but there contributions have helped feed many families! Images sell and a small designer often cannot afford to cover these! Some use their knowledge of technology or their ability to post and text to share news and information, they use their networks! In a digital divide that is a great help! So yes giving of self time and talent is important!

What is significant they were giving what they had and doing what they loved!

Which is what I see has the most effect… Give what you have, doing what  you love! So if you love to sew and have the time to, sew! If you have space and it can be used donate it! If you can cook have a taste party!

We are in the design field we either love to DESIGN or SEW,  and  yes some of us  LOVE TO SHOP.. and some love  to show off  or perform! I now have to take the raw component and create something that people would LIKE! I am a connector … I love design as solution! So Sew Social one of the aspects of 28squared will focus on design for change!

Pulling The components together

One of the designers from our African Heritage Month celebration has created  two designs, that we will be use on merchandise ! He too is Haitian, giving of talent! Any non profit needing to use the logo that type of service or merchandise can contact us!

I am already working on getting designers to donate clothing that will be resold or auctioned. I have a sign up page http://www.28squared.com/support

We’re donating some of our great images and photos to a Print auction online, that Flickr is hosting!

So yes photographers and artist can donate images! Performers, if you can’t do it alone get together with others!

From  my friend in the tech community. We need individuals with tech skills to sign up for a one or two day type Tech initiative with Haitian organization, who know and understand what is needed…  our goal is simple turn our talents time and efforts into cash for relief!

I actually have another young woman who lost 3 family members; her organization is the Haiti’s Hungry Task Force and has teamed up with Haitian
American Care, Inc. out of Boston. (operating for 2 years in
Haiti with 2 mobile clinics they supply.www.haitianamericancare.org. they need help!

I  myself am donating all the profits from Sew Social and would love to work with any models designers or photographers who want to volunteer! Our photographer has volunteered his photography services! We have artwork and media services!

We can get volunteers.

We can Create , we need to sell relief … it should be easy  but have you bought anything with Haiti in mind have you gone to local events supporting local causes, have you packed up your products, and I’m not speaking of sending the clothing you do not want…

Yes they need clothing but what type… where will they wash these,   how appropriate is the relief!

Intentions are great, selling relief is HARD especially as memory of  disaster fade.

so what will i do how do I Design Relief…  I’ve done a brief  inventory of what i  have access to. I’m researching what I need; I have ideas. The process of bringing an idea to fruition is what actually  Sew Social is about…

The reason there is no change is because

1. we do not know how to design change
2. We do not know how to implement change
3. we are waiting for someone else to do it

So back to my main concept I want people to do what they love for relief  but NIKE got “Just DO IT™”.. Probably the best slogan ever…

Let’s focus on the individual and taking responsibility “I AM”

AM Artist Mosaic the First phase of this project is still around, it’s about artist working together for change

“I am Brooklyn” did not seem right Brooklyn is everything! I AM not doing everything!  “I am 28 Squared”, we wanted this to expand beyond the confines of  “I AM (@$#^&)ing  4  RELIEF™” .

” I am —-ing 4 RELIEF™

I Like It… I’ll keep it but, will it work

Most,   working in or on RELIEF, are Moms and Faith based organization, Imagine the Rabbi or Pastor with that shirt! So maybe, I need to modify the statement! That is just the start of the design process… we need to stop waiting and design for change!
www.demarketplace.com/blog