Lee Valley x Would Works
The last few months have been really exciting because we were invited to be apart of Canadian company Lee Valley's ongoing series, Inspired to Make.
A Trip to the Snowy Angeles Forest
This winter Would Works staff and Artisans from our Community Builders Program accompanied our friends from Angel City Lumber (ACL) on a trip to the Angeles National Forest where we acquired large fire damaged pine logs that we'll be turning into outdoor furniture this Spring!
New Young Makers Program @ WW
Meet our our Fall 2022 cohort and our new Young Makers! WW partnered with Jovenes, an impactful youth homeless service organization. We are grateful to the California Arts Council for funding our new Young Makers Program so we can continue to uplift and support young people experiencing homelessness in LA.
We're helping 'Build UP' @LA Compost!
Would Works Community Builders Program (CBP) recently partnered with the local non-profit LA Compost (LAC) to create wood structures and compost related objects for LAC hubs. Check out our first project--a set of 22 compost sifters!
Our Benches @ Willowbrook Permanent Supportive Housing Site
Our Community Builders just completed their first commission--a fleet of eight custom built entry-way benches for the Willowbrook, a permanent supportive housing site in South LA.
2-Year Forest Service Grant Supports WW Furniture Program!
In this unique new funding opportunity, Would Works Staff and Artisans will be working with the Angeles National Forest to acquire felled trees from wildfire prevention projects in the urban/rural interface around LA. We will be releasing a line of outdoor furniture built by WW Artisans from this sustainably sourced material in 2023!
Community Builders Program Launches with Benches for RNLA
Would Works' new Community Builders Program is building outdoor furniture for the Willowbrook--a new permanent supportive housing site in South LA. Our first cohort of Builders is learning the fundamentals of designing, prototyping and building large scale furniture pieces for their community.
Exciting New Collaboration with People's Pottery Project
This holiday we are collaborating on a special edition product with People's Pottery Project (PPP). PPP is another impactful LA social enterprise--providing formerly incarcerated women with paid vocational training, healing community, and skills in crafts and making.
Artisans take a tour of our creative partners around LA
Come along on our tour of local lumber yards, mills, and furniture shops! Program Director Michele Liu takes our Artisans to see the work of some of the great creative businesses that make our work possible. "As we transition into building a more robust training program we felt it was important for the Artisans to see the full picture what woodworking is like from beginning to end." says Liu.
Sawdust + Stout Fundraiser with Nick Offerman!
Thanks to our champion Board member Nick Offerman for hosting this super fun and successful fundraiser workshop. On July 31 2021, Nick taught a virtual woodworking workshop to over 100 people from across the US raising nearly $60k for Would Works August relaunch!
Designing Furniture That Makes Waiting Not Feel Like Waiting
For the last month, a team of Would Works staff members and community partners have been participating in an intensive design workshop at the Stanford d.school. Through interviews, co-design sessions, observations and prototypes, our team is helping to redesign the waiting area experience at the Skid Row Community Refresh Spot.
Would Works @ Stanford d.school
Would Works won a generous scholarship to attend an intensive workshop called Designing for Social Systems (DSS) at Stanford's d.school this month! We put together a great team that will be helping to design the outdoor waiting room experience at the Skid Row Community ReFresh Spot
