LOVE: By Design

Encouragement…

tarachristine — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:49:24 +0000

Just received this message on my other blog from Sister Eileen, Founder and President of Taller San Jose:

“I came across your blog by accident and immediately recognized the incredible re-design of the Career Center at Taller San Jose. What a gift you gave to us. I have been gone much of the year due to cancer treatments, and when I returned, that Career Center definitely lifted my spirits. The contemporary, bright and clean space sends two strong messages to the students: 1) You’re worth it and 2) Get with it!. Thank you so much. Sister Eileen McNerney, CSJ, President Emerita”

Wow…what an encouragement. A good reminder of why we want to do this!

Looking forward to our next project. Please submit any ideas you have!

Help Us Find Our Next Project!

tarachristine — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:54:17 +0000

LOVE: By Design is ready for our next project!

Our ears are open, the feelers are out, the antennae are up!

Do you know of a worthy individual or family in need of a home makeover?

We desire to serve those who:

- Have little, yet give back selflessly to their community

- Those who have a story that needs to be heard

- Those who are walking through or out of a time of pain or hardship

- Own a home or are allowed to make changes to their rental

- Would be blessed by being served in this way

- Live in Orange or South LA County

If you know of a great candidate for our next project, please send an email to tara@lovebydesignproject.org and let us know! Give us a bit of background on the person/family and why you believe they should be picked! We are hoping to choose our next project soon! This is your chance to make a difference! Think big!

Can’t wait to hear from you!

The Encouraging Thank-You’s!

tarachristine — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:39:41 +0000

“Thank you so much Love: By Design, family, friends and people who supported the project. Today was TSJ’s Grand Opening of the Career Center and it was amazing to watch everyone’s reaction. We heard lots of “Wow’s!” and comments like: “I’m going to be here everyday after graduation.” “That’s cool. I can’t wait to chill on that couch.”
We are so grateful to you for creating a wonderful space for students to study and job search. It is really unbelievable how great it looks! We love it! Thanks so much. The impact is huge!!”
- Karyn Mendoza (TSJ Director of Student Services)

“You guys did an AMAZING JOB! I have never been this excited to go to work! THANK YOU so much again!”
- David Saldaña (TSJ Alumni Services Coordinator)

“Thank you Love: By Design team for all your efforts and hardwork at Taller San Jose. The room is beautiful. Thank you for bringing some new life and energy to our work!”
– Shawna Smith (TSJ Executive Director)

“Thank you SO much for our new career center! Words can not describe how much this was needed as well as appreciated! Most of our students call TSJ “home” and this definitely continues to create that environment for them. Thank you again for all your hard work and efforts! =)”
- Meghan Medlin (TSJ Job Developer)

“I am currently sitting in the career center writing you this mail because I think you guys did such an amazing job! The place looks great, and it definetly motivates me to work harder to make an impact on other’s lives…Keep up the good work.”
- Karen Islas (TSJ Intern)

Thank you to all of your for your kind words and encouragement! We were so blessed to be able to serve alongside you at Taller San Jose! We hope the new, improved Career Center will be an asset to the amazing work you do at TSJ and a refuge for students and alumni to build bridges between TSJ and their future career! Thank you for the opportunity!

The Reveal!

tarachristine — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:07:30 +0000

Untitled from tara posen on Vimeo.

The Before and After Pictures!

tarachristine — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:10:33 +0000

We did it! We finished our first project!

Taller San Jose needed a Career Center that was functional but also comfortable…a place for students and alumni to gather, do research, use the computers, and find help from staff…all to help them search for their new careers!

Here are the results!

BEFORE:

AFTER!

BEFORE:

AFTER!

BEFORE:

AFTER!

BEFORE:

AFTER!

TA-DA!

Thanks to everyone for all of your help and donations! We will post video soon, but for now, here are the pictures of our team hard at work!

We Need Your Help!

tarachristine — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:40:05 +0000

Hello to our LBD friends.

As we’ve mentioned, our first project at Taller San Jose is coming up July 23-24…and we still need help! We need help raising funds, gathering supplies, and even volunteers!

Below is what we still need. If you are able and willing to donate any part of the below list, please contact me at tara@lovebydesignproject.org and let me know! Thank you so much!

NEEDS:

- $500 (every little bit helps!)

- Paint supplies (rollers, handles, brushes, extension poles, painters tape, drop cloths, trays

- Tools & Supplies (drills, screwdrivers, hammers, nails, screws, etc)

- Two meals to feed us during our work days

- Office accessories (pens, post-its, staplers, paper clips, scissors, rulers, pencils, pencil organizers, etc)

- Books/DVD’s relating to finding a career, writing a resume, going on an interview, etc)

- Carpet and installation

Thank you SO much in advance!!

The “Before” Pictures

tarachristine — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:19:49 +0000

We’ve told you a lot about Taller San Jose, now it’s time to give you a peak into the Career Center we will be tackling in a couple of weeks! As you can see, it is in need of some love. We are hoping to make it a place students want to be and less like detention!

The makeover is coming! July 24th! Stay tuned…

Our First Fundraiser!

tarachristine — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:01:19 +0000

Congratulations to those who won one of our raffle prizes yesterday at the Handmade Brigade Indie Craft Fair in downtown Santa Ana! It was a fun day and we were able to have conversations with so many people about what we are doing at LOVE: By Design! Responses were overwhelmingly positive and we raised $776!! Amazing!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

Thanks to all who participated and made the event so successful!

Why we picked Taller San Jose.

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:41:10 +0000

We had the privilege to sit down with some of the graduates of the Taller San Jose program. We have several interviews to edit and post, but we wanted to give you a glimpse of the impact this organization is having on their local community. Join LOVE: By Design in supporting Taller San Jose by helping us redesign their career center. This center exists to help students and alumni find jobs, prepare for interviews, and access the internet. After seeing some of the life challenges these students face, supporting their career needs is the least we can do.

Handmade Brigade Raffle

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:13:23 +0000

Help us get our Taller San Jose project off the ground. Raffle tickets are only $2 each or 3 for $5. Buy some at the Handmade Brigade or email us to purchase online.

GRAND PRIZE: 1 Caravan Package to the San Diego Wild Animal Park (4 people) • 4 tickets-Knotts Berry Farm • 4 tickets -Aquarium of the Pacific (value $750) FIRST PRIZE: 1 Caravan Package to the San Diego Wild Animal Park (value $510)

SECOND PRIZE: 4 tickets to Knotts Berry Farm (value $152)

THIRD PRIZE: 2 Season Passes to Splash Water Park (value $128)
$2.00 per Ticket Three for $5.00

FOURTH PRIZE: 3 tickets to the San Diego Zoo (value $111) (two prizes)

FIFTH PRIZE: 4 Tickets to Splash Water Park (value $68) (two prizes)

SIXTH PRIZE: 4 Tickets to Adventure City (value $56) (two prizes)

SEVENTH PRIZE: 4 Tickets to Discovery Science Center (value $52) EIGHTH PRIZE: 2 Tickets to Adventure City (value $28)
Drawing to be held – July 10, 2010 • 4:45pm. Handmade Brigade Indie Craft Show Winners need not be present.