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.
WW is awarded 2022 California Arts Council Grant
The California Arts Council has announced a grant award of $30,000 to Would Works as part of its 2022 Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief Awards program in its first round of funding for 2022.
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!
WW Volunteers Help Build Out Our New Expanded Shop
Our monthly volunteer days bring together our Artisans, staff and volunteer woodworkers from around LA to work on various projects around the shop. This month, our volunteers helped build lumber racks and rolling carts for our benchtop machines.
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.
WW featured in Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 philanthropic issue!
Every month Bloomberg Businessweek has a page devoted to "The One,"--a particular product chosen by the editors. This month, for the philanthropic issue, our Better World Butter Set was deemed "The One" and got its own glossy spread. (Pun intended)
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
Welcome Our New Program Director Michele Liu!
In addition to leading the relaunch of Would Works existing programs this Spring, Michele will be developing the new "Outdoor Workshop" model as we pivot our program to include the design and fabrication of outdoor furniture for public spaces around LA.
