A Call to Service for Our Communities

I recently welcomed my second child into the world, and during my maternity leave, I contemplated the current state of our country and what the future holds for our children. What types of contributions can I make to my community? And, as design professionals, what can individuals and firms do to make a difference in their local communities?

In 2007, while serving as the first manager of Public Architecture’s 1+ program, I sought out design firms that were willing to donate one percent of their billable hours towards the public good. Collectively, those pro bono hours have the potential to amount to what would be the world’s largest design firm dedicated to serving local communities. Along with my pitch, I often pointed out five benefits that strategically implemented pro bono work can provide to firms. The need for us, as a profession, to stand in service to our communities is greater now than ever, and those same five benefits remain true today:

Creative opportunities
A pro bono project allows a firm to flex its creative abilities and provide leadership opportunities to its younger staff members. Often, these projects are a departure from a firm’s typical body of work, and they can open doorways to new markets. As an example, the firm Gould Evans collaborated with Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, to launch STEAM Studio by both donating to the program and designing its space. Gould Evans employees also support workshops for K-12 students.

Recruitment and retention
The next generation of leaders and recent college graduates seek out firms that are actively engaged in projects that are socially relevant to their communities. Pro bono projects can draw on the skills of everyone in a design firm, including non-design staff, to effectively engage with the community. The work also presents educational scenarios for younger staff members who do not have the chance to interact directly with clients on a regular basis.

Local involvement and partnerships
The best way to strengthen ties and build relationships in your community is to implement positive change. Pro bono projects allow firms to partner or collaborate with government agencies, artists, suppliers, and even other designers. An increase in local involvement and partnerships opens doors to prospective clients who may not otherwise have known about the firm. While working at Jova Daniels Busby Architects, Roy Abernathy (now senior managing director at Savills Studley), worked with Hands On Atlanta to design its new headquarters. Funders were so impressed by the design and its efficiency that many of them more than doubled their contributions.

Community relations
Pro bono projects have the potential to garner interest from members of the local media and the broader community who may not often engage with design firms. Participating in these types of projects sends signals about the values of a firm, which helps to attract future employees and clients who are interested in working with a company that supports the public good. For example, Maurice Jennings + Walter Jennings Architects designed a playhouse for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Northwest Arkansas that would receive public attention as it was displayed in the local mall and later auctioned.

Personal satisfaction
Working on pro bono projects invites designers to use their unique skill sets to make measurable differences in people’s lives. Additionally, the scope and time line of a pro bono project often offers more immediate satisfaction than others that take years to complete. I consider the pro bono projects that I have been involved with to be among the most impactful and memorable work in my career. Being a part of a project that invests in your community can provide you and your team with a deep sense of personal satisfaction.

When looking into ways to contribute to communities and society, why not do so by making the most use of your design skills? Creating spaces that help nonprofits to both run their organizations more efficiently and to inspire potential funders will be rewarding for the client. And you will benefit as well, both personally and professionally.

—–
This article was originally published in Contract Magazine.