Many of our projects have a life beyond the Day of Service. Several of our community partners have successfully raised funding for their projects using the materials created during the Day of Service. And several projects have been built, which is very rewarding for us to see.
In addition to directly enabling partner organizations’ successes, the Day of Service affects those we serve in two other ways. First, it literally brings design services to groups who frequently cannot otherwise obtain them. We demonstrate how design can solve problems, do more with less and improve quality of life. Second, when we work with partners focused on youth programming, like Elevated Thought or YouthBuild, we introduce them to the architectural profession and, we hope, invite them to consider it as a possible career path.
2024
PAYETTE has been fortunate to work with a few community partners who have participated in nearly every Day of Service since we started in 2019. These groups brought us a series of interrelated projects over the years aimed at community development in their respective communities. This year, we completed five projects for East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Greater Grove Main Streets, North Berkshire Community Coalition, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services and Grandmother’s Village.
2023
We focused on four projects for Elevated Thought, Four Corners Main Streets, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and YouthBuild Boston. Over 60 designers and architects volunteered for these projects focused on urban visioning, landscape architecture, interior design and fabrication.
2022
In 2022, we focused on three projects for our community partners at Elevated Thought, Mass Audubon and Blue Hills Trailside Museum and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce. These projects represented a range of scales and typologies, from streetscapes to graphic design.
2021
In a year where so many were impacted by the pandemic, the Day of Service and its mission to support local communities had never felt more important. All work was conducted remotely, with flexibility and open communication being central tools for smooth collaboration and production. Our community partners included Boston ABCD Head Start and Children Services, Bridge over Troubled Waters, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, Mass Audubon Museum of American Bird Art and Root.
2020
We received many excellent proposals and selected six projects that encompassed a wide range of scales and typologies, including mapping, urban design, landscaping and interior renovation. Our community partners included East Somerville Main Streets, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, Mass Audubon Museum of American Bird Art, North Adams Overpass Under Way, Veteran’s Nursing Association of Eastern Massachusetts and West Roxbury Main Streets.
2019
Our inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was held in January 2019. We were excited to dedicate our time and creative abilities in support of the community in which we live and work. Our community partners included North Adams Brayton School Corridor Trail, the Community Day Center of Waltham and two projects for Greater Grove Hall Main Streets.