BOOK DRIVE
Civic + Community Engagement
Summary
How it started
The need
The plan
The book drive
Thanks
Call for action
About us
Overview:
In 2019-2020, as Director of the AIGA Philadelphia’s Civic and Community Engagement committee, I led a team of 8 volunteers in a citywide book drive to benefit graphic design students in the Philadelphia School District’s Career and Technical Education program. As a result, we were able to collect over 800 books to be distributed to the program. These books will not only provide inspiration but will also serve as resources for students mapping a career path in graphic arts and design.
In 2019-2020, as Director of the AIGA Philadelphia’s Civic and Community Engagement committee, I led a team of 8 volunteers in a citywide book drive to benefit graphic design students in the Philadelphia School District’s Career and Technical Education program. As a result, we were able to collect over 800 books to be distributed to the program. These books will not only provide inspiration but will also serve as resources for students mapping a career path in graphic arts and design.
Objective:
This book drive aimed to collect the books that current professionals still have on their shelves, but no longer reference because they speak to an earlier stage of their career development. Donated books provide guidance through the industry that students may not otherwise have. In designing this slideshow, my goal was to to visit each class participating in the graphic design program to present this initiative and encourage students to build their own projects.
This book drive aimed to collect the books that current professionals still have on their shelves, but no longer reference because they speak to an earlier stage of their career development. Donated books provide guidance through the industry that students may not otherwise have. In designing this slideshow, my goal was to to visit each class participating in the graphic design program to present this initiative and encourage students to build their own projects.
Methodology:
While the plan was simple (pick a date, set up collection spots around the city, design communication material, and promote the event to the design community), it required tight coordination with other members of the committee. The first step was to commit on a specific date for the drive to allow distribution in time for graduating seniors to make use of them. Using each other’s personal connections, we partnered with six locations for drop-off spots. Between designing graphics for the drive, writing copy, reaching out to drop-off locations, promoting the event, gathering book boxes, arranging pick-ups and delivering the books to the School District building, this drive was a true team work. Due to my position within AIGA, I was able to build a relationship with the School of Visual Arts in New York that ended up in an enormously generous donation from this institution for a total of 22 boxes of books!
While the plan was simple (pick a date, set up collection spots around the city, design communication material, and promote the event to the design community), it required tight coordination with other members of the committee. The first step was to commit on a specific date for the drive to allow distribution in time for graduating seniors to make use of them. Using each other’s personal connections, we partnered with six locations for drop-off spots. Between designing graphics for the drive, writing copy, reaching out to drop-off locations, promoting the event, gathering book boxes, arranging pick-ups and delivering the books to the School District building, this drive was a true team work. Due to my position within AIGA, I was able to build a relationship with the School of Visual Arts in New York that ended up in an enormously generous donation from this institution for a total of 22 boxes of books!