This project started as a personal project for Cyrina Thomas as she worked in the consumer packaged good industry and witness the waste firsthand. It evolved into something greater because of the opportunity in the circular economy.
Challenges
Not Becoming a Trashcan
The biggest challenge in this project was not becoming a trashcan for large brands who were looking for great stories to tell, but lacked the partnership ability. We had several attempts to partner with large brands directly and via partners. During one project, the opportunity presented itself to receive a large acrylic donation. It was an awesome opportunity at the time, because we had an intern who designed a whole line of products for acrylic use that we could partner with schools to give school supplies too, but we quickly learned with the first delivery that the materials were unable to be used for that purpose along with materials that were not initially listed in the shipment. There were several other examples of this happening, but it is important to layout in detail because when there are smaller initiatives of this size there is motivation to partner with sustaining partners, but it is important to excercise caution because there are typically surprises.
Partnerships
Every partnership is unique because every partner has unique needs and focuses on different goals for success. We feel it necessary to cover each partnership separately because of the focus of each partnership having a different goal.
Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub
Over the years, the initiatives partnered with the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub. It was a fruitful partnership because there focus was on teaching people to separate their streams and be more mindful of what they used. This created great presorted materials and they became a premiere philanthropic organization that we liked to partner with because of the materials and their availability. Because of this, one of the last physical locations that we occupied was in the same building as the Hub.
Partnership Lesson: Sometimes partnership means colocation to maximize impact. Being in the same building allowed us to experiment more quickly and close feedback loops on projects and created more opportunities for community workshops like the one we did with the Cincinnati Museum Center making flower.s
University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP)
UC DAAP was a long term partner of this project. What started was a partnership with a talented student named Graham Will turned into a strategic partnership for the life of the project.
Memor
Homegrown Studio
Pictures: the first completed project with a lamp created from medicine bottles.
We collaborated with them on many projects over the years with various students.
Pictured is a ecosystem designed project that we worked with students on to understand the broader ecosystem of remade materials. https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/04/uc-makerspace-threads-eco-friendly-project.html
Partnership Lesson: Partnerships can start in surprising spaces and this one started with a student. Be willing to listen to anyone who has an idea and it can move your mission forward.
A Collaborative Makerspace
Cincinnati Recreation Centers
We partnered with Bush community center to develop programming for their adult cohort. Because of our experience we had with volunteers and creating meaningful opportunities. We partnered with our marquee workshop for candle making using upcycled materials to work with them to create some free adult programming for the community.
Science Around Cincy Feature
Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
One fall, he partnered with one of those redevelopment foundations activate a big, vacant store front and turn it into a third space for the holiday season. We did repairs, created crafts, made candles and built a mini community.
