Before my third visit to the Freedom House, I wanted to have a few ideas in my head of some projects I might want to pursue. I was hoping this trip would help me to determine what direction I wanted to go in. I wrote out a few ideas in my sketchbook and was excited to share them with Lydia, our volunteer coordinator. This visit has felt like it has been the most productive so far; I feel like it has helped me to make more connections between our coursework and the needs of the Freedom House.
During this visit, I was open to helping out in whatever way that they needed me to. Since I was visiting by myself this time, I felt more apprehensive than previous visits and did not know what to expect. I ended up spending the majority of my time with Lydia in her office, bouncing ideas off of each other. It turned out to be a great creative brainstorming session. She expressed to me that she felt there was a lack of uniformity and professionalism regarding a lot of the paperwork and signs around the house. These signs like dining room rules, operating hours, and receptionist manuals are seen and used everyday. Updating them could go a long way in refreshing the space. Currently, any sort of paperwork or sign that is up at the Freedom House is quickly printed using Word, with little to no staying power. We talked about creating a new format for signs, something brighter and with a little bit more of a voice. We also talked about creating some sort of template or formula for signs they might need to print in the future going forward. The remainder of the visit was spent walking around together, taking photos of signs that she wants redone and that I think could use an update.
I’m feeling excited knowing that I have a good grasp on my project for the Freedom House. We ended up finding quite a bit of signs needing work, so the most challenging task for me looking forward will be to find the most efficient way to get the work done. I’m hoping for my next visit, I can bring in some rough drafts of ideas and get more feedback.
