DIY Dads

Need some simple gifts to make with your little ones? Try these:

• Cardboard photo cubes (tutorial by Tara Dennis)
• Decorated votive candles (tutorial by Parents.com)
• Home state wall-art (great one for detail-oriented older kids – tutorial from The Harpster Home)

Don’t Call the Florist – You Got This!

Check out these great flower-inspired ideas.

• Living succulent wreath (Isn’t this gorgeous? Check out Succulent and Sunshine‘s great tutorial and make your own before Sunday.)

• Seed kits (For moms with a green thumb – check out these options from Urban Farmer or go to a garden store and make your own!)
• Paper flowers (Bloom all year round! Check out Curbly’s tutorial.)

Green Gifts That Give Back – No Shipping Required

Need a present for Mom but you’re miles apart? Check out Make It Right’s Green Gifts. You can give plants for a community garden, playground equipment, a gallon of paint, historic restoration and more in your Mom’s name. We’ll email her a cheerful card detailing your gift with a special message from you. Happy Mothers’ Day to all our moms!

High End Style on a Budget
by Patricia Davis Brown

Living on a budget, like so many of us are doing these days, usually means we have let go of our decorating dreams. But, some of the hottest trends in design right now are all about rustic, restored and vintage looks that are cheap! This means you can get a high end look on a low end budget.

Here are some of the stylish trends we’ve picked up on Pinterest that you can emulate in your design – without breaking the bank:

Eclectic Collections

Start a collection of vintage items – like the serving trays featured below – and turn them into an evolving art piece on your wall as you add more and more. Each time you pass a garage sale or head to your local flea market, grab a new item for a few cents.

See Vintage Silver Platters wall decor

Or, save up items like magazines as shown below and create the base for a new table or desk. Ask your friends for their old magazines and start piling up the catalogs in your mailbox and before you know it, you’ll have what you need to create a one-of-a-kind piece for your home.

See Magazines as a Table Base

Thrift Store Treasures

Do you have an eye for potential beauty? Then, head to the thrift store and use that talented eye to spot furniture that has the shape and function you’re looking for – but just not the color or finish. Take it home and re-paint it, stain it a new color or apply a finish like you see in spray painted (yeah… really… spray painted!) dresser below.

See Chest of Drawers with Metallic Spray Paint

Upcyclying Trash

Before you throw out a broken item, think about how the “bones” that are left can be repurposed. The chair-turned-bath-rack below is a great example. Chopping off the broken legs, giving it a fresh coat of paint and hanging it upside down above the comode added style and extra storage to this bathroom.

See Chair Back Bathroom Rack

Get Creative

My favorite part of this upcycling trend is that it really allows each person to let their own creativity shine. What one person sees as a bunch of useless old bowling balls, someone else may see as a whimsical garden feature. So, let that creativity fly!

See Bowling Ball Garden Art

Good Luck

Don’t let your budget stifle your design. You can bring beauty, function and style into your home with a little elbow grease and a bit of creativity!

– Patricia Davis Brown, National Award Winning Interior Designer
Design Blog: http://DigThisDesign.net

Make It Right has partnered with the Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute in announcing a competition to inspire product innovation. The $250,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to companies that are working on viable products in the realm of affordable building and construction products that are safe for human and environmental health.

To learn more, read the announcement from the Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute below, and go to our Laboratory page on Cradle to Cradle to read FAQs relating to the challenge.

Design Challenge: Prize offers $250, 000 to Spur Product Innovation

We’re looking to the manufacturing and design community to help make high-quality, healthy homes available for everyone.

To help inspire innovation in developing healthy building materials for communities in need, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Make It Right is issuing a Product Innovation Challenge. We’re encouraging manufacturers to design goods for the affordable housing market that are safe for human and environmental health and designed for re-use. And, we are offering $250,000 in prize money for the most innovative solutions, to be announced at Greenbuild 2013.

Here’s the problem: many commonly used building materials contain chemicals that have been linked to cancer, respiratory problems, hormone interference, reproductive and developmental harm. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nearly 80,000 chemicals are used in the country today, many of which are unstudied and largely unregulated.

Consumer awareness is increasing and demand for healthier products is growing but often these options are not available for affordable housing and as a result, already economically disadvantaged populations find themselves at a health disadvantage as well.

A recent initiative led by Make It Right (founded by Brad Pitt in 2007), builds healthy homes, buildings and communities for people in need. All Make It Right projects are LEED Platinum certified and Cradle to Cradle inspired—meeting the highest standards of green building.

Because Cradle to Cradle principles are fundamental to Make It Right’s design process, building methods and product selection they select Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM products whenever possible – but there aren’t enough Certified products to build an affordable house.

Enter the Product Innovation Challenge. The Challenge asks innovators to rethink common materials— such as PVC —and come up with revolutionary new products that can exceed their standards on the basis of price, performance, availability, and human and environmental health.

In addition to the $250,000 prize money, contest winners will receive extras including the support of a Dwell media partnership and special announcement at a special event at Greenbuild 2013. Up to 20 runners-up will receive distinction at the event and benefit from a marketing/PR campaign supporting their work.

The application process is rigorous and submissions are due June 30, 2013—start now—sign up for updates and additional resources or register for a live webinar to learn more:

February 19, 12:00 pm eastern / 9:00 am pacific
March 8, 3:00 pm eastern / 12:00 pm pacific
Additional dates will be added—please check the website for registration.

Click here for contest details and official rules.

The green building industry didn’t grow in to a global movement by chance. We got here because of the hard work and innovation of sustainability pioneers and visionaries. We are thrilled to recognize many of those individuals in this year’s awards.

Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC

Tom Darden, Executive Director of Make It Right, received the Leadership in the NGO Sector Award:

Read more about the USGBC Leadership awards here.

While we are not first responders who care for the immediate needs of those impacted by natural disaster, Make It Right will offer support to our partners and local leaders. By engaging communities, sharing best practices and lessons learned from our experience building resilient homes in New Orleans, we can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy rebuild safe, sustainable homes and neighborhoods.

We know that the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster is overwhelming; but we also know that by working together communities can come home and thrive again.

(photo: NBC News)

Groundbreaking at the Bancroft Project

This morning Make It Right joined Kansas City officials, community leaders and other supporters to break ground on the new Bancroft Project. Read the full press release below to learn about the community’s vision for the project and about the people, organizations and businesses that supported this outstanding new project. Make It Right would especially like to thank the generous product and materials donors — Benjamin Moore, Shaw, Eco by Cosentino, Leviton and Unico — that helped make this project possible.

Architectural rendering of the Bancroft Project

Make It Right staff at the groundbreaking

Manheim Park Community Breaks Ground on Affordable, Green Housing
and Community Complex

Kansas City, MO – November 3 – Today residents of Kansas City’s Manheim Park, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, Mayor Slyvester James, Make It Right and Bancroft Project development partners broke ground on an ambitious new project to provide healthy, affordable housing and community space. The Bancroft Project will include 50 affordable, LEED Platinum rental units and showcase innovative and sustainable design and redevelopment. 

Make It Right, an organization founded by Brad Pitt and dedicated to building healthy homes and buildings for communities in need, Missouri multi-family housing developer Dalmark and Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City committed to redevelop the site of the former Bancroft Elementary School. Built in 1904, the school functioned as a public elementary until 1999 and has remained vacant for the last 13 years.

Half the housing units will be built in the renovated school building; the other half will be new townhomes built around the school and designed by Kansas City-based BNIM Architects, American Institute of Architects’ 2011 Firm of the Year.

The Bancroft Project will also feature community amenities including an auditorium, gymnasium, locker rooms, technology lab, job training center, mobile medical clinic and community gardens. Make It Right Solar, in collaboration with Brightergy of Kansas City, will construct a 75kW solar array on the roof of the historic Bancroft School.

The Bancroft Project, which will cost $14.1 million, is possible only through the support of generous donors including the Dreiseszun Family Foundation and U.S. Bank. With their commitment to provide affordable, healthy homes in Manheim Park, the Dreiseszun Family Foundation honors the memory of Kansas City real estate developer and philanthropist Sherman Dreiseszun. U.S Bank made a $1.2 million Affordable Housing Assistance Program donation in support of the Bancroft Project. 

Make It Right’s corporate partners are supporting the Bancroft Project with generous product donations. Benjamin Moore will supply exterior and interior paint with their healthy, low-VOC Aura and zero VOC Natura paints. Shaw Floors is donating Cradle to Cradle certified carpet, wood and tile from their sustainable flooring lines. Eco by Cosentino is contributing Cradle to Cradle certified kitchen and bathroom countertops for the project. Leviton is donating electrical hardware to power the new homes. Unico is donating the high-velocity HVAC system. 

Construction on the project will begin next month and is expected to be complete by January 2014.

STATEMENTS FROM PROJECT PARTNERS

Brad Pitt, Founder, Make It Right:

“Make It Right believes that sustainable housing should be available and affordable for everyone. Today we are proud to join our Kansas City partners and local leaders as we break ground on this innovative project. We are honored to help fulfill the community’s vision of a vibrant Manheim Park.”

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II:

“This is a momentous day for the Green Impact Zone, the Manheim neighborhood and all of Kansas City. What began as an idea and a hope, today becomes a reality. Hundreds of hardworking people have put in thousands of tireless hours to get us to this point. It is with this kind of public/private cooperation that tremendous progress is made, greatness is achieved and long-lasting change is cemented into our very foundation for future generations to come.”

Mayor Slyvester James:

“I grew up not far from Bancroft School. I remember the power of a neighborhood where families grew up with one another. Where they claimed each child, regardless of who they belonged to, as one of their own. That happens in Manheim Park. That spirit is why crime is down dramatically in this neighborhood and why this project will be one of our national success stories. Congratulations to Congressman Cleaver, Historic Manheim Park, Make It Right and every single person involved in making this dream a reality. It is a great day in Kansas City.” 

Bob Berkebile, Principal, BNIM:

“The Historic Manheim Park Neighborhood has suffered the effects of decades of social and economic disinvestment and abandonment. Repurposing the Bancroft School is an important signal that long-awaited investment is returning to this urban stronghold.  We have the good fortune of working with courageous neighborhood leadership, Congressman Cleaver, Green Impact Zone leadership, Dalmark, Make It Right, MARC, the City and many others to transform this school into quality housing and critical community services that will build human capital and redefine adaptive re-use, community, housing and healthy neighborhoods. This inspiring group of urban pioneers have created a catalytic force that will revitalize this neighborhood, the Green Impact Zone and establish a template for vibrancy in our urban neighborhoods.” 

Jim Nichols, CEO, Dalmark:

“The Bancroft redevelopment process has been one of the more complicated and difficult adventures of my career; yet has been one of my most memorable and fulfilling personal experiences. By involving the community and merging their vision with our development, financing and design experience, we achieved a holistic and sustainable solution to jumpstart the community revitalization in the Manheim Park Neighborhood.”

Irene Dreiseszun, Trustee, Dreiseszun Family Foundation:

“The Dreiseszun Family Foundation’s mission to serve Kansas City communities in need continues with our involvement in the Bancroft Project. We are thrilled to be part of a project whose mission aligns with ours, to strengthen and enrich people’s lives through affordable housing and community services. Our hope is that the Bancroft Project will be a catalyst of positive change for the entire Historic Manheim Park neighborhood.” 

Anita Maltbia, Director, Green Impact Zone:

“The Bancroft project is an excellent example of what can happen when needs identified by a community are paired with resources that are willing to strategically invest in them.  The Green Impact Zone joins the Historic Manheim Park neighborhood in its appreciation of the many partners who have come forward to not only develop much needed housing but to also bolster the hope of many for the revitalization of the central core of Kansas City.”

Mark Stalsworth, President, Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City:

“Neighborhood Housing Services is excited to be a part of this project and thrilled that the neighborhood will achieve the result they have sought for so long; converting the negative influence of a vacant grade school into a vibrant centerpiece for revitalization.  This project will launch a new wave of revitalization in Manheim Park and this entire section of Kansas City East of Troost.”

Ernie Straub, President, Straub Construction:

“We are very excited to participate in the Bancroft Project. Providing affordable, safe housing with the benefits of today’s green energy technology is such a positive step for the revitalization of the Manheim neighborhood. We look forward to seeing this project be a prototype for future improvements in the area.”

CiCi Rojas, Vice President for Community Engagement, Truman Medical Center:

“Truman Medical Center is committed to the Bancroft Project. We recognize and value the importance of a community hub that brings both education and health services to underserved Kansas City communities. TMC’s community outreach efforts in health education and wellness will be paramount to this project and we believe it will encourage a more holistic approach to better physical and economic health in the area.”

Saundra A. Hayes, President, Historic Manheim Park Neighborhood Association:

“Being able to bring a project such as the re-purposing of the Bancroft Elementary School to Historic Manheim Park requires an insider’s perspective to lead to the discovery of what the community is about and what it needs. The Bancroft development team working together with the Historic Manheim Park community found the rhythm (the direction for developing a neighborhood community campus) that will not only help regenerate an urban core neighborhood but will also uplift humanity by improving the lives of the people that live here today and for generations to come.”

“[Make It Right homes] are using roughly 80% less energy than a standard code-built house here in  New Orleans. That’s attributable to high-quality construction as well as innovative materials and methods.”