A Cup of Coffee to Build Sustainable Communities

This year an organization I co-founded celebrated its tenth year. Architecture for Humanity, a nonprofit design services firm, is made up of a network of thousands of design and building professionals willing to lend time and expertise to help those who would not otherwise be able to afford their services. In its first decade, more than 750,000 people are living, learning, working or healing in buildings designed and built by our staff, volunteers and design fellows.

Many years ago our first employee was alarmed by the number of cups of coffee I'd drink. On average around 5-7 a day. What she didn't realize is that for every $5 coffee I'd leave with a $25-50 donation. This kept us going in our first years. So, as we embark on our second decade and seek long-term support we are also going back to basics and doing a coffee initiative called 'Do A Latte Good' (groan).

You can bid on coffee with one of our supporters, designers or clients and in exchange 100% of the funds will go toward supporting our programs -- from sports facilities in Afghanistan; health clinics in Burma; weaving cooperatives in Cambodia; youth centers in Haiti; upgrading schools in the United States to rebuilding after Typhoon Ondoy. Until November 12th you can bid on the following friends:

Filmmaker and TED Prize winner Jehane Noujaim
MacArthur Genius and Sustainability Expert Majora Carter
TED conference co-founder and author Richard Saul Wurman
Creative Commons guru and Professor Lawrence Lessig
Architecture for Humanity co-founder and author Kate Stohr
Tony Award Winner Sarah Jones
Writer and prefab expert Allison Arieff

So if you are thinking of investing in social change, think about doing it over coffee with some great people. and don't worry: I've cut down on my coffee intake. I'm down to four a day.

 

Follow Cameron Sinclair on Twitter: www.twitter.com/casinclair

Comments

[esthermiriam]

It's good organization to support, a clever idea and a great list of coffee-companions --
seems odd and a bit sad that it's such short notice: posted on the 10th, I saw it the 11th, it's over on the 12th.

[SageFire]

I would love to see big coffee companies also give out a little cutely packaged packet of dirt with a seed in it when people buy their morning cup of coffee. The dirt and seed can be put into the used coffee cup can sit on a windowsill until the plant is sprouted then the whole thing can be planted outside. The cup will protect the seedling from pests until it grows. You could get a whole garden and there could even be themes. Italian Herb Garden Week in the spring, Fall/Winter Garden Week to go with Pumpkin Latte`s.