Learn it, Live it, Love it: The Community Support Edition

Learn it:
I’ve been a fan of Design Thinking for a while now. And this week I started this Acumen class. While I already know the concepts, I find it useful to walk through a class like this as I’m building a project, or thinking through a problem. It provides helpful structure to the planning process, which keeps all my thoughts organized. Acumen has a variety of great free classes, I encourage you to check them out!

Live it:
Here in DC, Halcyon House, an incubator for entrepreneurs and artists, has put together a Community Arts Day. All day today, you can attend studio sessions and artists exhibitions you can watch from home. 

On Saturday, small businesses in the area have put together Shop Small Business Saturday, if you’re in the market for stationery, art, home decor, etc. Small businesses like these are the backbone of a city; they are what bring interest, color, and uniqueness to a city experience. If you’re like me and love the variety city life offers, support these businesses now, so they will be ready to reopen later. Three of my favorites? Cherry Blossom Creative (full disclosure, I’m good friends with the owner), Salt & Sundry, and Good Wood.

Even though the nation is closed for business, the business of government continues on — and it’s still necessary to hold our leaders accountable as they make decisions, but, in a virtual world public hearings, demonstrations, etc. need to take on new forms. This article about how to preserve democracy digitally was fascinating. 

Love it:
I find this Food & Wine article highly relatable, as I too live in a small apartment and am the proud owner of a 50 lb bag of flour. (If you need some, let me know – we can barter!). Baking is clearly on the table this weekend, and if you’d like to follow my exploits feel free to hop over to Instagram (subliminal freedom messaging included). If you’re looking for something to watch, I’ve been enjoying the new Mrs. America series on Hulu and have begun rewatching West Wing. 

In a somewhat encouraging move, today, Governor Whitmer of Michigan has announced the rollback of some of the restrictions on movement and purchases she instituted several weeks ago. As a Michigan resident, you are now free to move to a new (or second home), buy a new fiddle leaf fig to brighten your home, and get a can of paint to spruce up your bedroom; yes, those things were really restricted for a couple of weeks there.