Author Archive
Steelcase Knows How to Throw a TOMS Party!
December 19th, 2012
By Kaysha Bucher
“Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future.”
–Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver TOMS
Having fun while helping others inspired several of us at HMC LA who were able to attend Steelcase’s holiday party, which was hosted at their Santa Monica showroom.
Steelcase, a company with an award winning corporate social responsibility program, used the “Style Your Sole” event to not only connect with their clients, but also to make a positive impact. The event was hosted in partnership with TOMS Shoes, where guests were invited to pre-order a pair of Tiny TOMS shoes to be decorated at the event, alongside their kids and a TOMS shoe design artist—yes, this job really exists and is as amazing as it sounds! Each pair was transformed into a one-of-a-kind, creative, and functional mini work of art.
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Back from Haiti, Ready to Inspire
February 14th, 2012
By Kaysha Bucher, Interior Designer
One year ago, I submitted a proposal for HMC’s Xref travel fellowship to realize my long-awaited aspiration of making a difference. With a love for children and a dream in my heart to see schools built abroad, I took a leap of faith into an experience that has furthered my passion to see change across the world. For me, this leap started in Haiti. Now back in the states, I’m thankful and appreciative for this opportunity to travel and make a difference.
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Assessing Earthquake-Damaged Schools in Haiti
February 2nd, 2012
By Kaysha Bucher, Interior Designer
Part of my Xref journey and task here in Haiti is to help with the assessment of 200 Catholic schools across the country. Schools for Children of the World has hired 11 teams trained to assess existing conditions of these schools by using a special assessment program for the iPad. Over the last three days, I have been all over the Haitian countryside to accomplish the given task. Starting on Monday morning, Alex and I were assigned to visit four schools in the city of Miragoane, Haiti. The drive to Miragoane is a bumpy one and takes about two hours from Leogane.
Along with our translator and driver, we arrived at our first school site, Ecole Notre Dame de Lourdes, holding 749 students and 17 professors. The main buildings were badly damaged in the earthquake, six of which are still partially in use. The remaining classes are held in three temporary structures on the school site, totaling to nine buildings on site. The school director mentioned that if they could have more classrooms, they could enroll another 300+ children waiting to attend the school the coming year.
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Update from Haiti: School Site Visits
January 30th, 2012
By Kaysha Bucher, Interior Designer
Upon arrival at the Port-au-Prince airport, myself and project coordinator, Alex, were picked up by Jason, a project leader and architect for Schools for Children of the World. Thankfully, all of our baggage made it safely and we shuffled our way through the chaos of porters offering to help us with our bags. Jason, thankful to have the company of new visitors, was a thorough tour guide speaking to the bustling activity as we bumped our way through the streets of Port-au-Prince to our final destination of Leogane, Haiti. Leogane was the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake, and although the streets are active, it is much calmer than the city.
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Haiti Bound!
January 26th, 2012
By Kaysha Bucher, Interior Designer
Packed and prepped, I’m ready to begin my 10 day adventure in Haiti!
At the start of this new year, my arrangements were finalized to take-off for my long-awaited Xref trip. Through HMC’s Xref travel fellowship, I will be traveling with Schools for Children of the World to visit Haiti and aid in new school design and construction. I depart this Friday, and I’ve been full of anticipation all week; this trip has been on my heart for a long time.
After a call yesterday to the team in Haiti for final instruction and words of wisdom, I am equipped for an intensive work schedule. While there, I will be part of a team assessing the conditions of 200 existing schools as well as documenting drawings for several schools soon ready for construction. Additionally, I will visit new schools already underway to oversee construction and gauge advancement.
Thanks to the generosity of my co-workers in the LA studio, I won’t be traveling empty-handed to this country in need. Contributions have been generous as HMC hands and hearts brought in monetary donations, school supplies, books, shoes, warm weather clothing, backpacks, small toys, and soccer balls. Traveling with these supplies, my hope is to bring a special blessing to the children who will attend the schools I will be working on.
A big thanks to HMC for all their generosity, I’m looking forward to blogging about my journey in the coming days!
Posted in Xref
Xref Update: Haiti on the Horizon
May 13th, 2011
By Kaysha Bucher, Interior Design Coordinator
It’s finally sinking in that I’m really going to Haiti for my Xref trip. With the planning in the works and my departure just around the corner, the realization that I have this opportunity to travel to Haiti is significant and meaningful for me. I am thankful for all the support from our HMC team as I eagerly prepare for my upcoming venture in August.
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