Look for the Light!
Pava! Microgrant

At the beginning of 2025, I was feeling uncertainty personally, professionally, and globally. Yet the longer I kept up my holiday lights, the more I heard from friends, neighbors, and family that the lights brought them cheer and hope in the winter grayness. These unexpected comments started conversations about how joy and beauty can be resistance — against darkness, against fear, against sadness, against uncertainty.

With that in mind, I applied for and received a Pava! Grant, a series of micro-grants for fostering community, joy, and connection in memory of Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere who was tragically murdered in 2023. These grants honor her “infectious joy and unwavering passion for creating meaningful connections across people and places.”

In May, I gave out two dozen strands of lights for free, with no conditions beyond “Hang them somewhere to bring joy and beauty to you, your friends, and your neighbors!” I saw them hung up immediately, in all kinds of ways. Recipients told me they needed a pick-me-up too, and that this simple idea made a real difference. 

On the face of it, this might not seem like “Design,” but design is a big tent. Simply put, I hope everything I make creates connections, brings joy, and starts conversations.