Wow, wow, wow – we just keep saying it and I don’t think we’ll stop saying it for a long time. We are so thankful for this experience so far and so looking forward to what is to come. From the very first idea exchange, it has been invigorating to see so many other folks get behind this idea in so many different ways: from high fives and encouragement to suggestions for potential locations and partners, and all the way to providing insight leading us to shift, focus, enhance, and (even more exciting/scary) grow and expand the idea.
Since the Big Event, we have jumped right back into the grind, working to link up with some of the new relationships and begin some concrete plans for the next few months. Here are some of the on-the-books plans we have for the first few months of 2024: We have already started hitting up Art Walk and hope to be able to brainstorm some fun ways to engage more of the Art Walk crowds in our mission to bring art supplies to those Art Deserts. (Community: have some ideas for us? Message us over @AcadianaArtCloset!) In January our team will be meeting up with the folks from Abby’s Acre to have a build-bash where we’ll be working together to make our first Art Closets that will be headed out into the community. We have a good deal going with them – they are excited to provide the lumber and manpower to build our little closets in return for our artsy skills on some of their future products. In January and February, we will be working with our connections in the College of Arts at UL Lafayette, the Lafayette Public Library, and other local businesses to find a space for Art Closet supply donation boxes. We hope to meet with Dr. Downs over at J. Wallace James in January to chat about the process of inviting the kids to participate in a design contest and to nail down a commitment to installing an Art Closet (if not the first art closet) with the winning design there on school property. Coordinate with Dr. Josh Edmond to install an Art Closet at the MLK Rec Center near the community pantry.
Beyond these specific plans, our overall timeline looks something like this at the moment: WINTER: Build first 5 Art Closets and pin down locations based on targeted art deserts of Acadiana (i.e., North Lafayette, Scott-ish, South-South, Broussard-ish, and Central Lafayette). Build community awareness. SPRING: Install first 5 Art Closets (and party), stock with starting supply of art supplies, continue building community awareness SUMMER: Ramp up community engagement through Patreon support and/or donations FALL: Plan for Acadiana Art Closet anniversary community celebration
We have some additional hopes and ideas and look forward to sharing those with you as we move forward. We have been realizing the potential and our desire for this project to extend beyond just our team. Seeing the excitement of all of you as you got to know the heart of our idea is beyond our wildest expectations. We would love to invite each of you to join us in ways that highlight your skills and interests, so don’t be a stranger. Let’s make art happen!
From the entire Abby’s Acre organization, we sincerely thank everyone involved in the 24-Hour Citizen’s Project. From the flawless organization and execution of a fantastic event to the other teams inspiring everyone watching, and to the backers, without your generous donations and suggestions, none of this would have been possible. It was the best way for all of us to spend Veteran’s Day this year! We benefitted greatly from our coach and the panel of experts provided the night before our pitch! Although this program has been in the works for several months, this was exactly the push we needed to get it fully online and operational.
In the month since, we have been incredibly busy! We have built each of our designs in CAD and have streamlined our building process so we can build like we farm, with zero waste. Making sure the money awarded is used in the most efficient way possible. We have decided to hand-build every piece of the kit to provide our compatriots with the highest quality product possible. We are expecting to have our first full prototype built before the end of this year and have all the kits built and ready by the end of January!
The plan moving forward is to start reaching out to the veterans in our neighborhoods who we know would benefit from these, as well as work with the local VFW post to find those who we have not yet met. As discussed during our Q&A, we have started our planning process to make these kits available to the public, as well as start offering classes veterans can attend to teach carpentry skills and provide the materials for them to build kits of their very own! Our goal is to offer this by the 2nd quarter of 2024.
We are absolutely thrilled to reach out to you with boundless excitement and gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received for our project to bring pet waste stations to Downtown Lafayette! From the start, this project has been fueled by the collective spirit of our community members, and it fills our hearts with joy to see how much we all care about making Downtown Lafayette an even better place for everyone, including our furry friends.
A special and heartfelt thanks go to our incredible donors. Your generosity has played a pivotal role in turning our vision into tangible pet waste stations that will be coming to Downtown Lafayette in the new year. We also want to express our gratitude to the team of rockstars behind the 24 Hour Citizen Project for providing us with the opportunity to turn this idea into reality. Their support and encouragement have been instrumental in navigating this journey, and we are so grateful for the chance to contribute to our community in such a meaningful way.
The pet waste stations are not just functional additions; they are symbols of what we can achieve when we come together. These stations will not only keep our public spaces clean but also serve as a reminder of the vibrant and caring community we are all a part of.
Our next steps will be to meet with LCG representatives in the coming weeks to discuss maintenance and installation plans. Then, we can move forward with ordering all required supplies and have a more accurate timeline for project completion. We’re so appreciative of everyone’s support and are looking forward to kicking things off in the new year. Stay tuned!
Sincerely, Team Fais Doo Doo Gabrielle Keaton & Zack Breaux
Dear Community, We’re still tired, yet feeling grateful. WOW! Festival International just ended as you know. We saw many of you there which was freaking awesome. Without you, we wouldn’t have a safe space (Zone Detente) at festival. Without 24CP, we could not have elevated what we had from last year. SIGNAGE! This was part of our ask so that felt good to be able to showcase some of that. Shout out to MakeMade for making that happen. Being about to educate people that stopped by the space with proper signage felt very fulfilling and necessary. And of course increased audience knowing what we do and our goal(s) are. We are happy to say that there were 6 autistic people and many more with sensory challenges that were part of our volunteer team.
Current: We are in works for buying a 10 x 20 tent with The Beluga Project logo that is durable enough for multiple seasons, not just one. We are working on setting up a system where individuals can rent our equipment for a price at their event. We will have different tiers from just renting equipment, us going to set it up and us providing the people power for the space. We need to keep funds coming into the project, so this is road where we are just arriving at the intersection. Any thoughtful suggestions would be gladly received from our community
We are in talks with another team from our cohort, Team Inclusive Prom, to put a space at Pride Acadiana 2023. Thanks Wendy and their squad for getting this going! Appreciate y’all. Appreciate everyone who came by the space at Festival. From Butch and his family to you reading this, we were so happy that you stopped by. This is just the beginning. The space is one thing…the education to our community and beyond is the ultimate goal. See you at Pride! Love you all. Now…it’s time for us to rest and return.
WE DID IT!!!! On Saturday, March 11, Team Inclusive Prom held its very first Inclusive Prom for high school students across Acadiana. It was a glorious evening of fashion, dancing, smiles, and laughter from the students and the adult chaperones alike.
Walking into Wonderland Performing Arts that night was like a trip down the rabbit hole. Once the students got through the bag check at the door, they were greeted by the first of many photo opportunities including a giant size Cheshire Cat, graciously donated by The Mystic Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette. Registration was flawless thanks to our amazing volunteers. Approximately 85 tickets were reserved, and we had over 50 students in attendance. Walking down the foliage lined hallway to get to the dance floor, you were met with bread and butterflies hanging from the ceiling, tissue paper flowers in abundance, and a tunnel made out of vines. DJ Digital rocked the house all night while Alice in Wonderland clips played on the big screen.
Sweet 3 Bakery provided Alice in Wonderland themed sweet treats. Social Entertainment was there with their amazing photo booth, enjoyed by all. Rachel Rafati was our official photographer of the evening. Set up at our “royal throne” made by Dory Thomassie, she took pictures all night, ensuring everyone felt like Prom Royalty.
One of the biggest hits of the evening (and a last-minute addition), thanks to Alexandra Culotta, was our sensory room. She brought mats, pillows, blankets, and a noise machine for when things got too loud or overwhelming on the dance floor.
When all was said and done, we were about $300 over budget. In the grand scheme of things, we are VERY happy with how the event played out. We got great feedback and have already set a date for next year (March 9 in case you’re wondering). We have also had a “Prom Debrief” and have a number of lessons learned.
Going forward, we’ll be more intentional with our event. With more time to plan we’ll be able to look at options to save money, including venue, theme (decorations), etc. We’ll limit the number of adults we have in attendance, and we’re looking into branded merch per the request of many of the teens. We will keep the budget for 2024 the same ($4k) and will start fundraising immediately.
Special thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make this event such a success. Without your support, time, artistic ability, donations, food, and love for the community, none of this would be possible.
Acadiana Queer Collective is eternally grateful for the opportunity awarded by 24HCP and the community as a whole. These events and experiences continue to support our mission by creating safe spaces in Acadiana for the LGBTQ+ community. We look forward to seeing what the future has in store.
