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Impact-Driven Design
ENV’s Work with Nonprofits in Virginia
Although all types of design are rewarding, it’s with special efforts that we work with those in vulnerable or traumatic circumstances.
ENV’s national non-profit clients include recognizable names such as ASPCA, Autism Speaks, International Rescue Committee, and Doctors Without Borders.
Locally, our ENV Virginia office has collaborated with impactful groups such as Daily Planet (providing medical and dental services to the uninsured and primarily homeless population), the International Rescue Committee (facilitating resettlement for refugee families entering the US), and Fostering Acadia (supporting youth transitioning out of foster care to independent living).
Whitney Campbell and Laura Marcus-Plant, co-owners of ENV-Virginia, lend their design abilities and pro-bono services to many local organizations supporting the foster care system. Their personal connection to Fostering Acadia (FA) is particularly strong. Whitney, a foster parent since 2017, shares her experience: “My personal journey has always aligned with ENV’s commitment to making a positive impact. Through many respite placements and taking in my foster son as a high-schooler later navigating the aging-out process, I can say with certainty that FA is having a significant impact on the hundreds of lives of youth leaving foster care at age 18 with no family and no safety net.”
Laura serves as an Ambassador for CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), offering crucial support to abused and neglected children during court proceedings and placement changes. She elaborates, “I’m thrilled to join the efforts of my local CASA chapter through fundraising and awareness. ENV designed and built a custom playhouse for auction for their ‘Home for Good’ fundraiser – a testament to our team’s dedication to designing spaces for children and youth who have experienced trauma.”
Whitney emphasizes the significance of this impact-driven design project for ENV: “Being selected to design the Fostering Acadia office was an immense privilege. It enabled us to combine our passion for design with the opportunity to empower those working with these vulnerable young adults at such a pivotal time.”
FA’s retail-level space perfectly complements their services, which include supporting youth with completing high school, enrolling in college courses, moving into their first apartment, obtaining their driver’s license, and purchasing their first car. Creating an approachable and adaptable environment was crucial. This was achieved through agile training space, casual lounge furniture, and an operable partition allowing the training room to open up to the break area for larger gatherings. This fosters a sense of community and facilitates celebrating milestones as youth complete the “FA 8” – the Fostering Acadia Standard of Completion including eight stability indicators that must be achieved prior to graduating from the program at age 21.
ENV takes pride in partnering with Fostering Acadia to create a beautiful and functional space that empowers staff and youth to heal, collaborate, and grow through mentorship and care.
90% of youth aging-out of foster care are incarcerated, homeless, pregnant, or addicted by age 20.
