Publicly Pink
Early in the formation of All Together, we decided to use pink in our branding. It felt like a statement—a pushback on an industry that is largely male-dominated, but also an unapologetic embrace of joy. For far too long, pink has been marginalized as only appropriate for the ultra-femme…or on Valentine’s Day. This colorful injustice is long overdue for critique (even if that critique comes on our favorite Hallmark holiday).
Clark Street Crossroads study featured in Block Club Chicago
How Can Uptown’s Clark Street Be More Pedestrian- And Business-Friendly? A Block Club Chicago article dives deeper into the exciting crossroads of Clark Street in Uptown. The corridor anchors and connects iconic Chicago neighborhoods. It is filled with a mix of uses, mobility options, parks, and historic cemeteries, and a diverse population of residents and business owners.
American Cities Should Be More Colorful
Walk around your neighborhood and count the house or building colors you see. Four million hues of grey? Check. Lots of tans and browns? Definitely. An abundance of white and off white? Absolutely. The occasional red door? You got lucky.
The Magic of Winter Games
If you are in a northern city in the United States, most would assume you’ve celebrated and embraced the arrival of snow like our European counterparts. But, in large part, you probably haven’t. Many of us in “winter cities” aren’t really into wintering in cities. We hunker down and emerge in spring, our metabolisms running at about the same speed as the animals hibernating under our buildings. This winter, one community met this seasonal challenge head-on.
Resistance in Joyful Design
There’s no question, most of us are feeling the overwhelmingly crushing power of 2020. We are reminded of it every day in our homes—in our news, during our zoom calls, and on our childrens’ faces as they prepare for another day of virtual learning or donning their masks as they head to school.
Why I Partnered With Marisa
Marisa is a storyteller. She loves to learn about a place, about the people who live there and it’s history, and craft a compelling narrative that brings it all together.
Why Cities Should Tap Into the Power of “Joyful Interventions”
We as humans make it our life mission to find happiness. We create life lists, bucket lists, and checklists to achieve more, buy more, and be more. But in the pursuit of happiness, we miss the smaller moments that connect us to others, inspire us, and make us more optimistic for the future. These small but powerful moments are ones of joy.
Why I Teamed Up With Ray
Here are just a few of the reasons why I went all in and launched a company with the one and only, Rachael Smith. (Even though she’s a Wisconsin graduate, because no one is perfect).
A Woman’s Place is in the City
Women of all ages have so many stories to share. Emphasize that their unique perspectives are not only helpful in creating policy and design solutions, but that they are experts because of their unique experiences.
The Story of Us
Rachael (Ray) and Marisa (Reese) met at DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development and quickly connected over our similarities—midwestern-bred, Big Ten University alums with creative undergraduate degrees (writing and design) and planning masters—both having lived and worked in Austin, Texas for a number of years and back in the Midwest to stay.