DDB INITIATIVES
Social Responsibility
With a powerful voice that reaches a global audience of change-makers, innovators and pioneers, we believe it is our social responsibility to spread love, support our industry's fight for or against the causes that matter to them and be the change we want to see in the world.
DDB Fall Market 2019 Initiative:
Be The Change
No matter your position, political views, opinions, or status, one thing is undeniable and our universal truth... the future is what we make it. From where we source product to how we allocate our "free time" or charitable donations, these choices will define our industry's narrative as we approach the 2020s. With so many opportunities to give back, pay it forward or get involved, DDB is proud to introduce our new initiative Be The Change to bring these resources to the forefront in a comprehensive listing. Social responsibility is at the center of public consciousness and our collective charge to conquer. Find your passion, be it cancer research, gun violence, HIV/AIDS awareness, women’s rights, refugee support, LGBTQ rights, celebrating cultural diversity, sustainability, landmark preservation, animal rights, ethical sourcing, and more to take action today!
Free Mom Hugs
Free Mom Hugs is a registered non-profit organization made up of parents and allies who love the LGBTQ+ community unconditionally and are working toward full affirmation and equality for all. We are dedicated to educating families, church and civic leaders, encouraging them to not only affirm the value of the LGBTQ+ community but celebrate them.
​
Moms Demand Action
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They have been key in helping pass red flag laws and have worked to encourage companies to get rid of open carry permission in their places of business. The recent changes with Kroger and Wal-mart stores were in part because of Moms.
​
East Side House Settlement
East Side House Settlement believes that education is the key that enables all people to create economic opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. The organization enriches, supplements, and enhances the New York City education system and puts post-secondary options within reach of students. East Side House provides workforce development and career readiness training infused with technology to enable community participants to improve their economic status and lead more fulfilling lives. For over 125 years, East Side House Settlement has been a beacon of hope for people in need. East Side House Settlement was founded in 1891 on the Upper East Side House of Manhattan by a philanthropic lawyer, Everett Wheeler. Wheeler a small group of volunteers “settled" in the Upper East Side in the mission to serve the community through education. In 1963, The East Side House Settlement Board of Managers made the courageous decision to move East Side House to the South Bronx, where the need was the greatest. By serving those most in need, a once daring experiment has lasted the test of time with a record of commitment to addressing the needs of struggling communities.
Today, although East Side House remains headquartered in the South Bronx, we serve communities throughout the Bronx and Northern Manhattan.
​
Green Tree Textiles
Recycle unwanted textiles to be sourced to fibers and rags manufacturers
https://www.greentreetextiles.org/
Fab Scrap
Recycle unwanted textiles to be shredded to create insulation, carpet padding, furniture lining, moving blankets, etc.
​
​
Black Artists and Designers Guild
The Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) was founded in 2018 by Malene Barnett, an artist based in Brooklyn, NY to combat the lack of representation of Black talent and culture in the design industry.
BADG is a global platform representing a curated collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers across various art and design disciplines who are at the top of their respective fields. We strive towards creating an inclusive arts and design environment, through equity and inclusivity, by providing visibility and opportunities for our members. In addition, through our programming and events, we create dialogue, take action towards rewriting the narrative behind the misrepresentation of our ancestral legacy in design and bring awareness to the inequitable design culture.
​
​
Adopt-a-Platoon Soldier Support Effort
Adopt-a-Platoon Soldier Support Effort® founded in 1998 is a nonprofit 501C-3 dedicated to serving deployed United States Service Men and Women ensuring that they are not forgotten by a grateful Nation; providing on-going care packages to improve quality of life and raising morale for those serving overseas in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard and Special Forces. Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Inc. (AaSP) adopted its first soldier, a SGT in the 82d Airborne, in April 2003. Since then, tens of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen have benefited from its support. Besides sending care cartons on a regular basis, AaSP engages in special projects, all designed to improve the morale of military personnel deployed in harm’s way.
Housing Works
Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.
Alpha Workshops
Dedicated to creating beauty and changing lives, The Alpha Workshops is the nation’s only nonprofit organization providing decorative arts education and employment to at-risk youths and adults with disabilities or other vulnerabilities. It was founded in 1995 in the Chelsea area of Manhattan and modeled on the famed Omega Workshops, the Wiener Werkstätte, the Bauhaus, and the American Arts & Crafts movement. The multi-faceted organization encompasses The Alpha Workshops Studio School (AWSS), a vocational school licensed by the New York State Department of Education, and The Alpha Workshops Studios, an award-winning professional design and decorative arts atelier staffed exclusively by AWSS graduates.
​
​
DIFFA
Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that provide treatment, direct care services, preventive education programs and advocacy for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. Since 1984, DIFFA has emerged from a grassroots organization into a national Foundation. Headquartered in New York City, DIFFA has chapters in Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and the Pacific Northwest and partners from the gift & home industries and other communities across the US. Working together, DIFFA’s chapters and partners have provided over $44 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.
Mobilizing the vast resources of the design industry, DIFFA has supported a broad spectrum of programs over the years. From HIV/AIDS care and treatment to education and prevention, DIFFA has been at the forefront, funding early initiatives including condom distribution and needle exchange programs. DIFFA has also taken an active role in supporting programs aimed at protecting the legal rights and security of people living with HIV/AIDS.
​
Hope Lodge
The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. Each Hope Lodge community offers a supportive, homelike environment where guests can share a meal, join in the evening’s activities, or unwind in their own private room. Patients staying at a Hope Lodge must be in active cancer treatment, and permanently reside more than 40 miles or one hour away from their cancer treatment center. Each patient must be accompanied by a caregiver.
​
​
Black Interior Designers Network
THE MISSION of the Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN) is to celebrate diversity within the interior design industry by highlighting designers of color and supporting black designers with business development opportunities.
https://blackinteriordesignersnetwork.com/
​
​
Love Quilt Project
The Love Quilt Project is a non-profit organization that uses the power of love to change the lives of vulnerable orphaned South African children,
many of them affected by the HIV / AIDS pandemic.
http://www.lovequiltproject.org/
​
​
Safer Spaces: Design for Gun Awareness
The design industry stands up for gun safety awareness to create change in this country. Get into action, be the change and end gun violence.
https://www.instagram.com/saferspacesdesign/?hl=en
​
​
The Color Network’s mission is to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. We aim to assist artists to develop, network, and create dialogue while maintaining a place for a database, resources, and mentorship. We hope to foster a community of artists of all professional and skill levels that help each other grow.