Not only do we celebrate all women on International Women’s Day, but Design5sixty4 also wouldn’t be where we are today without the amazing collaborations and relationships we’ve built along the way. While I could run a long list of amazing women in my circuit, I want to spotlight a few in particular for some amazing work that has brought us together. I hold a lot of gratitude and appreciation for these powerful, creative, and brilliant women who are leading the charge in their own ways.
Leslie Hoffman, Principal and Founder, LEH Consulting
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Leslie several years ago when she contacted me to support her business in design. Since then, she has circled me in on several projects, and all projects supporting the greater good. Together we’ve supported projects that build communities, be it economic development for new and underserved small business owners in the midwest to community safety in the southwest—we’ve covered quite a few initiatives together and I embrace every opportunity to collaborate.
Strategic thinking, collaboration, and great community support are a few of my favorite ingredients when working with the brilliant individual that Leslie is.
Mariela Ruiz-Angel, Director, Albuquerque Community Safety
One of those southwestern projects mentioned above brings me back to my hometown in Albuquerque and again in collaboration with Leslie that introduced me to the Director of Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), Mariela Ruiz-Angel. Mariela leads a public safety department working independently and in collaboration with APD and AFR, providing Albuquerque with a holistic, empathetic, and informed response to behavioral and mental health-related 911 calls. Not only does this work drive an informed response, but it opens up a dialog with the community and creates actionable items towards safety in ABQ.
[…] we gained the political will to launch ACS because of the movement for racial justice that surged following the murder of George Floyd.
—Mayor Tim Keller
Working on this caliber of a project to support communicative efforts and resources for the city and community checks off those boxes of “meaningful work” and the type of work I love to be a part of. And to be a part of a project that focuses their work to decriminalize symptoms of behavioral health issues, poverty, and addiction is work that in itself comes with some weight in how that’s built and how that’s communicated. Working with a powerhouse like Mariela, and the strategic work with Leslie and her team creates a synergy that I am thankful to be a part of.
Emily Howard, Founder, Cheetah Strategy
Emily and I met through collaboration on a project and later reconnected to support her own launch of the business, Cheetah Strategy. Emily radiates confidence, energy, enthusiasm, and grace that through what I can tell, empowers her own clientele to reach their goals. I’m inspired anytime to connect with women who are launching into their own power, in-house or independently, and I find Emily inspiring in many ways that are recharging and re-energizing as a business owner, creative strategist, and woman in business.
Gabriella Marks, Gabriella Marks Photography
We met as leaders in our communities; my role was leading the AIGA New Mexico Chapter, and Gabriella’s role was the same for ASMP New Mexico. We came together to collaborate on an event to support student professional development for design and photography in 2014, and the rest is history. Throughout the years, Gabriella and I have not only supported each other with business leads and opportunities, but we have also developed an amazing friendship that I am incredibly grateful for. Gabriella serves on the national board for ASMP, along with running a successful photography business with photos circulating in local (Santa Fe) and national publications. And for the photo-enthusiast in myself, I am always inspired by her work.
Amy Miller, AMM Consulting
Amy and I have been working together for a few years, collaborating and leaning into work around environmental public health, climate change, education, and advocacy work serving various organizations. Amy has been an amazing partner in various projects on the roster, and in working with her, she impresses me with her commitment to the community, showing up to those legislative sessions each year, and being an effective and powerful consultant in her work with her clients and quite often for me.
Terrelene Massey, E.D. of Southwest Women’s Law Center
All around hoorah and fight for women’s rights, the Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) provides opportunities and education for girls and women to access their full potential, economically and personally. I’ve had the privilege to work with Terrelene and the team at SWLC on various design and communications efforts. Between getting bills passed in legislative sessions and features in articles on critical topics, Terrelene proves to be a force for protecting girls and women in New Mexico, be it health and safety, reproductive rights, addressing income inequalities, and workplace rights—not many injustices go unfought with this group. Not only do I admire the work and leadership that Terrelene brings to the table for women, but she also has a great team doing a lot of heavy lifting for the women of New Mexico.
While this date, the 8th of March, is International Women’s Day, the month of March is Women’s History Month. I want to invite you to support a cause towards Women’s Equality. If you are interested in donating to a cause, please consider these organizations:
Southwest Women’s Law Center fights for the rights and benefits, along with legal advisory and advocacy that our constituents deserve and are owed. Thank you for your continued support!
Ukraine is heavy on my mind, and surely on yours. Many organizations are coming together to support and the folks at International Women’s Day have done the work to put together a great stack of organizations you can donate towards.
In the tune of International Women’s Day, I’d like to share the theme for 2022
#BreakTheBias
Imagine a gender-equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women’s equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.
