The 2012 Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) class began their class project by reviewing a report written in 2011 by Ridge Schuyler and Meg Hannon entitled “The Orange Dot Project.” The report identified issues in low-income neighborhoods in Charlottesville. Maps in the report showed higher-income areas colored in green and lower-income areas colored in orange. Upon reviewing the report, the ELA class became energized about proposing potential solutions around a light-industry incubator in an orange area.
Six months later, the class made a presentation to the Charlottesville City Council with concrete recommendations for a “bold first step” to begin to address those issues. Along the way, the group became associated with “Green Dot Charlottesville,” a new for-profit startup that is interested in taking that first step by establishing a small business incubator for Charlottesville residents who are interested in starting their own catering businesses. The ELA students created graphic identity for the project and built a library of research to assist the community leaders and entrepreneurs working to develop business plans and strategies for Green Dot Charlottesville. Find out more at www.greendotcville.com.