DesignlabGive

DesignlabGive (DLG) began its journey in 2017 with a transformative workshop in Cartagena, Colombia, where we taught design skills to pregnant teens and single mothers at The JuanFe Foundation. From the outset, we saw firsthand how these skills could empower women to change the trajectory of their lives. It was never just about teaching; it was about creating a supportive, inclusive space where women could express themselves, dream big, and turn their ideas into reality. This experience inspired us to expand our mission back home in Miami, leading to collaborations with organizations like Lotus House and Breakthrough Miami-Miami Country Day. With the dedication of our volunteers and donors, we have been able to pursue our mission with unwavering commitment.

DLG was co-founded by Angie Cohen, owner of DesignlabMiami, a creative studio in North Miami, and Paula Villamizar, a former Designlab student. Their shared belief in the power of skills-based empowerment for women facing financial barriers became the foundation for DLG's work. When the pandemic hit, DLG adapted quickly. Though our highly anticipated workshop in Kenya was canceled, we pivoted to virtual classes, offering sessions on Zoom twice a week at 5 AM Miami time. As our community grew, we expanded to include women from Uganda, which sparked the idea of creating a virtual platform for online courses—allowing us to reach even more women, regardless of location.

These free online classes, available on our website (www.designlabgive.org), have become a vital extension of our workshops, ensuring continuous learning long after our in-person sessions conclude. By providing access to high-quality, on-demand courses, we enable women to continue their education at their own pace, empowering them to enhance their skills and create new opportunities. This online platform has allowed us to expand our reach and support our beneficiaries in a way that goes beyond any single event.

To ensure our impact is lasting, we continually seek funding to enhance our programs and expand our curriculum, including integrating sustainability. For instance, we teach women how to make reusable feminine pads from gently used t-shirts, experimenting with eco-friendly materials like biodegradable gelatin to replace plastic. We teach textile dye with local food products such as avocado and beets. We also have an exciting program that teaches how to make new textiles from left over fabric. 

In 2023, we collaborated with CARE Elementary in Wynwood, Miami, where we introduced 4th graders to the world of sewing by guiding them in creating their own bags—a hands-on experience that sparked their creativity and enthusiasm.

DLG’s impact has also extended beyond the U.S. In the spring and summer of 2023, we partnered with QRT in Greece, an organization that supports refugee women from the Middle East. We organized two missions in Thessaloniki, bringing along teen volunteers from DesignlabMiami as instructors. These missions not only supported the women we taught but also provided our volunteers with an opportunity to connect and share their knowledge in meaningful ways.

June 2023 was particularly special as we worked with communities in Uganda and Kenya, continuing our global reach. Since our founding in 2017, DLG has partnered with 15 organizations across 7 countries on 4 continents. We are proud to have inspired creativity, taught sustainable fashion, and used recycled materials in our courses to promote environmental consciousness. By incorporating reuse into everything we do, we are working toward more sustainable, positive solutions for our planet.At the core of DLG is our network of passionate volunteers, whose commitment makes everything we do possible. They are supported by a community of generous donors whose financial contributions allow us to keep evolving and expanding our programs. As we look ahead, we are excited about the future of DLG—continuing to empower women and girls around the world, fostering creativity, self-reliance, and a sustainable future for all.

4o mini