groundwork
Good morning everyone,
This week has been tough. With the Ceremony over the emptiness of the week takes over the insanity of the two weeks of relentless days balancing grief, organisation, decisions, jobs etc.. and it's a big void.
The reason I pushed so hard in those two weeks prior to get this campaign up, and momentum moving on The Forge Institute was in part to make sure community action occured while the grief was still present for those who won't sit with it as long as others, but more importantly was so that *I* had accountability to myself and to Ivy in the time after, that I knew the weeks would fall off, and I needed a sense of purpose.
That's been harder than I anticipated, but I am thankful for what I have had to work on, even if it's just an hour in the day.
This week The Forge Institute will hold its first round table meeting - which my intention is to hold open discussion around what/how/where the Forge needs to be, how it can succeed, and what first steps are needed. We have artists, teachers, counselors and physiologists, students and youth, and other prominent people in NGO/Grants and administration taking part so that we can best cover this from all angles.
The seed funding has already started coming in which is currently being used to refine the business plan as well as plan for additional networking and promotion. I am also producing some enamel pins which will be for sale with profits further going into the seed fund.
Yesterday my beloved z6 camera, which I had gifted to Ivy when she started at the RIA, was won at auction by one of her peers, which felt so right. This sale too will go into the seed fund.
My biggest challenge now will be capturing and maintaining attention as the world moves on (albeit at different rates). Anyone able to continue to share the campaign, it is greatly appreciated. Anyone who specifically is keen to promote awareness, assist with lead generation, grants, funding opportunities etc would be welcomed to reach out too.
Thank you for your support - I promise I will be making it count as best I can x
Brent
