What makes Cowork Downtown The Conscious Cowork? Tune in to this episode with Dani Polidor to hear about her work in universal, inclusive design and how she is helping a community of Social Entrepreneurs "Franchise for Good" for more Inclusive Prosperity in ROC including: -The "Design for a Difference" movement that brings together socially conscious showrooms with interior designers to make over spaces at local charities -Larry Barnes moving company gets people off the street with a job, an apartment and a life through "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" -"Home Sweet Home" boutique providing home furnishings for people in need -Working with Homesteads for Hope to build inclusive communities that can be replicated around the world -How City Sense Roc and Empire Realty Group help to turn renters into homeowners Dani's advice for EVOLving as a Conscious Leader? "Start talking to your neighbor...spend more time on the front porch or in downtown Rochester and see what's going on...if you're actually there and standing side-by-side with people, you'll learn a lot from them." Dani is a multi-talented designer and licensed realtor, and is the foremost authority on universal design in Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes area. She presents seminars to contractors, builders, other designers and homeowners on how to design space so that it can be used by anyone, regardless of age, size or physical ability. She incorporates universal design principles in all her work and is an invaluable resource for those seeking information on how to adapt space to meet everyone's needs. Dani's work has been published internationally. She has 20 years of experience providing a full range of design services to dozens of clients. She's also a gifted interior consultant and problem solver who helps her clients save time, money and stress and provides them with resources they can't get elsewhere. Known as a natural collaborator, Dani is active in local community groups as well as Design For a Difference, an industry organization that renovates spaces at local charities.
[2:30] What is environmental design and how Dani's path led her there
[4:00] How Dani's parents were influenced by post-war Germany to "make the most out of limited resources," before immigrating to the US
[5:00] Dani's purpose as an environmental designer: "Every design should be an awesome design, a person-centered design and have a holistic approach of the health safety and welfare of the occupants, and also take into account the different uses that the building is going to have over it's lifetime."
[6:00] The "Design For A Difference" movement founded by Mark Burnett and supported locally by Peter Messner at Messner Carpet and Flooring
https://designforadifference.com/
"Coupling socially conscious showrooms together with interior designers and other businesses to makeover much needed spaces at local charities."
[9:00] Dani's passion for building inclusive spaces
[10:00] Creating Downtown Cowork as "The Conscious Cowork" https://coworkdowntown.org/
[12:00] Dani's experience in the Venture Jobs Foundation's Jobs Kitchen Accelerator http://www.venturejobs.org/
[14:30] Incubator services at Cowork Downtown including Melissa Davis at Values To Brand
[15:30] Larry Barnes Moving - getting people off the street with a job, an apartment and a life, plus his a "Neighbors helping neighbors" program
http://www.larrybarnesmoving.com/services.html
[19:15] How Dani measures success at Cowork Downtown
[20:45] "Franchise For Good" including "Home Sweet Home Boutique" with home furnishings for people in transition
[24:00] How businesses in Rochester can encourage more inclusive prosperity and breaking tradition to EVOLve toward Conscious Capitalism
[27:00] The EVOLution of Dani's "conscious" leadership
"Start talking to your neighbor...Spend more time on the front porch or spend more time in downtown Rochester and see what's going on...if you're actually there and standing side-by-side with people who have gotten the short end of the stick, you'll learn a lot from them."
[31:30] Dani's process as an environmental designer
[34:00] A project with Homesteads for Hope Community Farm to build inclusive communities that can be replicated all over the world
[37:30] How Dani is helping to turn renters into homeowners