Every once in a while a great project comes along, something into which I can sink my creative teeth and accomplish something really good at the same time.
Such was the project for LACASA unveiled last night at a gala event that opened up the shelter to the public for just the second time in 10 years. The intense, six-month project saw LACASA get a new logo, a new website, a new outdoor sign, a new mission statement and legal name change. Essentially, a new organization was born.
This has been an amazing year for LACASA. The nonprofit, known for serving and sheltering victims of abuse, absorbed the Family Resource Center, which was known mostly for working to strengthen families. Overlaps in areas of specialty between the two groups made the fit quite natural.
It also created the need for updated materials and tools to help accomplish its new identity and mission.
What was once the Livingston Area Council Against Spousal Abuse is now, simply, LACASA, which embraces its expanded array of services and mission.
It was wonderful working with artist Sally Strand, a Michigan native who designed an amazing logo that embodies a sense of hope and optimism.
Don’t think a new logo was necessary?
Here is LACASA’s first logo:
Below is the second logo, created for LACASA’s capital campaign:
And here is the new logo:
The second I saw the new logo, I fell in love with its sense of movement and it’s optimistic soul. Everyone reads something different into it when they see it. I like best what my fellow LACASA board member Judy Herzog said when she first saw it: “Angels.”
Indeed.
I am so proud of the new LACASA website. I worked closely on it with the amazingly talented Robin O’Grady, LACASA’s communications director. Robin provided the architecture and content, and I developed and built the site, which is full of anything and everything anyone would ever want to know about the organization and the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and strengthening families.
It took a lot of work on the part of the Brand Identity Committee, which included Sandie Cortez of First Impression Print and Marketing, Ron Daly of Ron Daly Designs, and Jon King of WHMI 93.5. I think we all heaved a huge sigh of relief last night as all the pieces of the project fell into place.
And board members Judy Herzog, Danielle Maj, Ron Daly, Judi Scranton, Peggi Mintz, and LACASA’s Julie Smith and other staffers, worked hard to put together a wonderful party to thank LACASA’s sponsors and supporters and unveil the new brand initiative. It was a lovely event.
The new website is about 90 percent done. We’ve got some tweaks to make, but it’s ready for action.
Take a peek at the new site and let me know what you think
