What were your design outcomes? What were your process outcomes?

I used the trauma-informed design process for all of the projects I worked on over my time at Everyone Village. I spent dedicated time reflecting, gathering feedback, and researching to improve my understanding and use of the trauma-informed design framework. As I learned more about how to apply this process, I adapted my approaches to various projects on-site. A large component of this design process was helping to foster a garden culture at Everyone Village. We met on a weekly basis as “Garden Club”. All residents were welcome to join and we collectively decided on the tasks and responsibilities for the week. Below are a few examples of the work that we created during our time the past year.

The “Everyone Village Works” Implementation Plan

Thanks to the support of our partnership with The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) in Santa Cruz, CA, we were inspired to create and implementation plan of a similar transitional employment program based around organic agriculture.

For the design of our transitional employment program, we took inspiration from the teachings and mentorship provided by our friends at the HGP. Following the knowledge share of HGP’s best practices, approaches, and resources, and our 3-day site visit to the HGP farm and facilities, we created an implementation plan to adapt the program to our unique site and circumstances to increase our capacity to help individuals move out of homelessness permanently.

This implementation plan was used to apply for funding through a private donor. The donor’s believed so much in our vision that they decided to fully fund a position to implement the program for the first year. $70,000 grant for the initial start year of the transitional employment program!

The Weekly Garden Club

As part of our weekly Garden Club, we organized, planned, and implemented a series of garden projects on-site. We developed a community garden space, village container planters, and personal garden spaces for the residents’ homes. In addition to hands-on tasks, we organized our work around collective decision-making, shared values, and community building. Everyone is part of the team!

We attribute the success of the garden club to the trauma-informed process. When the village first opened there was a garden club. However, conflicts around management and decision-making left the group divided. The garden spirit was there, but the supportive structure to bring people together in an intentional way was lacking. The site lead Plaedo and I revived garden club when we began learning from The Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, CAA. When I arrived and began co-facilitating, I brought the trauma-informed design process as a tool for collaboration. The result has meant that we share the planning and decision-making parts of the process. Given our shared value for community building, we also try to resolve conflicts as they arise and gather feedback often about the residents’ experience of the process.

Here are some of the benefits of this approach. The trauma-informed design process:

Empowers volunteers and residents to be designers + stewards

I’ve served as an assistant for two university courses at the village where students come in to help with real-world design interventions. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough emphasis put on the residents as designers so there was little participation from the residents in the building of the projects. The designs were conceived off-site by the students. And while it was a meaningful opportunity for students, I’ve found that residents also benefit when they are given the initiative and agency to participate in the designing of the projects. The projects are also better tailored to the site and residents’ needs when the villagers are an active part of the process. For example, the fire shed created by one of the students turned out to be too small and the shade structure was repurposed by staff in need of somewhere to construct cottages. All that said, it’s important for residents to be involved in all parts of the process. And if they’re not involved, it’s important to ask why.

Puts relationship building first.

In addition to skill building, the trauma-informed design process creates opportunities to create community. Both villagers, staff, and residents create stronger, more trusting connections when the focus of the work is good relations.

“I’ve actually developed more of a relationship with [one of the other residents]. Because when I first moved in, we had a little tiff. And we were able to, through Garden Club and her joining…I felt like it kind of brought us together. And because it relieves some of the tension there. I didn’t even notice it until after we built the [raised] beds, our conversation, the togetherness. And she might not feel that way, but it made me feel that way.”

— EV Garden Club Member

Allows for educational opportunities and mentorship

There is an incredible amount of skill-sharing in our process. We identify the strengths of our members and invite each other to share their expertise with those who are interested. Residents bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the design projects and served as major contributors in the design and construction of the raised planter beds.

The Result

Thanks to the trauma-informed process, we’ve been able to avoid conflict and/or resolve conflict in good faith. Our garden club has a core group of residents involved and it comes to grow each month, overall we’ve had almost half of the village residents participate at one time or another and we have about 20% participating most of the time.

This process has allowed is to keep things going in a more sustainable way, with villager participation and enthusiasm, and contribute to the culture of care on which the village is built.

*Note:* Our weekly garden club meeting was designed collectively to allow villagers to participate at a level that is valuable to them. The garden club board was the first iteration of a structure and shared community agreements to help facilitate supportive and productive connections.

*Note:* The word map after a focus group to understand what was motivating everyone to this work. Community, connection, and health were a common motivation shared by villagers in the group. We used this information to focus on projects that allowed for community building, supportive connections, and healthy practices and products like edible food raised beds and personal garden front yards.

Community Garden Projects

“I like the interaction that we have with the plants and just how they make you feel better when you’re with them. And, when you’re taking care of them, it’s being part of the Earth, which is really important. ”

— EV Garden Club Member

“I have learned so much, not only about the people that I’m living with, but I’m actually growing stuff. My mom, she actually said, “Oh, my goodness, your grandma is in heaven looking down on you so happy!” Because my grandma always had a green thumb. She had a rose garden. She loved to get out there and pull weeds. My mom has a lot of flowers too. And so I’ve always loved it. I just never knew how to make them thrive. [Now] look at my lemon balm!”

— EV Garden Club Member

Personal Garden Projects

“That’s what I’ve enjoyed about [garden club]. Giving me another talent of something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

— EV Garden Club Member

Conceptual Site Plan

The conceptual site plan was created based on feedback and input gathered from the staff and villagers through conversations and focus groups. While assisting with two UO courses and throughout my project, we also held a couple of co-design workshops to understand the needs and requirements of the residents. The design incorporates elements and spaces generated through this trauma-informed design process. The photos below document some of the engagement , conversations, and tours that helped to inform the work.