What’s Upstairs

The following is from an article in the Fall 2009 Issue of the Scoop,  a publication of Open Arms of Minnesota (www.openarmsmn.org).

A longtime friend of Open Arms, Jay Miller was kind when he delicately hinted that perhaps our look was a bit outdated. Given our exciting capital campaign, our expansion to serve more people, our programs in Africa and our bold future, Jay suggested that our existing identity fell short of expressing the real scope of our work. Lucky for us, Jay generously offered the services of his design firm, IMAGEHAUS (www.imagehaus.net), to create and help implement a new brand identity for Open Arms that we’re launching with this issue of Scoop.

Since 2000, the IMAGEHAUS Giving Program has donated more that $2 million in creative services to nonprofit organizations that help people in need. Open Arms is forever grateful to be the beneficiary of nearly $121,000 in services from this worthwhile community-service effort.

The IMAGEHAUS experts are known for taking the time to thoroughly understand an organization before beginning the design process. The results of their extensive analysis determined what they call our “Brand DNA.” Our DNA informs the fresh look and message that will help expand our reach and attract new supporters. Thank you to Jay Miller and his talented creative team.

Every day is a new chance to start dreaming again. The HAUS has already begun, and we’re inviting you to join us. It is about exercising your right to have ideas and experience emotions that will inspire you.

This call is not easily answered, and the challenges we will face in this mutiny on those who would suppress our ability to dream will be difficult. There will be naysayers, pessimists and road blocks as we give voice to our dreams. But that’s okay. Together we’ll prove them wrong.

Every single one of us has the ability to dream. We didn’t learn it. We didn’t acquire it. We just have it. So let’s start using it. Right now, today and tomorrow and every day after. Why not? What are we waiting for? Find something to remind you to dream a little every day – a note with dream written on it, a crystal in your pocket, a special pillowcase. Let this special something serve as your reminder to unleash your dreams and give them life.

Make a commitment to grant yourself permission to dream, and dream often. Because without dreams, we stand still. Without dreams, we are without success. Without dreams, we simply sleep.