Rochester Pollinators
In 2019, I co-founded a city-wide initiative focused on increasing native plantings across both private and public land. As a committee member, I led the design of our branding, merchandise, educational materials, website, and public outreach programs.
Our efforts raised thousands of dollars, established several community gardens, restored a 13-acre park into native prairie, and gave away hundreds of native plants to local residents. The city ultimately planted native species along Main Street and installed educational signage on the importance of local biodiversity.
We used the Monarch Butterfly as a key part of our branding—partly due to pushback from city council members who opposed promoting bees in public spaces. Despite this, our efforts successfully supported pollinators of all kinds and inspired multiple landowners to restore their property into certified native habitats.
This experience reinforced what I already believe: the power of strong visuals—through intentional design, storytelling, and branding—can make or break a community project. Investing in design is not just aesthetic; it’s strategic, and it can turn passive support into active involvement.
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The monarch was chosen to be the poster child of the initiative.
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I designed a printed brochure complete with garden plans, signage for the local park, a library display, a mural, and so much more.
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Fundraising was the core of the group. I designed shirts, stickers, pins, posters, tote bags, and seed packets to help raise money for the cause.
