Stella & Dot Break the Cycle By Creating Space to Learn at a Bronx Elementary School

HGTV’s Design Star winner, Danielle Colding, reorganized books in the reading room while Broadway’s “Bring It On: The Musical” stars Adrienne Warren and Taylor Louderman painted colorful murals inspired by nature at PS 16 Wakefield elementary school in the South Bronx. These women were some of the special volunteers who helped the Stella & Dot Executive Team and Stylists make over PS 16 with buildOn on Veteran’s Day.

The Stella & Dot Foundation is breaking the cycle by making a commitment to education.

The foundation identified at the overcrowded elementary school: there wasn’t a welcoming space for students to learn, thrive and succeed. So, a service project to create a reading room was organized with the top ten Stella & Dot Stylists (trained independent consultants). The group was passionate about the project because it complements the foundation’s mission to create positive change in women’s lives through education and economic empowerment.

buildOn students designed empowering and motivational murals to grace the walls of PS 16’s auditorium and cafeteria, and outdoor benches were constructed to add seating to the school’s playground. Among the participants were Stella & Dot’s CEO and Founder, Jessica Herrin, buildOn’s Founder and CEO Jim Ziolkowski and COO Marc Friedman, and PS 16 Principal Yvonne Williams.

You too can make a commitment to education by breaking the cycle of poverty, literacy and low expectations with buildOn. Make a pledge and make a difference through our Breaking the Cycle campaign, which is empowering people young and old to change their communities locally and globally.