Through AIGA Colorado, I discovered Giving Voice, a transformative program that pairs professional graphic designers with young artists who have disabilities to create social justice posters. From 2022 to 2024, I had the privilege of mentoring at Access Gallery, working alongside talented young artists like Ben Morrow. Together, Ben and I designed a poster featuring Colorado's state flower, the columbine, to address the critical issue of gun violence in schools, a topic that resonated deeply with his personal experience.

The program challenges both mentor and mentee to dig deep, creating work that demands attention and gives voice to perspectives too often overlooked. Working with Giving Voice reinforced my belief that design is a powerful tool for amplification and change, where collaboration and patience can help young artists transform difficult subjects into compelling visual statements.

My involvement with this program represents the intersection of design excellence, social impact, and community building, values that remain central to Studio Uphoff's mission.