Even in crisis, people create beauty

We've seen it everywhere

These aren’t charity projects.

They’re stories of resistance through beauty.
Stories of identity, healing, and home—led by the people who live there.

Refugees aren’t waiting for permission to live with dignity.
They’re already building it—room by room, wall by wall.

Now, they need people who believe in what they’re doing.

This is where you come in

You know the power when people have passion and a purpose.

And you want to help—in a way that feels human, hopeful, and real.

You’re not alone.
We felt that too.

That’s why we created a different kind of response.

At Home Ground Lab, we don't wait for broken systems to fix themselves.

We join the people who are already building something better.

Say yes to:

✔️Dignity

✔️ Creativity

✔️ Hope

When you give, you say

Say yes to a new story of home

Donate now to make beauty part of how we rebuild home.

Additional Information

What this campaign is for

We are raising money for 10 projects led by refugees and their neighbors. Each project will make shelters and camps more beautiful and welcoming. This could mean painting murals, planting gardens, or fixing up gathering spaces. Your gift also helps us share these stories with the world so others see that beauty is possible, even in crisis.

Who we are

Home Ground Lab is a research and storytelling initiative is affiliated with Clark University’s Integration and Belonging Hub. We were co-founded by Stephanie Acker, MPA, and Devora Neumark, PhD, to show that beauty in the built environment is not a luxury—it’s infrastructure.

How it works

First, people notice the beauty already around them.
Next, they dream together about what more could be done.
With small grants, training, and coaching from us, they build their own projects.
We then measure and share the results so others can see the change.

Funding and transparency

We are fiscally sponsored by Friendly Law, a registered 501(c)3. This means every donation is tax-deductible in the United States, and all funds are professionally tracked and reviewed.

Donations go through a site called Givebutter. At checkout, you’ll see two boxes:

One to cover the credit card fee (optional).
One to “tip” the Givebutter platform. This is optional, however the box is turned on by default. If you don’t want to tip, you can set it to $0.

All projects and expenditures are tracked through our fiscal sponsor and undergo annual review.

Campaign goals

First milestone: $50,000 by October 31, 2025
Year one goal: $150,000 to launch 10 community projects and support the team coordinating this movement
Stretch goal: $200,000 to expand the impact beyond the first year

Why it matters

When people transform shelters into places of color, culture, and care, everything shifts.

Stress goes down. Healing begins.
Trust grows and communities reconnect.
And most importantly—there’s proof that beauty belongs in humanitarian response, paving the way for policy change.

Your gift doesn’t just support a project. It says to refugee communities everywhere: your creativity matters, your dignity matters, and we’re with you.

Photo Sourcing

The images and stories shared in this campaign were collected through direct collaboration with displaced communities. We’ve conducted dozens of interviews and consultations, following a strengths-based methodology. Attribution is listed on photos.

Beauty helps people survive with dignity.

By Home Ground Lab

Beauty helps people survive with dignity.

Help refugee communities transform crisis into color, culture, and healing.