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As we all struggle to find ways to support the movement against racial injustice, some Miami makers are turning their hobbies into tangible efforts and compelling others to do the same.
Proving that activism can take on many forms, Taylor Cavazos and Fernanda Paguaga are both full-time publicists who are using their side hustles to raise money and awareness for Black Lives Matter and the organizations supporting them.
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Cavazos—an accomplished artist who’s exhibited her colorful, Mexican-American–inspired paintings across Miami—is now she’s giving it away to folks who donate to the ACLU and NAACP. For every $50 donation, she’ll send you one of her adorable magnets, and for every $100, she’ll ship you a 5”x7” or 6”x8” acrylic on canvas. All you have to do is DM her on Instagram with proof of donation.
“I tend to use painting as an outlet to deal with stress and with the current times, I can’t stop painting! So I figured I should use my passions to encourage others to donate,” says Cavazos. In less than 24 hours, she’s already raised $450 and has no plans to stop. “I’m going to donate as well and will keep this up as long as people are interested.”
Paguaga, who happens to be Cavazos’s colleague at Kivvit, is doing something similar with her baking business, @perksofbeingafern. The home baker is churning out free chocolate babkas for every person who donates at least $20 to Campaign Zero, a national organization urging mayors to make policy changes that temper police violence.
Everyone who DMs her a timestamped receipt can pick up a loaf on Saturday, June 6. “Taylor inspired me when she started her initiative, offering free art in exchange for donations. I want to encourage everyone to think about other ways to contribute,” says Paguaga, adding that each of us has the potential to do more. “We all have a special skill—use it!”
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Looking to add a little greenery to your space? Local plant purveyor Folia Miami will give you a mini tulip pot (plant not included) to get you going when you donate to the NAACP or the ACLU. Inspired by Cavazos and Paguaga, Folio is asking for proof of a minimum of $20 donation.
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Launched by four advertising professionals in the wake of last weekend’s protests, apparel company Trigger Change is making T-shirts emblazoned with stories of the victims of racial injustice. The project aims to peacefully support the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and keep the stories of those who have died from acts of systemic racism alive. Each one is hand-printed on overstock tees and sent directly to folks who donate at least $15 to the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a nonprofit providing legal representation to people who have been wrongly convicted. Send your payment via Trigger Change’s donate button on Instagram and they’ll follow up with a DM requesting your T-shirt size and shipping address. It’s as simple as that.
Are you offering freebies in exchange for donations or do you know someone who is? Email us at hello@timeout.com and let us know!
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