Piece by Piece: Year in Review 2024 Part Two
As we continue our Year in Review, we celebrate the growth of Piece by Piece’s social enterprise, impactful collaborations, and the amazing support of our team and funders. From creating income opportunities and new partnerships to achieving milestones powered by creativity and community, this year showcased the transformative power of working together.
Our Social Enterprise: Art That Transforms
The Social enterprise is the heart of Piece by Piece. It fuels creativity, increases self-worth, and changes lives. Collectively the participants earned over $150,000 in wages this year ensuring they had the financial resources to thrive.
Large-Scale Murals
Our large mosaics beautify communities while empowering artists. In 2024 the Piece by Piece participants created two breathtaking large scale mosaics.
- Heart Sculpture in Paramount: A collaborative 5 foot tall and 4 foot wide 3D mosaic created by 17 Piece by Piece artists and 17 community members with 99 flowers symbolizes unity and teamwork.
- Mural at My Angel Apartments: This LA Family housing building is now home to a serene 11 foot by 10 foot mosaic mural now welcomes veterans and individuals transitioning out of homelessness, reflecting hope and renewal.
Commissions and Awards
With over 500 commissions and awards crafted this year, we increased sales by 18%, creating economic opportunities for our artists.
Online Store & Pop-ups Success
Our online store sold over 700 pieces, marking an 80% increase in sales. Items created on consignment allowed artists to earn 70% of the sale price, while community-made pieces are an opportunity for artists to earn wages. Piece by Piece participated in 22 pop-up events this year, more than any previous year.
Collaboration with Made by DWC
MADE by DWC and Piece by Piece, are two remarkable Los Angeles-based social enterprises championing change and fostering empowerment for individuals that have experienced homelessness and economic hardship. For the second year in a row, Piece by Piece collaborated with Made by DWC/ Downtown Women's Center to create beautiful candles and soap dishes to accompany their soaps.
Gift Guides: This year Piece by Piece was honored to be included in Holiday Gift Guides from REDF, LA2050, Morgan Stanley, and Ridwell, furthering our reach and impact.
Beyond the Studio: Expanding Horizons
We took steps to broaden perspectives and deepen connections:
Craft Contemporary Museum Field Trip: Participants explored exhibits like Power in Every Thread and Art Iran: Falling into Language, learning about recycled materials, cultural narratives, and innovative artistic techniques.
Boomtown Brewery: Over the past year, Boomtown has graciously hosted multiple events, providing not only a vibrant venue for gatherings but also a dynamic space to display some of the stunning mosaics created by our artists. Their partnership has offered a unique opportunity to connect with the broader community, showcasing the talent and creativity of Piece by Piece participants in a lively and welcoming environment.
Collaborations: At the REDF Community Retreat and team building workshops with the United Way, Connections for Children, Biet T'shuvah, The City of Paramount, and Pressman Academy. Piece by Piece participants and instructors facilitated team-building and personal growth while creating stunning mosaics reflecting resilience and community.
Outreach Events: Piece by Piece attended 15 outreach events this year to connect with new participants, share our mission and bring arts wellness to all of Los Angeles.
Building Capacity for the Future
We are proud of all that Piece by Piece has accomplished this past year and throughout the past eighteen years., We are committed to looking forward, focused on the future, and taking action to provide the highest quality programs possible for the Piece by Piece participants. To achieve our goals of excellence there are new capacity building efforts to share with you.
AmeriCorps VISTA Members
This year Piece by Piece received a capacity building grant from AmeriCorps. As a result our three new Americorps VISTA members focused on:
- Marketing to expand outreach.
- Volunteer Coordination to strengthen engagement.
- Outreach to bring art and healing to more individuals.
Studio Relocation
After losing our lease, we’ve embraced the challenge of moving to a new studio. While the transition has been complex, it represents growth and new opportunities. We are thrilled to be able to stay in South LA, a place many of our participants call home.
Sustainability Efforts
By diverting over half a ton of materials from landfills, we’ve demonstrated that beauty can emerge from what is discarded. We’ve also prioritized recycling packaging and reusing materials for online sales, furthering our commitment to sustainability.
Volunteers
This year Piece by PIece hosted multiple volunteer events harnessing the power of volunteerism. Materials were sorted, projects completed and assistance was provided in the classroom and social enterprise. We are grateful for the volunteers who fuel our mission.
Grateful to Our Team and Funders
None of this would happen without the incredible team of staff and instructors at Piece by Piece. Their kindness, compassion and commitment are the heart of Piece by Piece. We are incredibly grateful to Dawn, Maggie, Luz, Jadie, Victor, Andrea, Jose, Bea, Ellen, Wendy, Betty, and contractors Mercedes, Zanna and Rachel and office volunteer Ally. We also would like to recognize our board of directors who have navigated the organization with grace and innovation. Thank you to Sophie, Alan, Wendy, Derek, Michelle, David A, David F., Brian, Alex, Eric, Jamie, Virginia, Donna, Lee, Quentin, Ethan, and Mindy.
Piece by Piece's achievements are made possible through the generous support of individual donors, private foundations, and government grants. This year, we were honored to be among 61 social enterprises statewide to receive CA RISE funding, a program that provides grant capital and technical assistance to bolster employment-focused social enterprises in California.
Continued backing from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the LA County Organizational Grants Program, and AmeriCorps sustains our vital community work. Recent grants from NBC Universal Discover A Star Foundation, The Joseph Drown Foundation, The Perenchio Foundation, the Flagstar Foundation, the California Community Foundation and more have been instrumental in our success. This collaborative effort with our supporters and partners, enables Piece by Piece to make a meaningful impact in the community.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Story
At Piece by Piece, every mosaic tells a story of resilience and hope. As Senior Instructor Dawn Mendelson shared, “Seeing beauty in broken and discarded materials is meaningful in several ways. It’s sustainable. It sparks creativity. And, it tells a story.”
With your support, we continue to build brighter futures for artists like Hugo and Kim. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Visit piecebypiece.org to learn more or support our mission. Together, we are creating a brighter future—one mosaic at a time.
