In 2002, Lissa purchased and rehabbed an abandoned building, 540 Delaware Avenue in Albany, to create a home for her expanding business, The Chocolate Gecko, as well as two other women-owned businesses. While the actual transformation of the building was completed in 3 months, the project was a year in the making that required securing funding from a variety of sources and approvals from the neighborhood and City of Albany. Dozens of volunteers, neighbors and community advocates participated in the rehab. The renovation of this neighborhood anchor underscores the importance of having a shared vision that everyone can work toward.
In 2016, Lissa organized a large-scale public art project that engaged every public school within the Albany City School district as well as the Superintendent’s Arts Advisory Committee, the Albany Police Department, LOWES, several nonprofit organizations, more than 10 foundations, and more than 3,000 children. The project resulted in a beautiful mosaic mural, “Urban Resilience” and a renovated community green space, Sheridan Hollow Commons. This project began with a pilot project, making tiles with a summer youth program that was managed by the Albany City School District and the Albany Boys and Girls Club. At the end of the summer, the pilot grew and developed into a region-wide project with engagement from all sectors.
What can we help you transform?