Nearly 5 years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. We all remember the devastating aftermath of the storm. Pictures poured in of leveled houses, flooded streets and people displaced. New Orleans took a front seat in the media due to the devastating loss of life in the city. In the aftermath, as the country questioned the response of the government, non for profits poured into the city in an effort to lend a hand.

Make It Right, an organization started by actor and architect enthusiast Brad Pitt, found its beginnings as a response to the displaced individuals in New Orleans. Their goal was to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward for the residents who once lived there and bring progress to the area.
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I know it’s taboo to talk about winter in the middle of a Chicago summer, but I am going to break my own rule and do it. Last year my husband and I bought a quaint 1920’s tutor style house in Elgin, an older suburb of Chicago. We were first time home buyers, which meant not only did we have a new mortgage to pay every month, but we also had to purchase some bigger ticket items to help maintain our small slice of Americana. We went ahead and got the lawnmower (great deal off Craigslist) and several other items, but we decided to hold out on the snow blower. Needless to say 3 shovels and seemingly 1,000 snow days later, we caved and got our little 5.5 horse power Honda.
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We use the word “community” a lot. Over the past 5 years the internet and social media have taken the definition of this word to whole new lengths. Where it used to be the only communities you were a part of were ones that were in close proximity to your home, now this is no longer the case. The amount of online communities you can be a part of is literally endless. From Facebook to SecondLife and any niche that you happen to fancy, there is an online community with which you can participate (or not), and at any level you like.

All of this connecting and interacting with people you would have otherwise never known has its benefits for sure. The sharing of information and experiences has made us the most informed generation yet. With all of this information at our finger tips we are able to react to people in need faster and more efficiently than ever before. When the earthquake in Haiti hit, people all over the world were able able to mobilize and start working to raise money in an effort to help those effected. The team at R29 even threw our hat into the ring and participated in The Haiti Poster Project, which was a strictly online effort, to do our part.

Like most things, though, there are negatives that accompany these positives. When everything is just a click away sometimes making connections in the community in which you actually live becomes difficult. While participation in online communities can be beneficial, often times there are people in the home next door that could genuinely use a helping hand. Read the rest of the entry >

We like Salvage One. Located on 1840 W. Hubbard Street in Chicago the multilevel building is decorated with quirky chandeliers, strange odds and ends and things that you would definitely find in an old, abandon building garage sale. It is awesome. The strange items intermingle with beautifully restored furniture and stained glass makes the space sort of enchanting and wonderful. This environment does not come to being on its own, but through the tireless efforts of those with a mission to make this world a better, more beautiful place; a mission that resonates close to our hearts. It’s evident that they communicate this through the excellence in their work.
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Today, we at Rule29 would like to encourage you to give the Earth a big high-5 or a word of appreciation or maybe even commit a random act of kindness toward the planet you inhabit. Why you ask? Because today is EARTH DAY! The Earth, being a very faithful planet, has once again successfully fulfilled its duties of traveling around the sun & deserves another day of our appreciation.

How can you show the Earth your appreciation?
Great question! The following are 5 ideas to help you do just that!
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