re:Active and Dwell magazine

*

Dwell magazine did a short article on re:Active

The world of design has experienced a watershed of change in recent years, transcending its former role as refuge for cultish hipsters and uptight academics in favor of a more meaningful and democratic movement. Creativity is being recognized as a powerful tool for change, and quite possibly the answer to important social issues such as third-world poverty and inner-city violence.

Exhibitions at national museums exploring the phenomenon have received more than their fair share of the spotlight. Much has been made about logos created by notable names and forthcoming manifestos predicting eminent progress. But grassroots organizations already tapping the vast potential of the creative mind haven’t garnered much attention. Michael Etter, who is the director of an organization doing just that, had the revelation back in 2003.

reActive is Etter’s non-profit opus, an organization dedicated to harnessing the energy, ennui, and inspiration of disadvantaged youth in the gritty Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Kids have the opportunity to get their work published in the program’s magazine, and in the process are given an outlet for the troubles that often characterize their coming-of-age experience. 

Since being launched in 2004 with friend Kristin Mehus-Roe, reActive has released magazines showcasing the impressive writing, illustration, and photography of its contributors. The talent, like the subject matter, is quite real. Not coincidentally, so is the change.

*