On November 11, 2004—my birthday—I officially launched Space of Mind with a dream, a $500 check from my Grandma, and a whole lot of determination. What began as a mission to help adults declutter their lives quickly evolved. Space of Mind grew into a haven for CEOs seeking balance, families learning to share space, and ultimately, a movement to reduce the stress surrounding school and learning.

Through every transformation, one constant remained: CREATIVITY.

In the busy-ness of life, my clients had become disorganized and disoriented, and in many cases, disconnected – from self, family and community, but also from learning and evolving. As we reordered and released permission in the spaces we worked in, we found solutions for the distractions. They weren’t maybe what Martha Stewart may have envisioned because nothing is REALLY “perfectly perfect,” but solutions appeared when we made space for a new perspective.

This is where creativity is born. In that new perspective on something familiar.

We are all innately creative, but somewhere along the way, we lose touch with that natural spark. As we conform to others’ expectations, our ability to suspend disbelief and embrace imagination fades into the background. At Space of Mind, we’ve always believed that creativity is the key to solving life’s challenges.

That belief inspired the birth of the Community Classroom Project in 2017. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit grew out of the mission and team behind Space of Mind to make learning—and life—less stressful through creativity. Community Classroom Project transforms passions into purpose through innovative, lifelong learning programs for children, adults, families, and communities, including workforce training, workshops, classes, advocacy and community events,

Sharing a vibrant campus in downtown Delray Beach, Space of Mind and the Community Classroom Project work hand-in-hand to make learning fun, effective, and meaningful.

Our flagship initiative, Community Classroom Kitchen, is already making waves! Coming soon: SOMe Tunes, a student-run record label, and The PERC, a café for parents and educators. Each of these programs nurtures the next generation of creative, capable leaders ready to shape tomorrow’s workforce. Read down for a preview of this year’s Impact Report. It’s all starting to happen!

This year could be the year that it ALL happens, though.

It’s the 20th year of Space of Mind – a HUGE milestone for any business, but in this time, we have graduated over 100 seniors who have earned over $5 million in college merit scholarship, written our own curriculum methodology and are launching an initiative to license it for other microschools and homeschoolers. We have changed countless families’ trajectories through our coaching and education programs. It’s been the honor and privilege of a lifetime, and to celebrate, we’re kicking off our ‘Giving Season’ with a $20 for 20 Years campaign.

And to secure the next 20 years and beyond, we have an even bolder ask: Will you help us to buy our campus buildings? Launching this kind of Capital Campaign is a big deal, and we have big plans for our future in the heart of downtown Delray Beach. I’d really love to talk to you about them!

Join us this Giving Season as we continue to unlock the power of creativity and reimagine what’s possible. Together, we’re making learning—and life—better for everyone.

Thank you for sharing in the creative process,

Ali Kaufman, Founder & CEO Space of Mind & Community Classroom Project