As a mom and former preschool teacher I have always loved watching children create art using recycled or natural materials. After finding out that One World Project, founded by Joanne Derwin, hosts an annual event called the Not a Box Festival inspired by the book “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis (which is one of my toddlers favorites!) I wanted to interview Joanne and find out more about how the event came about and how One World Project was born.
By Christine Hernandez
Joanne Derwin and the Not A Box Festival
Me: Can you tell me a little more about the Not a Box Festival, where the idea for it came from and what families can expect if they attend?
Joanne: The Not a Box Festival is a celebration of the imagination and upcycling. The idea came from witnessing the magical moments of kids creating. And the amazement and awe that kids can create with anything. Really anything. When I found Not a Box by Antoinette Portis the book resonated with me in a profound way. I remembered searching for hours for what I thought would be the perfect gift for my kids to, in the end, have it pushed aside for a day playing with the box it came in. Not a Box made me realize that was a shared experience. Then when I saw the documentary about Caine’s Arcade I was simply blown away. That was the aha moment. We have so much to learn from kids. The mission of One World is to foster global awareness and environmental sustainability so the Not a Box Festival also makes a lot of sense for us. What can families expect? A welcoming event where kids of any age have the freedom to create, explore, discover and hopefully make some new friends. And possible get some new-for-them books or clothes from the Mercadillo of donated items.
What kinds of materials are provided for families to bring their creations to life?
Lots and lots of duct tape. And sharpies. There will be buttons, bottle caps, fabric, yarn, water bottles, wine corks, beads, pipe cleaners and feathers. Everything will be in bins so children can grab what they would like and find a spot to build.
How many years has the Not a Box Festival been running?
Since 2013
What is the most creative creation you have seen at this event?
It’s hard to pick just one. What’s extraordinary is when you ask the kids to explain what they build. Even the very little ones often have an elaborate narrative. It’s really quite beautiful.
Can you talk a little about the inspiration behind the One World Project?
How did it start?
OWP was born in 2012 with the aim of promoting cultural understanding and environmental sustainability through meaningful community programs, camps, after school, and early childhood education.
My experience as a mom was also formative to the creation of One World Project. I have two children and both of them love to create and build. I was volunteering in my son’s classroom one day when the children were making snowmen. My son used all sorts of shapes and colors to make his snowman and was so proud of his creation. The moment was crushed when the teacher quietly waved her finger and explained that a snowman is white, made of circles, and the biggest circle is at the bottom.
During this time, my son was also taking Saturday Spanish classes. Not long after the snowman incident, his Spanish teacher asked the children to gather around a massive piece of paper which they covered with strips of newspaper and painted yellow, orange, and red. The children were messy and immensely happy. They had worked together to make a gigantic sun. After their masterpiece dried, the teacher, with great care, cut it up and everyone got to bring a ray of sun home. It was a beautiful way for the children to work together and create something collectively. I was immediately struck by the difference in teaching styles.
Nico’s Spanish teacher was Mónica Paillet Zurdo. After class I asked Mónica to meet up for a coffee and we swapped stories, shared books, and hatched the plan to start One World Project. Together we committed to building a school dedicated to play with a creative and supportive environment, and a community center with a mission to promote cultural understanding and environmental sustainability.
When our search for space for One World was foiled my family decided to transform our living room into a classroom. In the past few years One World has grown exponentially (and to a beautiful new space) thanks to funding, grants, and our amazing community of learners.
The decision to offer Spanish immersion at One World was in part informed by my language learning experiences. I grew up taking weekly French classes for years and years only knowing a handful of words. In college I went to Spain with a study abroad program and lived with a remarkable family who patiently and lovingly taught me Spanish. I was fluent in 3 months. I moved back to Spain after graduation, eventually meeting my husband. When we had children, I wanted them to communicate with my husband’s family deeply and with ease. Developing a Spanish-immersion program infused with love was a key ingredient to achieving this goal for my own family.
What is your favorite thing about One World Project– what is the one thing about it that really lights you up?
Greeting people at the door and watching the true joy expressed in the faces of the kids going to school. Joy. What can beat that?
Your program is based in Brooklyn, do you also live in Brooklyn? If so, what is your favorite thing about raising children in Brooklyn?
Yes, I also live in Brooklyn. My favorite thing about raising children in Brooklyn is having endless opportunities to experience the world without having to leave the borough.
Thank you Joanne!
The Not a Box Festival is free. Get info and register here.
The One World Project is part of our sponsored Virtual Camp Expo.
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