2:Cubes—The Faces of Grief by Stella F.
Stella F.'s senior project embarked on a profound exploration of grief and healing following her father's battle with ALS, aiming to create a supportive platform for others facing similar struggles, encapsulated in the expansion of her website 2cubes.org and the creation of a clothing line. The website serves as a multifaceted platform encompassing personal stories, interviews, educational resources on ALS, and avenues for fundraising and awareness. She stated, "This project was extremely vulnerable, and I sort of tried to make something positive or something sort of hard that happened to me."
Among the website's features are Stella's poignant personal stories, which she supplemented with poetry and prose. Stella also conducted interviews with individuals who shared their experiences of grief and healing, providing visitors with adiverse perspectives and advice. The educational component of the website sheds light on ALS, offering insights into the disease and its impact on individuals and families. Stella emphasized her collaboration with Project ALS, showcasing a donation page dedicated to funding scientific research aimed at finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for ALS.
At the heart of Stella's project lies her logo—a symbolic representation of her father and his love for orchids intertwined with her personal journey of healing. She explained, "I knew that I wanted the orchid to be a really key factor of my website." Stella detailed the meticulous process of designing the logo, infusing it with personal significance and meaning. Moreover, Stella translated her logo onto clothing, leveraging the platform Bonfire to offer a range of merchandise. The clothing line not only spreads awareness about ALS but also generates funds to support ongoing research initiatives.
Stella has raised $1,500 for ALS research thus far, and despite the challenges she encountered—both emotional and technical—Stella has remained steadfast in her commitment to fostering a supportive community for individuals navigating grief. Stella articulated her desire to transform her project into a nonprofit organization, extending its reach and impact, and underscored the enduring influence of her father on her resilience and creativity.