OUR CALL FOR SUPPORT
Hi, I’m Starri Hedges, the Director of Gaia Democratic School. I’m reaching out to you with a heartfelt request to support Gaia during a huge chapter of growth. After 13+ years as renters, Gaia is moving forward with the purchase of our very own building. We need your support to make this vision a reality!
TIMELINE + FUNDING GOAL
Since our current lease is over in June of 2026, we have a tight timeline to meet our goal!
We are thrilled to share that we’ve received a pledge of 275k from a generous donor, and our remaining fundraising goal is 200k.
The buildings that meet our requirements are in the 600k-700k range, and that’s on the low end! With possible construction and updates, we’re looking at a big investment. It’s vital that we can raise the funds to take this evolutionary step without hindering our daily operations.
It’s also hugely important that this move does not interfere with our ability to remain accessible to ALL students. We’ve always offered needs-based tuition and scholarship opportunities. It’s critical that we can make this move in an economically secure fashion, so that we can continue to offer this support to families in need of greater financial flexibility. We do not turn people away over their ability to pay tuition, a very important policy for us to maintain.
We are asking our community to help us meet this goal so that we can seamlessly transition into a new school year without compromising the financial integrity and continued legacy of our school.
ABOUT GAIA DEMOCRATIC SCHOOL
Gaia is a K-12 independent school that transforms students' lives through fostering an environment where curiosity, community, and creativity thrive.
We have been in operation since 2013, but our history dates back to 1970, when Gaia’s predecessor, Second Foundation School, first opened its doors. We have a rich and important history of providing students with a space to be themselves and to learn in fun and freedom. It’s our mission to keep this legacy alive for generations to come.
With your help, we can ensure that every youth receives the enriching education and support they deserve - not only now, but well into the future!
WHERE WE ARE AND OUR VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE
As renters, we share a building with multiple other tenants and we’re constantly navigating the stipulations of other renters and our property owners/managers. This adds a number of variables that are out of our control and complicate our operations.
Though we have use of the space during the day, there are often other groups using it on the evenings and weekends. We frequently have to stow away Gaia furniture and materials, taking extra time for staff and obstructing our ability to fully settle into the space. While adaptability is one of Gaia’s strong suits, this has become a limitation that we’re ready to put behind us.
Importantly, we’ve also had a number of safety and cleanliness concerns in our current space. From water damage and maintenance issues to other renters coming and going, our current space is simply not as secure and up-to-date as we wish to provide for our students. While we do everything in our power to keep it a safe space, we know that in our own building we’ll be able to instate more sustainable security measures and take building maintenance into our own hands.
For those of you who are familiar with Gaia’s educational philosophy, you’ll know that we encourage students to experiment and to respond to their inspirations. If students want to make large scale art, get into building and construction projects, put on events, or grow food and plants, Gaia’s mission is to uplift their diverse ideas. Having our own building is an essential component to providing students with this safe space for freedom and exploration. It’s time for a serious upgrade that does justice to Gaia’s mission.
Moving forward with our own space will also enable us to establish more dedicated classrooms, such as:
A library
Computer lab
Science and chem lab
Art and music studios
Mindfulness spaces
movement / exercise areas
Event spaces
Other things dreamt up by our community!
Administrative spaces and storage areas
Whether you have been positively impacted by Gaia (or Second Foundation School!), please consider donating, sharing with community members, or philanthropists who have the means to donate to our important cause.
Gaia Gratitude! Stay tuned here for updates and more fun from our fabulous fundraising team.
