REALTOR® Spotlight: Designing Custom Spaces for Grieving Children

Losing a loved one is never easy to understand or accept, and for children it can be nearly impossible. Michaela Gordon, @properties, lost her mother at a young age, changing the course of her life forever. Her own experiences grieving led her to understand the special care and attention children need to cope with and understand difficult circumstances. Gordon combined her background in architecture and real estate with her passion for helping children deal with loss to found the non-profit, the From Now On Project. FNOP works closely with children who have lost loved ones in their immediate family and create their ideal environment for grieving. “As adults, we can make the conscious decision to take a step back or participate in things that give us mental space in difficult times,” Gordon said. “But children often can’t articulate what they need to grieve or don’t have access to necessary spaces to do so.” By getting to know the children, the From Now On Project team learns what brings them a sense of calm, like a water feature or a space all to themselves, and work tirelessly to bring their ideal spaces to life. The project connects with local hospitals and organizations, like Lurie Children’s Hospital and local YMCA’s, to find families in need. One of FNOP’s first projects was a young girl who lost her brother, who left a star with his name on it in the castle at Disney World through the Make a Wish Foundation. The young girl took comfort in stars, so FNOP created a space for her with her own unique stars, to remind her of her brother and encourage her to find her own healing ground to move forward. “My healing comes from helping these children through a process I also had to go through,” Gordon said. Having to learn how to live in a new reality, she often had to look at things with the perspective of: “from now on.” This idea sparked the organization’s name and brings a positive outlook to the phrase. FNOP runs smoothly thanks to amazing volunteers, teamwork and creativity; their team of designers and creatives work tirelessly to create these spaces for children. Gordon says having a team in place who is just as passionate about the outcome as she is helps her move forward, even when it is difficult. FNOP receives support from donors and fundraising events, and hopes to see even more involvement from the REALTOR® community in the coming year. One of the easiest and most personal ways to get involved is by purchasing a gift off of the project registry. Similar to an event registry, items needed for the project are listed on the website and can be purchased for the spaces. New items are added with each new project. FNOP also hosts build-out days to piece together project elements and create the final space for the child. Currently, the team is working with a family with three children and is constructing a large-scale outdoor project to adhere to each child’s needs. Dealing with loss is never an easy process, and creating safe spaces for children to do so is just a small gesture that could impact the course of a child’s life. To learn more about the From Now On Project and how you can get involved, visit www.FromNowOnProject.org.