Dear Friends ,

I don't normally speak up about things like this. But this is an important time in history.

The core values behind SOL HAUS DESIGN have always been rooted in social justice and equality. Housing plays an important role in this discussion, especially for Black Americans.

I want to say I'm sorry to the Black Community.

I'm sorry for not taking more responsibility in acknowledging my privilege and not doing more to stop systemic racism. I want to bridge the gap and do more.

This week has cracked me open. I can honestly say that I had no idea what it's like to be in your skin. To try and pretend that I understand your experience would just be a lie.

As a person of color myself as a Filipina, I know my experience with brown skin is not the same as a person with black skin. I don't have the horrific history that the Black community has experienced the past 400+ years in the US.

I grew up in the Philippines with dark brown skin. Dark skin was the sign of a laborer who worked out in the field. Light skin was a symbol of upper class. Dark skin a symbol of lower class. I learned this early growing up.

This attitude was ingrained in my psyche. I looked to White people as better than People of Color (POC), even in my own ethnicity. THIS is how deep the problem lies. The perception of white supremacy and its impact on others, is real.

This week has made me dig deeper into myself. I now understand more fully the pervasiveness of systemic racism, especially within myself.

So what can we do?

Let's commit to building an equitable, anti-racist world together.

With love and gratitude,

One of the most spectacular examples of tiny houses I have ever seen is one by Dominique Moody. Not only did she design and build it herself (with the help of others), she's also legally blind. Watch an interview with her HERE

I've spent some time with this extraordinary artist when she resided in Joshua Tree. As an artist-in-residence for the Harrison House, Dominique made an amazing contribution employing permaculture principles on the property, helping it thrive as an off-grid facility in the desert.

Today, Dominique continues to tell stories through assemblages as a Visual Storyteller. Both self-taught and formally educated, Dominique's early traditional portrait skills were honed while attending Pratt Institute. Later, at UC Berkeley, she reimagined her portraits as box sculptures.

Currently Dominique is based in Los Angeles creating new memories along her latest journey in the Nomad.

Due to racial tensions in LA, Dominique's house has been vandalized. Fortunately she has moved it to safety and made the needed repairs.

Dominique would greatly appreciate any donation for her art work to benefit the public, which she often gives for free. You can support her art HERE.

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