DCI Cares 2025

One of DCI’s core values is “Champion Equity and Inclusion,” and we live that value not only through our work with communities around the world, but also through how we show up in our own. As place marketers, we understand that the strength of a place lies in its people, and that meaningful impact often begins with small, intentional acts of care. 

Each year, our team steps away from the office for DCI Cares, a dedicated day of service where we connect with causes close to our hearts. For those near our core offices in New York, Denver and Toronto, group volunteer outings brought us face-to-face with local organizations doing impactful work. Our remote staff also embraced the opportunity to give back in their own neighborhoods, supporting a wide range of initiatives across North America. 

With a team of over 75, the ripple effect of our collective efforts was felt far and wide. Here’s how we came together across cities and communities for DCI Cares 2025. 

NYC at Henry Street Settlement 

In New York, our team partnered with  Henry Street Settlement, for a day of hands-on volunteering in the Lower East Side. Some team members spent the morning with kids from P.S. 134, leading a creative “Crafternoon” filled with birdhouse building and wind chime making. Others decorated pots and planted herbs to help local families start their own home gardens. 

A third group focused on assembling cooling and hydration kits, simple but important supplies to help neighbors stay safe during the summer heat. After wrapping up their projects, the team gathered nearby to relax, reflect and enjoy some well-earned time together. 

Denver at African Community Center 

In Denver, our team partnered with the African Community Center (for the third year in a row!) for a powerful day of service. The morning began with packing backpacks for back-to-school and organizing donated clothing in the center’s warehouse. After lunch, the team delivered baskets of household essentials to two refugee families, one from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Afghanistan. 

It was a day of hard work, heart and reflection, deepening our appreciation for the resilience of refugee families and the importance of community support. 

Toronto at the Sunshine Garden 

In Toronto, our team volunteered at the Sunshine Garden, a long-standing partnership between FoodShare Toronto and CAMH. This tranquil space, the first market garden on hospital grounds in Canada, offers therapeutic gardening opportunities for CAMH clients. 

Our volunteers helped nurture the garden, supporting a program that not only grows food but also fosters healing, connection and mental wellness.  

Remote Impact Across the Map 

Even from afar, our remote team members made a big difference in their communities: 

• The Cincinnati team volunteered at Freestore Foodbank, packing 345 bags of produce and 10,000 boxes of food for Ohio’s SNAP program.  

• Caleb Woods lent his time to Kingdom Community Center, cooking and serving the students lunch, as well as helping lead their practical skills lesson, a time where they teach students life skills to help them become self-sustaining adults. 

• Taylor Freudenberg volunteered at her local food bank, helping distribute food and connect with her new community. 

• Symeria Palmer participated in a roadside cleanup, making her neighborhood a cleaner, greener place. 

• Maddie McNamee gave her time to her local library, organizing and reshelving books in the children’s section. 

• Isabella Schincariol lent a hand to the Lincoln Park Zoo Conservatory, planting flowers and helping maintain a beautiful community space.