“Pluck”: A Love Letter to the Ones Who Stayed
Commissioned by the Grotto Community Center, Pluck is a newspaper-style publication celebrating the artists and entrepreneurs who chose to put down roots in downtown York—and made it better because of it.
There’s something about staying… looking around your own neighborhood and deciding: Yes. There’s something worth building here.
York’s got room for the ones who stick it out. And the people who “get it” carry a very targeted vision that sustains them, and just enough stubbornness to try “nevertheless” every time.
So, What is it?
I partnered with The Grotto Community Center to help solve a problem in response to their big move to a new building and expanded mission. With added space they now offer:
Coworking spaces
Private offices
Artist studios
Community classroom space
Workshop and event rentals
But with a bigger footprint came a bigger question. “How do we let people know what we’re about without listing bullet points on a flyer?”
Answer: you show them the humans who make the space matter. The ones with pluck.
In partnership with their digital campaign, we wanted to create a physical, traveling print piece highlighting local artists, entrepreneurs, and community members who are actively adding value to the downtown district where the Grotto is centralized.
Why the Name?
Meaning:
Guts. Spirit. Audacity.
Sticking around when the cooler thing might be to leave.
Saying yes to the long game and believing in the power of small, steady creative work.
You get the picture.
Who Made It?
As Creative Director, copywriter, and producer of this work, I started by curating a roster of locals to feature that felt rooted, not random. Thanks to years of working alongside artists, event hosts, entrepreneurs, and creators, I had a front-row seat to the people shaping this town in ways big and small.
From there, I collaborated with Lauryn Wit to design a custom vignette for each person
Gabi Haring was our primary graphic designer and illustrator working with me and Mel Rodgers (introduction incoming) to create illustrations, doo dads, and cheeky little elements that would reflect authentic layers of personality.
Mel Rodgers, our layout designer and recently retired college professor, finds incomprehensible satisfaction in selecting typefaces, colors, and honoring consistency. She spent countless hours triple checking our work, ensuring every single inch of this piece was ready for print with no proof run since we were on a tight deadline.
LOOK AT THESE CUTIES THAT MADE IT HAPPEN!
Where You’ll Find It
At the time of publication, we distributed Pluck by hand and with warm introduction to local shops, libraries, cafes, etc. across York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg city. It was always meant to travel, and land in the hands of someone who almost gave up on the area, or perhaps just caught the spark to stay.
You can still find copies of the original print run at the Grotto Community Center (and explroe their new building!), or here and there around the downtown districts if your lucky and they haven’t been snatched up!
Final Thoughts
Working on Pluck was more than a design job. It was a love letter to the people who don’t necessarily get the flashy feature or national headlines but show up anyway to make our neighborhoods warmer, weirder, and better.
If you find a copy, flip through it, fall in love with your neighbors, and remember what’s taken root here. Perhaps it’s time to settle in yourself… and if you’ve got Pluck, just know you’re our kind of people. <3
