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STORIES
LINDSEY'S STORY - THE OWNER
I was born in Omaha, Nebraska and spent my teenage years in Millard. I attended UNO as a student-athlete, playing soccer, and graduated with a Bachelor's in General Studies in 2010. I was really good at studying in general. After college I worked as a physical therapy tech for Excel Physical Therapy and lived a very simple, yet full life. In 2013, I married my best friend and incredibly talented husband, Weston. If you can dream it, chances are we can make it happen together.
While planning our wedding I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Shannon Snow (google her, she's amazing), who worked at Metropolitan Community College, took a chance on me. Having hardly known me, she offered me a job at MCC to help reorganize service Learning, AmeriCorps, and Volunteer Services. We reorganized everything under one umbrella, and with board approval, established the Community Engagement Department. Working with students and serving as the AmeriCorps Program Director was truly a gift.
Fast forward to 2015, I had a sweet baby girl and embraced my new role of mommy for the next several years - this is still my favorite role. I returned to MCC in 2019 and then stepped away in 2021. I was at a crossroads in my life and knew something needed to change. I had opened my Scattered Wings Etsy shop by this time and I would go on to volunteer with Foster Love - a non-profit that provides basic needs to kids in foster care. At this same time I knew I didn't want to keep creating alone in my basement so I sought out MCC's Protolab - my little slice of heaven. Last fall, if I wasn't with Foster Love, I was in the lab learning programming and pushing the limits with the machines. Still so much to learn and try! It was in November that I knew I wanted to do something more for our community and by December, Scattered Wings had become an LLC.
I've been working hard the last few months to design a space that is inclusive, inviting, and inspiring. From every position I've had the honor to serve in, I've learned so much about myself, our community, and our world. I have a lot of random skills, but in this space they make sense together.
I am proficient in an online design program that works with other programs like CorelDraw, VersaWorks, Lasers, Wood Machines, Cricuts, and more - which means the creating doesn't have to stop in my space. I am certified to teach Leadership Development classes for credit and non credit. I've worked with community colleges, scholarships, honor societies, and financial aid. I can talk real talk with teenagers and non-traditional students while creating. Also, I LOVE collaborating. Collaborating is my favorite. Together we can do more!
Random and fun fact: My mom and sisters are self-proclaimed parody nerds and we also love making unique scavenger hunts for any event or special occasion. If you want to create something fun and unique like this, don't hesitate to ask. When we are all together we make magic happen! I also have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to iMovie. As you can see, I love creating and will never limit myself to one medium.
The most important thing for me, is that when an individual walks out of my studio, they know that there is HOPE. I have experienced deep darkness through the years and hope is what has always kept me going. I have a strong desire to share this hope with others so that they know they are never alone, they are loved, and they can do anything. At Scattered Wings HOPE stands for Helping Others' Potential Explode. We all have potential inside us, and sometimes we just need someone else to help us unlock it. Just like my boss Shannon did for me years ago. She saw my potential, empowered me, and gave me hope. Now it's my turn to do that for you.
THE STORY BEHIND OUR NAME
The evolution of this name started when I asked a student if I should put "Scatter Kindness" on a shirt or the phrase "Just Breathe" - both with a dandelion of course. The student quickly responded "Scatter Kindness" and said, "because that's how you live." I was touched and knew that was the phrase that I wanted to stand on moving forward. So I made the shirt. I switched some of the dandelion seeds out and replaced them with little birds. Most of my designs after that had some sort of flying creature - what would become the wings of Scattered Wings.
When I think of my name, the word "scatter" could not be any more appropriate. My skills, talents, hopes, and dreams are all scattered in so many different directions. I don't want to stay in one place. I don't want to be limited to one thing. I don't want to live a life of predictabity. I want to live a life where I'm continually learning and growing as a person - and I want to be able to do that with others.
I love the beauty of the dandelion and how something so small can scatter and spread like wildfire. They drive people nuts but to children (and some awesome adults) they see them as a wish waiting to happen. If these wishes end up on the back of wings, they can go even further! Think of the possibilities!
THE STORY BEHIND OUR FIRST SPACE
Foster Love, the non-profit I work with and adore, has an art program called Artsy Kids. Once a month, kids are invited to make art, eat dinner, and go shopping. This all took place in their beautiful boutique but space was always limited. So in November, out of curiosity, I approached the landlord to see what other spaces were available in the same building. I was drawn to this specific space each time. In January I signed the lease and was given the keys. I knew I wanted Artsy Kids to have access to this space, but over the next few months the vision expanded. That being said, we hosted our first Artsy Kids on April 7th. It was everything and more!
When designing the space, I wanted everything to have purpose or a meaning. You can write on the walls, draw on the floors, spill paint, things might break, and accidents will happen. And that's okay!
This is my happy place! To see and hear more, click on the button below. I''d love to enjoy this with you!