“The dpict studio space invites participants into an energy of curiosity, openness, ease, and agency. People breathe easily in this space, surrounded by art supplies and plants and books, with access to tea and coffee and couches, and among so many surfaces for doodling or documenting. There is always a gentle sense that things could happenhere, and that you are welcome to be a part of it. The vibe is simply and uniquely inviting, and there are so many ways to set up the space to accommodate different groups and purposes, from planning meetings to community gatherings.
The dpict studio space is an absolutely ideal container for group process and engagement. I have facilitated and participated in trainings, workshops, community meetings, classes, and full-day retreats in this space, and have attended many intergenerational parties and celebrations as well. The endlessly flexible whiteboards enable a level of visual sense making that has qualitatively changed the way that I plan and facilitate group learning, reflection, visioning, strategy, and decision-making. It is a joy to plan and carry out facilitated events in the studio; curiosity comes easy, and participants are able to track and trace the collective learning over the course of the event. The studio is a special place, designed and equipped in such a way that invites creativity, respect, and openness, and that enables facilitators to focus on listening to and moving with the energy, questions, and knowledge in the room.”
—Jen Sandler, Director, UMass Alliance for Community Transformation, and Facilitator with The STOKE Collective.
“The dpict studio was the perfect space to foster participant connection and creativity for our retreat. The layout provided ample room for full group conversations and break out groups, the large whiteboards gave us plenty of space to write, draw and imagine, and the fully stocked kitchen made our potluck lunch easy to set up. The space is light, airy and open with lots of room for movement.”
—Judith, Green Burial Massachusetts
“We hosted our first annual Collaborative Doula Retreat & Forum at Dpict Studios, bringing together Springfield Family Doulas, the Madrina Project(of Women of Color Health Equity Collective) and the Pioneer Valley Doula Collaborative for a day of connection and shared learning. The space offered a unique atmosphere, it was truly a privilege to gather somewhere so special.
Maternal healthcare is often underfunded and undervalued and we almost never have access to a large, open, professional/creative space to gather in, so this meant a lot. The kitchen gave us room to lay out a home-cooked meal, and the whiteboards let us map out ideas and think out loud as a group. The natural light throughout the space was appreciated by everyone, and it all came together to make for a genuinely restorative gathering.
We're so grateful to Dpict Studios for hosting us, and we'd love the opportunity to collaborate again.
—Viki Simone, Co-Founder & Co-Director, Pioneer Valley Doula Collaborative