To kick off the holiday season, we partnered with our new neighbors at Momentum, a nonprofit that has supported children and adults with disabilities for nearly 80 years. They recently moved into the building across from RKS Design, and we were excited for the chance to meet their team and explore ways to get involved. Momentum is the largest direct-care provider for adults with disabilities in Southern California, focusing on independence, creativity, and community through hands-on learning. Spending a morning with their staff and supported artists was the perfect way to begin the season.
Our preparation for the workshop began in the RKS prototype lab. Michael Schuffert, our Head of Product Engineering, designed a set of templates that acted as stencils for each ornament. The whole team gathered to assemble, test, and refine these templates, making sure they would be easy to use and enjoyable for the artists at Momentum. The time spent together in the lab set a warm tone for the project. It was a creative break from our daily work and a moment that brought us closer as a team while reminding us what we love about making things by hand.
Once everything was ready, we sourced the materials, packed them onto a dolly, and walked across the street to Momentum. Their team had the space set up and waiting. We met with Gaby and walked her team through each step of the process so they could fully understand how the templates worked.
When the workshop began, the room quickly filled with activity. Artists, helpers, and supported adults gathered around the tables and began weaving decorative wire through our stencils to create gingerbread figures, stockings, trees, and angels. Every ornament reflected the personality and creativity of the person making it. Watching each design take shape was both joyful and inspiring.
Momentum’s President and CEO, Lori Anderson, shared how meaningful this collaboration was for their community. “Everyone at Momentum is appreciative of the engagement with our neighbors, RKS Designs, for their alignment with Momentum in leading a Workshop with the adults in our program to create Holiday Ornaments. This collaboration provided the people we support with a meaningful and creative experience while strengthening community connections. By offering accessible solutions and engaging activities, we empower individuals to express themselves, learn new skills, and build a sense of belonging. Collaborations like this demonstrate our ongoing commitment to inclusion and our dedication to aligning with local businesses that share our mission.”
One of the goals of this workshop was to give Momentum a craft they could continue to integrate into their art classes throughout the holiday season. The templates are now tools they can reuse, adapt, and teach to more supported adults in the coming weeks. It felt meaningful to contribute something that blended our design and engineering skill sets with an activity focused on expression, creativity, and community.
The experience reminded our team how grounding it can be to slow down and make something with others. It brought us together, strengthened our connection with our neighbors, and made the start of the holiday season feel more intentional and heartfelt.
With Thanksgiving behind us and the rest of the holidays ahead, we have been thinking about the importance of giving back. For us, it was a morning spent sharing creativity and support with a community we admire. For others, it might be offering time, skills, or simple kindness where it is needed. There is no right way to give, only the choice to take action.
We are grateful to the Momentum team for welcoming us and for the work they do every day. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and support their programs.
Special thanks to Amy Simons, Gaby Garcia, and the entire team at Momentum for welcoming us and bringing so much care and enthusiasm to this workshop. We also want to thank the RKS team for coming together to create something truly special for our community. This experience would not have been possible without everyone’s time, collaboration, and heart.
