Lulu Carter, who founded Outside the Box-Studio, is formally opening the House of Gaia (Greek for Mother Earth) this month at 1660 Trade Center Way, off Airport Road, in Naples. The nonprofit community learning center will provide, “…many opportunities for growth, engaging in community projects and service, sustainable programs for education and many more for art, culture and travel,” she says. “The name befits a multi-cultural, multi-generational center, as we’ll connect people of the community with others around the world.”

House of Gaia launched into action in May with a Rice and Beans for Haiti fundraiser that brought in more than $10,000 to open a new orphanage in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince. A dozen House of Gaia representatives—“Ambassadors of Joy”—travelled to Haiti to oversee the early stages of the establishment of the children’s home.

“An impressive calendar of programs and projects is slated for the upcoming year to benefit a broad array of causes and community services, both in our own backyard and around the world,” advises Carter. “Outside the Box-Studio will still exist as a subsidiary program of House of Gaia and will be expanded to serve an even broader population.”

Location: 1660 Trade Center Way. For more information, call 239-272-6152 or visit HouseOfGaia.org (to be launched in October).