Greenlining Institute

Objective

The Greenlining Institute is a policy, research, and advocacy organization committed to advancing racial and economic equity for communities of color. When they moved into their new headquarters, a formerly neglected banking office in downtown Oakland, they aimed to transform the space into something deeply symbolic: a flourishing, energy-efficient nonprofit hub that supports local and minority-owned businesses.

To bring that vision to life, Greenlining partnered with Barretto-Co. to design an environment that would embody their mission and create a powerful, purpose-driven experience for every visitor who walks through the door.

Scope

Environmental Signage
Greenlining Economic Summit 25
Brand Communications

The Solution

The experience was designed to be both functional and inspirational, infused with the language of advocacy, movement building, and community power.

Barretto-Co. worked closely with the Greenlining team to design an environmental experience that honored the space’s history while reasserting its future purpose. The significance of reclaiming a site once used to deny financial access and transforming it into a center for equity was not lost on us. It became a foundational element of our creative direction.

We developed signage and visual storytelling elements that not only guided visitors through the space but connected them to the legacy and ongoing mission of the Institute. In parallel, we contributed to communications for the 25th Greenlining Economic Summit, ensuring visual continuity across physical and event-based touchpoints.

Impact

Design can challenge history and reframe space. At Greenlining, we helped make the mission visible.

The revitalized Greenlining headquarters now serves as a physical manifestation of its values: inclusion, empowerment, and progress. Through thoughtful design, Barretto-Co. helped turn a place once marked by exclusion into a beacon of equity.