Hal Bailey and Liza Epstein (The Bailsteins) publicly launched 

The Illumi-Nation Project in Feb. 2014 in St.Petersburg, FL.

The idea for The I-NP bloomed out of their lifelong passion for community building through joyful, hands-on education and from their life experiences and education related to environmental sustainability, holistic natural physical and mental health practices and expressive arts.

Since 2014, The Bailsteins have conducted several research trips visiting and interviewing members of eco-villages (intentional communities that have the goal of living in ways that have a minimal negative impact on the environment). They are believers in minimal living and have been traveling with and sleeping in their teardrop trailer, designed and built by Hal. 

The pair have presented their research at Eckerd College, The Tiny Home Festival, sustainability conferences, and at music and art festivals with their community outreach program, Rising Light. 

When they are back in their home base of St. Petersburg, the couple sets up a monthly community collaborative art project at The Blueberry Patch in Gulfport, FL. They have also joined forces for events with local community organizations including Hometeam, The Foundation for Sustainable Families, Everyday Hero Project, Green Peace, Sustainable Urban Agriculture Committee, and The St. Petersburg Timebank.

The Illumi-Nation Project's community outreach program, Rising Light, has organized dozens of hands-on workshops related to holistic natural health practices, communication and conflict resolution skill-building, joyful self-expression, and environmental regeneration.