The Bottom-Up Revolution Bottom-Up Shorts: Starting a Bus Bench Building Program
Nov 26, 2024
In a captivating discussion, Julie Emery, a leader in Strong Milwaukee, shares insights on building community through bus benches. She elaborates on the program's origin and the collaborative spirit driving it. Listeners learn about the challenges of maintenance and vandalism, and how adaptive strategies foster local engagement. Julie also emphasizes the role of public art in beautifying neighborhoods, enhancing community ownership, and instilling pride. This grassroots initiative proves that small actions can lead to significant improvements in local mobility and social connections.
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Bus Bench Building Program
- Strong Milwaukee builds and installs bus benches in underserved areas, prioritizing community needs.
- They involve local artists, creating beautiful and functional public art.
Community-Driven Approach
- Prioritize community input when identifying areas in need.
- Work with local organizations to determine where resources are most needed.
Learning and Adapting
- Initial benches, made of donated materials, faced vandalism and theft.
- The group adapted by using stronger materials, seeking permits to anchor benches, and establishing a monitoring system.