Making a change in a public space can be really complicated. You don’t usually know who to talk to or who owns what! Where do you start if you want to add a bike lane, or put in a public plaza on your block?
To find out, CUP teaching artist Douglas Paulson worked with students from Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and College Now at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. The group examined public spaces on their block, and interviewed an MTA representative, the executive director of a nonprofit organization, and a community board member.
The group broke down the interviews and illustrated conversations between community members to show step-by-step processes to go through for making changes in public space. To share what they learned with others, the illustrations were turned into a colorful and interactive website called Block Party.
Click here to see the website!