Creative Placemaking Series
What makes a thriving community? How can we improve places in our communities that seem to have been abandoned? What can we do as individuals to encourage us all to stop, sit down, and enjoy the places we call home?
These are some of the questions that led Envision Minnesota to embrace the theme of Creative Placemaking for its educational series taking place in 2012-2013. We invite you to join us at the upcoming events listed below.
Upcoming events in the Creative Placemaking Series
Little Free Libraries: Promoting Literacy, Community, and Placemaking
Feb. 13, 2013 | Macalester College
How did a little idea grow so big so fast?
Join Envision Minnesota on Wed., Feb. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at Macalester College for our next Creative Placemaking event featuring the biggest little movement to pop up on streets across Minnesota communities and around the world.
See a short film about the growth of the Little Free Library movement, hear from founder Todd Bol about how it got started, and participate in World Cafe discussions about the ways Little Free Libraries can add life to the street, bring neighbors together, foster literacy, and more!
Todd Bol will give out free copies of books to participants from Coffee House Press including Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History and Working Words to add to your library collection and share with your neighbors.
Join us for a fun discussion of the power of the Little Free Library. Those who have installed their own libraries in their yards or in front of their business or school are encouraged to attend and share what they've learned along the way.
Little Free Libraries and Placemaking Event Details:
Date: Wed., Feb. 13, 2013
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Weyerhaeuser Hall - Board Room, Macalester College, 62 Macalester St., St. Paul
Co-sponsors: Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College and InCommons
Food: Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP: Please register to let us know you're coming.
Cost: There is no charge, but we ask that you consider making a donation of $15 to Envision Minnesota to offset costs for the event.
More events planned for spring 2013. Stay tuned for more announcements about upcoming Creative Placemaking events.
Earlier events in the Creative Placemaking Series
Get Connected! Engaging on Creative Placemaking
with Envision Minnesota and the Twin Cities Media Alliance
October 30, 2012 | Chatterbox Pub Highland Park
Ever wonder how your block could calm traffic, be safer for bikes and pedestrians, and be more engaging for residents and visitors alike? The residents of Charles Avenue in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of St. Paul have spent several years developing the Friendly Streets Initiative, and they’ve learned a lot along the way.
Erin Pavlica and Lars Christiansen shared their story of how a project about transportation improvements has shifted to an exploration of placemaking. They’ve engaged artists at a series of block parties that led to a resident-driven vision for what their street could be. The photo above shows the ring toss benches created by residents at the block partes.
In addition, the Twin Cities Media Alliance explored ways that new media can be used to share the experience of creative placemaking. And the Hamline Midway Neighbors and Central Corridor Friendly Streets Project are already successfully using social media to connect with neighbors.
Thanks to all who joined us to hear about the power of painting an intersection with your neighbors, constructing and installing a ring toss bench in your front yard, and the power of a tweet.
We encourage you to read our blog about the event: 10 Ways to Achieve Authentic Civic Participation.
"Spotlight on Saint Paul" with Regina Flanagan and Jun-Li Wang
Jun-Li WangSeptember 18, 2012 | Wilder Foundation, St. Paul
On September 18, 2012, we heard from several individuals who help shape current public art and placemaking initiatives along the Central Corridor and beyond the rail line.
Jun-Li Wang of Springboard for the Arts 
Regina Flanagandiscussed the placemaking aspects of Irrigate, the grantmaking program that has launched hundreds of initiatives during the construction of the line. She was joined by Regina Flanagan of Public Art Saint Paul, the prime mover in caring for art in Saint Paul’s civic realm. They discussed the city's ordinance to dedicate one percent of all capital project budgets for public art, as well as the city's artist in residence program.
Watch the short video (above) put together by Envision Minnesota intern Chris Kartheiser capturing highlights from the presentations.
25 Ways to Create a Thriving Community with Jay Walljasper
May 2012 | Summit Brewery, St. Paul
We kicked off our series with "25 Ways to Create a Thriving Community" featuring Jay Walljasper at the Summit Brewery on May 30, 2012. Thanks to everyone who came!
Check out our blog for a recap of the Walljasper event, where we feature an article from the Metropolitan Council.