National Park Foundation’s Post

Is art an important element in democratic life? Studies show that public art has a host of benefits for communities. Its community-building powers can combat feelings of anxiety and social isolation. When locals participate in creating public art, these effects are amplified. Will you get involved in helping to decide what the next public art installation in St Neots might be?

For all you Edmontonians, Stone-Olafson, the Rozsa Foundation, and invited panelists to discuss the results of the 2nd wave of research on Alberta arts audiences in EDMONTON Alberta continues to be at a crossroads brought by a pandemic that has changed public life and reshaped our economy. This is especially true in the Arts & Culture sector which continues to experience a decline in engagement with events and activities. This work was developed for this sector exclusively. It is designed to provide specific, relevant, and reliable facts to support the leaders in the arts & culture sector as they build relevance and grow attendance. Key topic areas from Wave 2: -Exploring Arts engagement and general perceptions -Understand audiences’ preferences for content, programming, and ticket purchasing -Understanding opportunities for increasing support and engagement This work is designed to be shared. The ultimate goal is to build on collaboration by sharing resources that can drive smart and focused engagement strategies. All are welcome. For more info and registration for the Edmonton event: https://lnkd.in/gnRH7_qX #art #artists #yeg #alberta #community #rozsafoundation #AudienceEngagement #audience

This episode was recorded on May 21, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: End of semester; Outstanding City Employees; Historical Commission Preservation Awards - recognition for John Pitkin, Robert Winters; Harvard and MIT encampments resolved; Salman Rushdie quote; Budget Hearings, the “fiscal crisis” that’s really more of a warning of sticker shock in Fall tax bills for single-, two-, and three-family homeowners; PTDM Ordinance modified, Cycling Safety Ordinance delayed - and the sky did not fall, but there were theatrics and record numbers of communications; nothing but public housing and bike lanes; Order trying to keep Cambridge Police from being involved in campus interventions, perfect response from City Manager re: mutual aid agreements; petition and other proposal to allow multi-family housing in all residential zones - plus A LOT MORE, a defense of maintaining diversity in housing stock, falsehoods promoted by advocates; questions raised by affordable housing advocates, possibility of AHO 3.0. Host: Robert Winters Reference: https://lnkd.in/epUvJCrD

There’s a crucial link between climate change and housing insecurity, and panelists at the 2024 Building Michigan Communities Conference are coming together to talk about it. Supporting these conversations gives space for collaborative approaches to building resilient communities that are essential to developing effective solutions for Michigan residents. If you’ll be at the conference, add “The Intersection of Climate Justice & Housing” panel to your must-attend list! #ClimateJustice #HousingResilience #HousingEquity #CommunityResilience

Yesterday, Senator Anderson and Representative Weaver delivered a press conference advocating for funding for the Village of Bishop Hill. This is the same task I will be completing on April 17 at the Illinois Municipal League Lobby Day. Bishop Hill is a small town in Illinois that is designated as a state and national historic site due to its Swedish cultural significance. However, the town is failing. Right now, the state provides them with an annual budget of $40,000, which isn't enough to repave roads, let alone have an administrative office. Many of their historical sites are in disrepair, and the Illinois DNR won't let the residents fix buildings or repair them themselves. This inspired my grandmother and I to develop a survey. We reached out to all the small towns in Illinois with a population of under 250. Based on my conversations with town mayors, they have almost identical experiences. Due to a low population, they: - Cannot afford an administrative office, laptops, or internet connection - Cannot afford to pay their town employees - Cannot afford basic maintenance, like repairing roads, buildings, or cemeteries - Cannot afford to pay a grant writer to obtain additional funding for the aforementioned items - Run their towns based entirely on volunteer efforts This is not sustainable. While most of the towns under 250 people are not tourist destinations, they deserve a fighting chance. For many people, these are towns where they grew up, run a business/farm, or have family members. While they do not need to be prioritized to the extent of larger towns a more significant commercial draw, they need a base level of funding to sustain administrative duties for their residents. I will be advocating for common-sense, practical ways to reallocate existing funding toward providing the basics for small towns in Illinois. Please reach out if you want to know how to use our formula for other towns across the country. https://lnkd.in/gqxWDdZ9

XIII Civil Society Development Forum: Time to Gather Again The Civil Society Development Forum is back! We have missed each other — the meetings, conversations, and support. We need to gather again and share what weighs on our hearts, discuss our future, reflect on what we have achieved over the past year, shed a tear, hug, support, regroup, and figure out the next steps. This year, we will meet on December 5, International Volunteer Day, because this day belongs to us: the creative, proactive, dedicated, and united. People who have proven through their actions that ‘Ukraine is above all’ is not just a phrase. People who know the joy of a simple short message ‘+’. We have much to discuss and much to plan for the future. So, friends, registration for the XIII Civil Society Development Forum is officially open. As always, we are creating it together. Register and add your voice! You can also suggest your participation or support format for the Forum by registering at https://lnkd.in/dJzyiTZ8. Do it today, so we can unite our efforts and keep fighting for a shared future!

If you were to inhabit a river being, which one would it be? What would you feel, say, do, move, make? What would you say to government? Over a weekend in Exeter, many of us pursued these questions by taking part in an assembly of river beings for the Exe river. #rivers #waterquality #morethanhuman #governance #environmentalpolicy #arts #activism

Trying to apply the Well-being of Future Generations Act in your community to create practical change, but it feels harder than it should?     Read our July newsletter to find out about free workshops in September and beyond to help you implement the Act: https://lnkd.in/gBJ7RQAZ  

In Saint Paul, MN, the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) federal grant program is helping to transform a park in one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods. With support from ORLP, the city is implementing community-driven upgrades, providing a safe and welcoming space to gather and connect. Read more about how Saint Paul is using ORLP funding to create a space that reflects its neighborhood's unique character and needs: https://lnkd.in/eXrZaRqh.

The story of how you connect placemaking in your program can make a powerful story for grantmakers: https://lnkd.in/guTwaWVy