The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of progress and challenges. The final week of June was crucial for the entire project, as it was our last chance to prepare for the start of our youth summer programming. We’ve been meeting with the teams for the Englewood Neighborhood Innovation Summit. Our very own Joseph Olalusi has been the creative genius behind the event. Under his leadership, and with the advice and support of International House, the Mansueto Institute for Urban Development, and a host of other collaborators, our excitement grows as we inch closer to the two-day event. We’ve covered many important logistics and specifics during our meetings. Everyone has a clear understanding of the vision we have for the summit, which is officially taking place on July 23-24 at our favorite place at the University…International House!
Pictured: Information displayed on our meeting planning the Neighborhood (Englewood) Innovation Summit.
We successfully completed our first week of programming on the week of July 1st. During this week, our sessions allowed the Urban Development Ambassadors (UDAs) to get an overview of our summer activities, build community, and learn important concepts and ideas for building peace and community in Englewood.
While we purchased a tent and projector to hold all our activities at the garden and felt prepared, we encountered a hiccup: a delay in the tent delivery. It would not arrive in time for our programming, so we scrambled to find an alternative location. After asking around with only days to go, the Dean of Students at the Harris School kindly provided us with a last-minute space accommodation for our UDAs. Joseph recruited two graduate students, Samantha Anderson (MPP’25, Director of Programming) and Larry Dean (MPP’25, Director of Research and Strategy), as volunteers to support the summer programming and curriculum.
On Tuesday, our theme was “The Importance of Green,” giving students an overview of our program, timeline, and goals. They learned about Urban Development and Real Estate, what they entail, and discussed safety concerns. Students displayed a range of interest and excitement.
Pictured: Samantha speaking to Urban Development Ambassadors on their first day in a classroom at the Harris School.
In two sessions this week, students met Dawn Jonson from Sankofa Gardens, who presented on community building and gardening as paths towards self-sufficiency. Students learned important concepts to understand the current state of their community, such as the history and relationship between race, land, and wealth, restorative justice practices, building community relationships via social-emotional learning, and the importance of sustainable development. Students worked in rotating groups on different engaging activities:
- Station 1: Watch a video on regenerative vs. degenerative agriculture
- Station 2: Analyze a piece of community artwork (https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/dr-george-washington-carver-11594)
- Station 3: Listen to the lyrics of the 60s classic song, “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke, to infer what “Chain Gang” means (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBn5aIfZElE)
The takeaways from the activities were moving and connected deeply with our goals for the Davis Peace Project this summer: achieving sustainable peace through gardening and community building with The 59th Street Garden. The desire for self-sufficiency, access to fresh foods, and regenerative agriculture in Englewood for its residents is evident. We hope to make it a reality.
Pictured: More photos from our first week of programming on “The Importance of Green” at the Harris School.
Next week is “Laying the Groundwork,” with UDAs coming out to the garden, seeing how it affects the Englewood community, and enjoying fun bonding amidst the summer heat. Thankfully, the tent has officially arrived.
Hoping for good weather, but aside from that, we are excited for another great week with our youth participants and volunteers!