work
Teen-led places for spatial and environmental justice.
Process
1. Partner
“The City of Cambridge is excited to see the growth of the Shade program and look forward to supporting the program in the years to come. We have been impressed with the model of the program being led by the teens – maximizing their engagement and ownership of the program.”
Kathy Watkins, Deputy City Manager, Cambridge, MA
2. Drop It👇🏽
3. Pop It👇🏽
Teen teams leveraging their social capital to address teen mental health and heat with teen-led places in our public places, this summer!
Who | Teen Teams
Teen voice cuts through the cacophony to ensure adults listen.
Teens are passionate and innovative. As a constituency, rarely are they invited as equals to a table with adults to discuss a shared concern.
How | Leveraging Social Capital
Cities run on social capital – relationships and reputation – as much as financial capital.
Local teens have the wealth of untapped social capital to mobilize their city leaders to act.
Why | Teen Mental Health & Heat
“..More than 40% of BPS Students report feeling persistent sadness and hopelessness.” BPHC Mental Health Report
Addressing teen mental health is a local problem that instigates action.
Providing heat relief ensures we provide intergenerational impact and benefit.
What | Teen-Led Places
SHADE is a seasonal outdoor amenity by teens, for everyone.
Hammock swings, shade, evening illumination, and periodic programming electrify sleepy and sweltering swaths of public space.
SHADE is affordable social infrastructure that is a win for teens, families, and seniors.
Where | Public Spaces
SHADE is spatial justice.
Municipalities regularly invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in athletic facilities and children’s playgrounds to support our physical health.
How might public property serve our social, emotional, and mental health?
When | Summer
SHADE is this summer.
- Sits on the ground, not in it
- Stands up in weeks and comes down in days
- Vanishes in the off-season
SHADE is “meanwhile” infrastructure for locations like Gilman Sq. in Somerville, MA. Gilman is a centrally-located, sleepy city property awaiting development.
Meanwhile, it could be a hub of community….
