I’m back again. Please stay with me, in a couple paragraphs you’ll see why I stopped by this morning. I was catching up on some reading and discovered an old compatriot had been named executive director of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). That’s where Form Based Codes I mentioned came from.
You know I’m old right? Well, I remember the early days of the CNU, as described on their website. “For the first 20 years of its existence, the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) was a controversial organization in the architecture and planning establishment.”
Trust me, CNU wasn’t just controversial, it was super-controversial. Its goals support its mission. “We want to generate the resources necessary to research, publish and advocate for a community of engaged designers, writers, public servants, and activist citizens who are committed to creating designs that manifest the highest aspirations of a democratic society.”
I came here, because I saw you in that “community” of people CNU works for. I will quote directly from the interview with Rick Cole, the new executive director:
“Bruzensky Bois, a young property manager in Florida, is organizing the Congressional Black Caucus of the New Urbanism. He sees the relevance of it to urban equity. When he discovered the Charter, he said, “How come Black people have not had access to these tools, to this kind of power? Our neighborhoods have been devastated by freeways, disinvestment and gentrification. We need to claim the tools of New Urbanism because Black folk were city builders before World War II, just like white people. We built them the right way, and we need to recapture that legacy.”
Well, I looked up Mr. Bais and hit the jackpot. If you are interested, or know someone who is, here are some links.
Find Bruzensky Bois here: https://www.cbcnu.org/
“The Congressional black caucus for new urbanism is an organization and a movement.”
“Have you ever wondered why there are liquor stores, convenient stores, funeral homes and churches on almost every corner of most “Black” Neighborhoods? Ever wonder why there are usually large highways that run directly in between these so-called “Black” neighborhoods? No matter where you go in the United States of America you can identify “black” neighborhoods that were once flourishing and aren't any longer or never flourished at all due to various factors. Some of those factors can be attributed to systemic racism. Our neighborhoods in America are in the conditions that they are currently in by design.”
“Today, with your help, we have the power to start making changes to a better America. An America where our disenfranchised neighborhoods will get the same opportunities to thrive and evolve in a healthy manner. Through policy awareness and various initiatives to combat system racism in the housing industry. By creating a sense of community for like minded individuals and through strategic partnerships. Your participation in the Congressional Black Caucus for New Urbanism will be support needed to bring back our thriving “black” neighborhoods.”
Find CNU here: https://commonedge.org/about/
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving.
