National Leaders Visit Breathing Lights in CCP Exchange

On November 10-11, 2016, we were excited to host government, nonprofit, arts and philanthropy leaders from across the U.S. who traveled to the Capital Region at the invitation of the Center for Community Progress as part of a learning exchange entitled, “Bridging Policy and Placemaking to Activate Vacant Properties: Learning from “Breathing Lights.” The learning exchange was made possible by the Center for Community Progress with support from The Kresge Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Attendees were introduced to the Capital Region, and took a tour of the Breathing Lights installation hosted by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Susan Hollands from Historic Albany Foundation. They also met project partners to learn about Breathing Light’s inception, fundraising, organization, community engagement, challenges and lessons learned so far. Learning exchange attendees explored how multi-stakeholder partnerships can use creative peacemaking to support the equitable revitalization of vacant properties. The discussion included topics such as:

How can vacant properties be activated to call attention to a disinvested neighborhood’s inherent value and to set the stage for future equitable revitalization?
Philanthropy’s role in building new bridges across arts installations and community development outcomes.
Establishing innovative, mutli-stakeholder revitalization partnerships. And,
Arts and placemaking as powerful drivers of equitable revitalization.

Visiting organizations represented include:

ArtPlace America, Brooklyn, NY

Bloomberg Philanthropies, New York, NY

Center for Community Progress, Flint, MI

City of Detroit

City of Flint

City of Minneapolis

City of St. Paul

Detroit Land Bank Authority, Detroit, MI

Flint Public Art Project, Flint, MI

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, Flint, MI

Juxtaposition Arts, Minneapolis, MN