Here is a compelling case study of John Fetterman, the controversial and innovative mayor of a blighted post-industrial town outside of Pittsburgh. While the workings of Braddock, PA (pop. 2,700) are on a very different scale from Chicago, there is certainly wisdom we can glean from his examples of dramatic urban renewal initiatives; just as we aim for arts education to cultivate diverse perspectives and creative problem-solving, the lessons of this town can be a jumping-off point as we consider how we'd like our new leadership to proceed.
Notably, Fetterman's programming places heavy priority on the arts and education and social justice. That said, he has done a lot of his work by side-stepping community accountability and creating projects through his own nonprofit, which has become a major landowner in Braddock.
It's kind of lengthy, but worth a read.
really interesting read. and i think it highlights how change can be made on that grassroots, smaller town level. this guy was able to make massive change because 1) the town had basically sunk to rock bottom and was ready for something drastic, and 2) he could fund most of the work himself. he wasn't beholden to foundations or corporations. it's an interesting model. eliminate some of the red tape and see what can get done.
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