October 2019 | Happenings at The Commons
Fall 2019 has been a busy season at The Commons. Despite cooler weather and shorter days, groups of people from all walks of life have continued to visit Sweet Water Foundation for tours, events, and workshops. From hands-on field lessons-to-”disorientation” tours-to-staff retreats, the SWF team has welcomed visitors from across the globe throughout September and October to learn about and engage in Regenerative Neighborhood Development.
Read on to learn about the numerous activities that have taken place at The Commons this fall!
October 2: CityBridge Educators Tour
20 principals and educators from Washington D.C. visited The Commons for a tour, lunch, and conversation about how to cultivate equitable practices when designing future schools. The afternoon was inspirational for these educational leaders whose works have the potential to impact future learners across the country.
October 15: Chicago Ideas Week Lab
SWF welcomed a group of 20 people from across the City of Chicago for a tour and hands-on experience where they challenged their relationship with the world around them, integrate SWF’s practice of Regenerative Neighborhood Development in their lives, and consider the relationship between places where one lives, where things grow, and where things are built or torn down.
October 17: Anarchitecture Event at The Commons:
A group of more than 25 students from across the globe (Canada, the Philippines, the Netherlands, England, and Peru) engaged with the SWF team, SWF Urban Ecology Apprentices, and Chicago Architecture Biennial staff at The Commons for to discuss the concept of "Anarchitecture.” The event was led by Adrian Blackwell, Chicago Architecture Biennial contributor and artist, theorist, and urban designer from Toronto, Canada. The event sought to provide participants with a platform to discuss Blackwell’s Biennial installation, which seeks to give voice to contemporary organizations fighting to keep alive spaces that produce and maintain urban life and collectivity.
October 23: Graham Foundation Workshop:
In collaboration with the Graham Foundation, a group of 20 individuals, including college students enrolled in Denenge Duyst-Akpem’s seminar at SAIC, visited The Commons for a public workshop that included lunch, a tour of The Commons, conversation, printmaking, and seed saving. The workshop welcomed participants from all walks of life to rethink the world around them.
October 26: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum brought a group of 15 students to The Commons on a rainy afternoon to be exposed to The Commons, SWF’s practice of Regenerative Neighborhood Development, and engage in Urban Ecology activities such as seed saving, printmaking with nature, and conversations about identifying edible “weeds.”
October 26: Chicago Abortion Fund Retreat
A group of 15 volunteers and leaders from the Chicago Abortion Fund spent the afternoon in the Think-Do House participating in a much needed retreat. Participants ate lunch together, created art, screen printed bags, put together care packages, and engaged in conversation.
October 30: Luncheon with Mia Birdsong
SWF welcomed a group of 20 leaders from the Field Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and a number of representatives from community based organizations for lunch and conversation with Mia Birdsong in the Thought Barn. The group had an opportunity to discuss principles of leadership, the importance of self-care, and recognizing the leadership qualities within each person you meet.
…and other countless tours and site visits
In addition to the events listed above, SWF has welcomed groups of students, educators, nonprofit practitioners, and local residents nearly every day this fall, including members of The Governor’s Office, Soledad O’Brien and the Matter of Fact crew, and artists from across the globe.
Sweet Water Foundation hopes to welcome you to The Commons soon... There GROWS the neighborhood!
