Core States Group’s Post

Public art is more than decoration—it’s a bridge between government, communities, and change. Murals, street art, and installations inspire civic pride, spark public dialogue, and offer a platform for citizens to engage with social, environmental, and policy issues. At Beautify Earth, we’re not just creating art—we’re inviting communities to participate in shaping their environment. These murals foster ownership, collaboration, and sustainable action, turning urban spaces into stories that reflect collective pride, hopes, and challenges. Local governments, nonprofits, and artists have the power to co-create spaces that inspire civic engagement and revitalize neighborhoods. Together, let’s paint a world where art and democracy thrive side by side. How has art shaped your community? #PublicArt #CivicEngagement #BeautifyEarth #CommunityDevelopment #ArtForChange #CivicInnovation Moral Masuoka

Litstudio: Building, Art, Landscape: Family of Shadows, Brick wall. Proposed Public Art, Vancouver. #vancouver #families #affordablehousing #affordablerent #canada #canadianarchitecture #Canadiancity #nonprofithousing #community #values #publicart #publicurbanpolicies

What you leave as a legacy is not what is etched in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. As we enter our 80th year, we reflect not only on our business achievements but also on their profound impact on countless lives across our nation. Our legacy extends beyond constructing buildings to touching hearts. Here’s to instilling our legacy in people’s hearts, and leaving our mark behind. #LegacyOfImpact #WovenIntoLives #BuildingMoreThanStructures #HeartfeltConnections #80YearsOfMakingADifference #CreatingABetterFuture #LegacyOfLove #ImpactThroughConstruction #TouchingLives #BuildingCommunities #InspiringChange #Celebrating80Years #EmbracingTheFuture #OurStoryContinues #Gainwell #GainwellCAT #SolutionsForGrowth

Can the past help us to fall in love with the future? That's the question I was asked to address last week on a panel at Restitch, the community placemaking conference convened by Labour Together, CREATE STREETS and Onward. The things we love that are old, and the things we love that are new do not need to be different things. Some of University of the Arts London's most extraordinary campuses are buildings that have been transformed from an old life into bustling art schools: the former warehouse in Kings Cross that is now Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London and the former military hospital on Millbank that now holds Chelsea College of Art and Design. We must stop imagining that preservation and innovation must always be in conflict. We preserve best when we test the boundaries of what a building can be. And we innovate best when we stay in dialogue with our history. But this tension between old and new is not the only polarity in this debate. On the panel, Ian Harrabin spoke of his own record in successful regeneration of heritage places, including Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. Build for the creative industries first, he said. Locals will be sceptical of places with a bad reputation, he said, but people from out of town will trust you and move in. Then Tilak Parekh shared some of the history of the extraordinary Neasden Temple: old and new at the same time, bringing life and identity to its community in Brent. Those stories have one thing in common: they remind us that it is the disruptors, the creatives, the outsiders and the young who are often first to make regeneration possible. The protection of heritage and history that ‘locals’, traditionalists and older generations tend to prioritise is only possible if they embrace disruption too. Those who value community and heritage (as I do) cannot indulge a politics of rage against creativity, youth, or newcomers. This is something that conservatism used to understand. As Lampedusa put it in The Leopard, "Everything must change so that everything can stay the same." The culture war, which pits old against young, and tradition against innovation harms both.

We are so honored and excited to officially announce our Round 2 projects! In order of appearance: 1. Green Pastures - In cooperation with local stakeholders, preservation groups, and Douthat State Park, the project will introduce an interpretive trail and a staged reading to showcase the rich heritage and stories associated with Green Pastures. This recreational area holds significant cultural importance as a recreational haven for African Americans during an era of segregation. 2. 23/54 - In 1947, 23 Black parents and 54 children challenged racial discrimination in the court case Corbin v. County School Board of Pulaski County, Virginia. Inspired by this story, the Calfee Community and Cultural Center (CCCC) aims to research and tell the stories of brave Black parents in Southwest Virginia, their ancestors and descendants through oral history interviews, archival research, a traveling exhibit, and a community-created quilt. 3. Yesáh Community House - The Monacan Nation Cultural Foundation will be building a modern-day long house that will serve as a physical monument of the Monacan people in Virginia. It will be constructed on the Monacan pow wow grounds in Monroe, VA and will become the permanent home of this annual event. 4. Labor in Motion - The Town of Pound, VA and Appalachian Voices will be partnering in creating an amphitheater and decorative retaining wall. The amphitheater will be transformed into the town's first performance venue for town events and storytelling events chosen by town residents. (See rendering of the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) above. Neither rendering nor location have been finalized.) 5. Raising the Shade - More than 180,000 African American soldiers made significant contributions in the American Civil War, however, only a handful of monuments to these men exist. The Franklin County NAACP aims to share these stories and more at various community events over the next year, as well as dedicating a monument to these soldiers. To learn more about Round 1 & 2 projects, please visit moremountainstories.org Mellon Foundation Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Monument Lab #moremountainstories

For NAPC Board Member, Sarah Cody, the question of "Why?" is "an on-going, necessary question that always ties back to community building." Read more about Sarah's story, which she shared with us last year, below. Though I grew up in New England, surrounded by history, I really never considered the mechanisms of historic preservation or how it helped shape my apple-orchard filled suburb until I was an adult. I didn’t truly discover my “why” until recently, even though I’ve worked professionally in historic preservation for over 15 years. When I enrolled in a Landscape Architecture program in college, and I sat listening to lectures on plant selection, garden design, and stormwater management, I was unsure what I was doing there. Then we had a guest lecturer - the Historic Sites Restoration Coordinator with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. She talked about the restoration of a statue in downtown Syracuse and suddenly everything clicked into place for me. That tangible connection to the past intrigued me. This newfound interest along with the values my mentor George W. Curry instilled in me - the importance of using your work to be of service to your community - led me to public service. Having just completed a decade as a public servant, I can honestly say I truly discovered my “why” just within the last few years. I recognize that am incredibly privileged, and I strongly believe that it is my duty as a public servant to use my education and professional position to utilize the power of our historic and cultural places to help create more resilient and equitable communities for the residents of Miami-Dade County. Continuing to ask myself “why” is something I find incredibly important to do throughout my work – why are we doing the work we are doing, who is it for, and who does it benefit? For me, historic preservation is less about history and more about community building. So for me, “why” is an on-going, necessary question that always ties back to community building. Join Sarah at FORUM 2024 during the Preservation Equity Roundtable on Friday, August 2nd. Register HERE: https://lnkd.in/dqhr6WuB #PreservationMonth #NAPCWhatsYourWhy #FORUMfridays #PreservationUnderthePalms #FORUM2024

This year's artwork was created by local San Jose artist, Rayos Magos. He brought our vision to life while showcasing many of our shared values including a commitment to social justice, housing as a human right, and being rooted in community. AHM is the time to bring people together so that we can all transform our communities into more diverse, affordable, equitable, and accessible places to live — which brings us to this year’s theme of #4Us4You4All, recognizing that our well-being is tied to the well-being of our neighbors. In 2024, we are leading a transformational region-wide bond measure that works towards housing for everyone in our community. This year is about moving housing affordability beyond the creation of affordable homes for individuals to the realization of stable neighborhoods for whole communities – a vision going beyond housing as a human right to one of healing and restoration for us, for you, and for all. That is why during this year’s Affordable Housing Month, we will be lifting up local partner programming to demonstrate the breadth and depth of the affordable housing ecosystem in Santa Clara County and the strength of our collective work. The future we envision for the Bay Area begins with us. #affordablehousingmonth #ahm2024 #forusforyouforall #affordablehousing #housingjustice

Building better places, increasing people’s sense of belonging and boosting civic pride will continue to be an uphill battle as long as we devalue arts and culture. As towns and cities strive to retain their vibrancy in challenging economic times, Laura Bell from the Reimagine Place team sheds light on a critical issue facing our urban landscapes: the impact of cuts to arts and culture funding. Understanding the consequences of these reductions is more crucial than ever. From the evolving perspectives on cultural investment to the profound implications on community cohesion and local economies, Laura offers an in-depth analysis of what's at stake and how the arts contribute not only to the cultural fabric, but the resilience of our towns and cities in the post-pandemic era. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ghGV52SM #UrbanDevelopment #CulturalSustainability #ReimaginePlace #EconomicResilience #ArtsandCulture #TownCentres #Regeneration

We are more than developers; we are community weavers. We believe in the importance of preserving the historic look of our developments. Maintaining the architectural integrity of a community not only honors its past but also enriches its future. Why does preserving the historic look matter? It's about more than maintaining aesthetics; it’s about weaving new developments into the existing cultural and historical tapestry of the communities we serve. This approach ensures that our projects enhance local identity while fostering community pride and maintaining a connection to the past. By prioritizing the preservation of historical looks, we contribute to thoughtful community planning and design. That way each project we undertake is positioned for long-term success, benefiting residents and the broader community. Join us in celebrating and preserving the historical character of our developments. Together, we can ensure that our communities remain connected to their roots while they grow and thrive. #HistoricPreservation #CommunityDevelopment #AffordableHousing #TapestryDevelopmentGroup #HelpingBuildCommunities

Building better places, increasing people’s sense of belonging and boosting #civicpride will continue to be an uphill battle as long as we devalue #arts and #culture. As #towns and cities strive to retain their vibrancy in challenging economic times, the impact and consequences of cuts to arts and culture funding is a critical issues facing our urban landscapes. From the evolving perspectives on cultural investment to the profound implications on community cohesion and local economies, we at Reimagine Place have pulled together an analysis of what's at stake and how the arts contribute not only to the cultural fabric, but the resilience of our towns and cities in the post-pandemic era. 👇 If you missed it you can have a read here...