September 7th, 2018
This was the first time we visited Sherman Park as a group. I had never been to Sherman Park before this semester and honestly, I had never even heard of it before. I am not from Milwaukee and do not know any of the neighborhoods besides the ones on the Northeast side, near campus. Needless to say, I felt a little out of my element, and was kind of uncomfortable. I did not know how residents of a primarily African American community in the most segregated city in America would react to a group of clear outsiders walking around the neighborhood. I bet it probably looked like we were even touring the neighborhood, which is not something I particularly wanted to look like I was doing.
Putting my own insecurities aside, I am really glad we got to meet up with Camille Mays and Reggie Jackson. They were very knowledgeable about the area and I think that really set me down my path to figure out what factors led to this community getting the way it is now. Reggie talked about the history a little and Camille talked about the here-and-now, and I think that was a really good mix to have.
Walking through the streets was a whole different experience. I had never been to a neighborhood where almost all the inhabitants struggled to make ends meet. I also noticed all of the damaged buildings and vacant lots, as I am sure most people would. It was a very humbling walk and it made me a little angry to know that this community could be swept under the rug and not invested in by the city. It made me realize that this semester was going to be important to not only me, but the residents we came into contact with.
Putting my own insecurities aside, I am really glad we got to meet up with Camille Mays and Reggie Jackson. They were very knowledgeable about the area and I think that really set me down my path to figure out what factors led to this community getting the way it is now. Reggie talked about the history a little and Camille talked about the here-and-now, and I think that was a really good mix to have.
Walking through the streets was a whole different experience. I had never been to a neighborhood where almost all the inhabitants struggled to make ends meet. I also noticed all of the damaged buildings and vacant lots, as I am sure most people would. It was a very humbling walk and it made me a little angry to know that this community could be swept under the rug and not invested in by the city. It made me realize that this semester was going to be important to not only me, but the residents we came into contact with.
October 13th, 2018
On the 13th, we had our community meeting. I think this was one of my favorite experiences with the semester and in Sherman Park. Everyone was so lively and ready to participate in the games we had come up with. I was surprised that so many residents came out to interact and give feedback to us about how we should design our catalyst installation. I did not think more than a couple people would show up.
At first I was uneasy, as usual, about having to interact with people I did not know. I was not sure of my activity and I was not sure of how people would react to it or if it would be too boring. Luckily all of those worries disappeared after only a couple adults came up and gave really positive and insightful feedback. It got even more casual as the children came up to the table and wanted to either play catch with our ball or just draw on the question board. I am certainly happy that I can say we got a lot of information we needed, and I actually felt as if the quick conversations and ball tosses really formed some kind of acquaintanceship with the people we were building for, it wasn't a quick or hollow interaction at all.
At first I was uneasy, as usual, about having to interact with people I did not know. I was not sure of my activity and I was not sure of how people would react to it or if it would be too boring. Luckily all of those worries disappeared after only a couple adults came up and gave really positive and insightful feedback. It got even more casual as the children came up to the table and wanted to either play catch with our ball or just draw on the question board. I am certainly happy that I can say we got a lot of information we needed, and I actually felt as if the quick conversations and ball tosses really formed some kind of acquaintanceship with the people we were building for, it wasn't a quick or hollow interaction at all.
November 4th, 2018
Less than a month after we met with the community, we had our final inauguration of our catalyst installations. Up to this very day, my group and I were working on our planter to try and make it as sturdy as possible, and as useful as we could make it. We were tweaking the lounge-seat boards for a while even after the inauguration I think.
Overall, I think I was just happy that we had completed something that we knew kids and adults alike would use and be able to plant their own flowers in. Almost every day we worked on the planter on-site the weather conditions were not favorable, either being too cold or too rainy. Being done and having it turn out as well as it did, I was content.
The inauguration ceremony itself was touching as well. The community members that did show up in all the rain seemed extremely grateful that we had spent so much time putting those planters out there. There was even a bigger man walking by in the rain who took some time to come up to our porch ceremony and say a few words about how things like our installation are what the Sherman Park community needs more of. Some parents were happy about it because it gave their kids something to play on, and others were happy because it showed that people do care, inside and outside of the neighborhood about what goes on there. And over the course of the semester, I myself had begun to feel a little familiar with a neighborhood I had known nothing about 2 months ago.
Overall, I think I was just happy that we had completed something that we knew kids and adults alike would use and be able to plant their own flowers in. Almost every day we worked on the planter on-site the weather conditions were not favorable, either being too cold or too rainy. Being done and having it turn out as well as it did, I was content.
The inauguration ceremony itself was touching as well. The community members that did show up in all the rain seemed extremely grateful that we had spent so much time putting those planters out there. There was even a bigger man walking by in the rain who took some time to come up to our porch ceremony and say a few words about how things like our installation are what the Sherman Park community needs more of. Some parents were happy about it because it gave their kids something to play on, and others were happy because it showed that people do care, inside and outside of the neighborhood about what goes on there. And over the course of the semester, I myself had begun to feel a little familiar with a neighborhood I had known nothing about 2 months ago.
The Citizen Architects studio as a whole led to a lot of unexpected opportunities to impact real people in real places.
I think it also taught me a lot about how community engagement is so key in all aspects of architecture.
The Sherman Park neighborhood is so full of hope, and although I was such a stranger to it before, I feel glad that I can talk about the good people that live there and can spread that information, and even some of their stories as I look forward in my own life. I also hope that this studio keeps a direct line open to this community so that future UWM students can go connect and start some change. -Jonathan Koenemann
I think it also taught me a lot about how community engagement is so key in all aspects of architecture.
The Sherman Park neighborhood is so full of hope, and although I was such a stranger to it before, I feel glad that I can talk about the good people that live there and can spread that information, and even some of their stories as I look forward in my own life. I also hope that this studio keeps a direct line open to this community so that future UWM students can go connect and start some change. -Jonathan Koenemann