the inspiration:
neighborhood postcard project
A project by hunter franks
"The Neighborhood Postcard Project is a worldwide participatory project that fosters community connection through storytelling exchange. Residents share personal positive stories about negatively stereotyped neighborhoods on a postcard and we deliver them to random people in that same city to break down stereotypes and build community."
-Hunter Franks
-Hunter Franks
The Neighborhood Postcard Project is a form of creative intervention--using art in public space to foster spontaneous interactions between strangers with the goal of inspiring people to think differently about where they live and the relationships they have in their community. Its goal is to unite residents of a community by educating each other about one's own neighborhood. The Neighborhood Postcard Project has a unique opportunity to succeed in Youngstown because, in the past, people's neighborhoods often overlapped - whether moving from one to another or visiting other neighborhoods from your own - and as time has passed, neighborhoods have changed - typically by declining - leaving many with the impression that these neighborhoods are permanently lost.
This project allows positive stories to be heard and to directly reach individuals with those positive stories of Youngstown neighborhoods. It gives residents the opportunity to change other people's perception of their neighborhood by telling positive stories, builds a sense of community and pride, and promotes positive community engagement and transformation. This is directly in line with our community's goals of fostering neighborhood reinvestment and strengthening the social fabric of Youngstown neighborhood residents. The Neighborhood Postcard Project allows residents to tell stories of why they are investing time and energy in their homes and neighborhoods, while sharing insight about the future of their communities.
This project allows positive stories to be heard and to directly reach individuals with those positive stories of Youngstown neighborhoods. It gives residents the opportunity to change other people's perception of their neighborhood by telling positive stories, builds a sense of community and pride, and promotes positive community engagement and transformation. This is directly in line with our community's goals of fostering neighborhood reinvestment and strengthening the social fabric of Youngstown neighborhood residents. The Neighborhood Postcard Project allows residents to tell stories of why they are investing time and energy in their homes and neighborhoods, while sharing insight about the future of their communities.
