Why Street Works, and how will it advance our mission?
MJN was formed because we believe more organizations need to exist to fight for a world in which justice is normal — embodied in systems. We started by developing a clearer point of view on what justice meant and what just systems “look like”: anti-bias, pro-Earth, decoupling wealth & power, democratic practice, and circular leadership. These planted our path to design philosophies: how we would practically work together, distribute funds, and more. (Check out our Theory of Change.)
Artists in our community founded the Arisen to make justice normal in the cultural asset ecosystem. As a fully subjective market, built on no common standards of value, the cultural asset ecosystem is one of the most unjust markets there is. While creative freedom — celebration of our individuality — is important, total freedom of subjectivity combined with wealth and culture power are insidiously dangerous. They actively advance injustice, including biased narratives. This reinforces wealth gaps and racism and creates a culture that glorifies the priorities and values of a tiny group of people.
We seek the alternatives. Where they don't exist, we hope to build or support them.
Street Work is 1 experiment in designing 1 alternative. As artist-led public-space galleries, Street Works are sister to the street action and block party. They center co-creation and deep participation in public space, which we believe is one way civic action can become part of our lived wisdom and joy, rather than a concept at arm’s length from our souls.
Beyond an event
With practice, we hope to develop a blueprint to fundraise for, improve, and more efficiently support many Street Works with national and local partners.
At scale, we see dozens of them running in neighborhoods across the country every Earth Day, Climate Week, voting week… and beyond… dedicated to civic solution space meant to meet community priorities.
At scale, we hope to see our public spaces electrified with the energy of people, coming together to replenish one another’s hope and imagine climate and social solutions that match their community challenges. This is one pathway among the many needed to support just systems.
Street Works design principles
