Street Work design principles for justice

Principles

Jul 13

MJN’s mission is a mirror for our values of justice, loving care, and solidarity. Instead of approaching new projects with a sector lens, we typically start by asking: Why are justice, loving care, and solidarity not the norm in any given area of work that collective members care about; and how would we design differently?

This question often leads to design principles unique to a given program, and based on the programs unique circumstance or style of work. Learn about Street Work's practice design principles, intended to bring justice into the heart of our creative practice.

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Co-create

We co-create with audiences and commit to authentically sharing power with audiences as an embodiment of democracy.

Put residents/ people first

We are place-based, see relationship as art, center our “audiences,” — not only self-expression — and center joy as fundamental.

Make for and in public space

We design for and serve public space — like streets, sidewalks, and parks.

Spark action

We aim to spark hopeful, concrete co-actions that our communities can take to transform frustration, fear, sorrow, confusion, unknowns, or uncertainty into solutions.

Embody

Authenticity, lived experience, whole personhood, and bodiliness.

Blueprint

Artists and organizers — many of us among them — have been working on the street long before this program existed. We’re listening to develop a “blueprint” to open-source structures behind Street Works.

Respect diverse practice

Practitioners of climate solutions are all around us. We need each other, and we need joy, inspiration, and the freedom of imagination to keep going.

Weave ideas

What we eat, how we breathe, how we rest, how we love are all connected to mother Earth. And our conversations around justice, environmentalism, health, climate, wealth, and more can be re-woven with our local, personal priorities and joys.

ArtsStreet Works

Anjali Deshmukh

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