Why We Need the Nation's First Public Housing Museum
A 1936 advertisement for the New York City Housing Authority depicts the clamor of city life: a jumble of line drawings depict a leaping alley cat, trash can, train, and fire escape. Bold text in a quintessential Art Deco font plastered diagonally across the image reads, "Must we always have this? Why not HOUSING?," addressing both the energy and desperation of urban life in 1930s America. Funded by the Works Progress Administration, the ad was of a time when the federal government created massive public works projects across America to uplift the poor during the Great Depression.
Though that era is now long over, the ad still feels relevant. We've reached a record high of unhoused people across the country: new housing construction is slow, rent costs burden more than 50 percent of Americans, and building housing is only getting more expensive. We may have driverless taxis coasting through cities and technology that delivers anything you desire in a matter of hours…but why not housing, indeed?
The advertisement is one of many artifacts on display at the new National Public Housing Museum (NPHM) in Chicago, the country's only museum devoted to U.S. public housing, which opens April 4. Unlike other types of history museums which seek to keep the past alive, the NPHM is in a unique position because public housing itself isn't, technically, extinct. People still inhabit public housing developments built across the country after the U.S. Congress boldly declared in 1935 that housing is a human right. As such, the NPHM is doing something a bit different. They're not preserving objects and artifacts to encase public housing in amber; instead, the space squarely seeks to reinvigorate our interest in collective well-being by tackling public housing's dominant narrative—one of crime, poverty, and eventual destruction—head on.
Located in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood, the NPHM is housed in the remaining structure that was once part of the Jane Addams Homes—a 1937 low-rise public housing development that was mostly demolished beginning in 2002. According to NPHM executive director Lisa Lee, the building itself is the museum's biggest artifact, saved by a group of former public housing residents when the City of Chicago embarked on its 1999 Plan for Transformation that got rid of 18,000 public housing units and displaced more than 16,000 people. At that point, it had been the largest net loss of affordable housing in the entire United States, says Lee.
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Buzz Feed
11 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Americans Share Why They're Most Proud Of Their State
Recently, someone in one Reddit thread asked Americans if they're proud to be from their home state. There were varying opinions, but to my surprise, many people from different states took great pride in where they grew up. Here's what 18 people had to say about the place they call home. For the most part, the responses are actually super wholesome: "Super proud to be a lifelong Washingtonian because it's so versatile. So much diverse nature, culture, and the state has cared about us as long as I've lived." –Goatgamer1016 "Kansan here, grew up in a very small farm town. Spent a decade in a huge city on the East Coast, moved back to Kansas. Happy to have had the experience of living on the East Coast, but man, did it make the simpler life in Kansas so much more enjoyable afterwards. Perspective is everything. I love being from Kansas and from flyover country. Best sunsets in this country and all four seasons to boot." "I'm from Alaska, and I'm proud. I always call myself an Alaskan over an American. My life is so different from anyone I've ever met from the Lower 48." "Sometimes when I watch TV or scroll social media, I analyze what people's life is like in the States, and I get scared at how disconnected people are from the land. I don't know how to explain it, but every morning I wake up (in the summer) and drive a jet boat to work. The rivers are so clean that I bathe and wash my hair in them. I am guaranteed to catch a fish any time I want one for dinner. I work in the field, so all summer I am in remote Alaska, completely separated from civilization, and it's so freeing."–Such-session-6687 "I'm from New Jersey. We get a bad rap, but it's good here. Close to NYC and Philly, and featuring such diverse biomes, including mountains, marshland, the Pine Barrens, beaches, cities, suburbs, and farmland. All four seasons. Plus Wawa and not having to pump your own gas, Jersey club, bagels, pizza…" "I'm proud of being Californian insofar as this is the place where the late 1960s countercultural movement exploded. That is far from simply an American zeitgeist; it rapidly and majorly influenced the entirety of global civilization." –niftystopwat "I am very proud to be from North Carolina. Mountains, Piedmont, and the most awesome coastline in the country. College basketball at its finest. Middle-of-the-road politics. Small towns or big cities. We have them both. Decent secondary education. Great business environment in Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, and the Triad. There's something here for everyone. Perfect? No. But fewer cons than most states. I can't imagine another place to call home." "Born, raised, and live in Oregon. Lived in other parts of the country, and it only made me love Oregon more. It's got the coast, mountains, forests, and deserts. The average state park is more beautiful than anything in most states. People are nice, and the government tries to do the right thing." –winkler456 "Illinois has its problems, but it's also very diverse ethnically with the Chicagoland area and lots of professional and personal opportunities, some nice parks and recreation, and affordable living outside of Chicago. It's also the most average state in the union, meaning there's a little something for everyone." "I'm very proud of being from Connecticut, as I've grown used to all four seasons. I'm also proud of many policies the state government implements, and of Connecticut's inclusivity to all people. Also, in CT, you're never far from whatever you're looking for, as New York is a day trip for half the state, and Boston is a day trip for the other half of the state. If you want a beach day, the shoreline is nice, and we have many lakes and ponds. Hiking is always fun in the Litchfield hills, and there are so many great restaurants with all different kinds of cuisines. Pizza here is spectacular, and New Haven style is the correct style, NOT NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA!!!" "I'm Native American and I'm from Minnesota, so yes, I am proud because that is where my ancestors are from. I feel very connected to it. It's also very beautiful, especially Lake Superior." –Silverraincoat "I am from the great state of Maine. The state that is closest to Africa. The first of the states to see the sun each day. Played a pivotal role at Gettysburg on Little Round Top. Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The best lobster rolls and maple syrup you can find. Need I say more? I think not. Remember the Maine!!" "I'm a little proud of living in Michigan because of the lakes, I suppose. It's pretty cool, and I don't take it for granted. I feel more lucky than anything that I live in a Democrat run state, though, and am very, very ashamed we have some of the most unhinged MAGA here. It's gross." "New Yorker for life. While there are certainly a large number of us who are obnoxious af, we're tough as bawls and can generally take anything thrown at us." –CatSkritches "I'm from Kentucky, I'm very proud of that being my home state. Home of the KY Derby, moonshine, lots of small local businesses, horses, green grass, nice people." "I'm not proud of Georgia, but I am proud to say I lived in Atlanta for 14 years. Atlanta is a progressive, collaborative place that's changed and molded with time and culture. Not always at the rate I'd like in each category, but it's a fluid and dynamic town. The state as a whole? A bunch of MAGAs, like roaches for Raid. Can't deal." "I like Wisconsin. I guess I've been proud to be from here when I go elsewhere. Sometimes I think it must be nice to live in a non-swing state, though. At least in election years." "New Hampshire. I'm proud for many reasons – natural beauty, quality of life, education, history, as well as being a boring but very good place to be raised." And finally, "As a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, I take a lot of pride in where I'm from. This state is the literal birthplace of American democracy, from the Boston Tea Party to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. We're not just part of history — we are one of the states where our nation was founded." "Massachusetts is also a global leader in education, medicine, and science. We were among the first states to address affordable health insurance for all, we prioritize education for our children, and every town has free senior services for our elderly. But honestly, what makes me proudest is the culture: we've got grit, brains, and a distinct personality you won't find anywhere else. We're wicked smart, historically grounded, and funny in our own stubborn New England way."–lynnfomercial What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
A Miami teen takes on illiteracy as her next project. See what she's doing
Liz Aronson may have been in elementary school when she realized her dream career, but the memory is still sharp in her teenage mind. She had just spent the evening dining out with her mom and was headed back home. 'I saw a homeless person sitting down outside of the restaurant, and my first immediate thought was, 'I have to do something about this, right?' I looked at my mom, and I said, 'If we have any leftovers, do you mind if we could give them to this person?'' remembered the 15-year-old from Doral. 'It wasn't the feeling of accomplishment. ... It was just this act of helping others that brought joy to my heart.' Liz, who is a rising junior at Miami Dade College's School for the Advanced Studies, has a résumé that boasts more experience in charity and humanitarian work than most her age. She has served meals in Chapman Partnership shelters across Miami-Dade and organized donation drives for homeless people through Share Like Sisters, a service project she co-founded with her sister, Nati, last year. Her first certified Florida nonprofit, Flow Forward Foundation, hands out menstrual care products to needy communities. In the past six months, she has partnered with small businesses for fundraising events and built a team of global ambassadors from countries experiencing 'period poverty.' Liz was one of over 500 kids across 90 countries — four based in Florida, like her — enrolled in the World Literacy Foundation's remote youth ambassador program this summer. While most teens her age have slept in or headed to the beach, she's made sure every child in her community can read and write at or above grade level, meeting a need she was shocked to find existed. 'I didn't know that illiteracy was that rampant in the United States. ... Even in a first-world country where the education is better, it's actually very common,' she said. In 2017, 38% of Miami-Dade residents read at or below a 'Level 1,' only able to understand basic vocabulary or find very specific information on familiar topics, according to a study by the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. The county scored above the state average; only 24% of Floridians read at or below Level 1. Across the country, PIAAC found that 21% of U.S. adults possess the same low literacy skills, totaling 43 million Americans. Well aware of the magnitude of its goal — to eliminate illiteracy globally by 2040 — WLF relies on its youth ambassadors to get the job done, taking them through an intensive, three-month training program. 'Younger people are more outspoken and won't hold back from their experiences or what they want to share. ... They're going to say 'The world needs to change for the better,' said Kendall Warren, 21, WLF's youth ambassador coordinator for the U.S. and Canada. What does it take to be an ambassador? Applicants must be between 15 and 26 years old, have a passion for education accessibility, have a stable internet connection, possess a basic understanding of English, and design a fundraising campaign by the end of the summer. When they've fulfilled the nearly 30-hour-long program, WLF promises a certificate of completion. Learning about the program, Liz says, is even simpler. WLF's website was one of the first to appear on her screen while looking to combine charity work with one of her favorite hobbies. 'I've been a big reader ever since I was able to walk, you know? So, I was like, 'How can I put that love for reading into something that can help the community?' ' she said, sharing that her current read, 'The Handmaid's Tale,' inspired her to merge the two. 'When I stumbled across the World Literacy Foundation and read a little bit about them, I was like, 'Wow, I love what this organization is doing.' ' She kicked off the program in June and has been working her way through WLF's five online learning modules that highlight how illiteracy affects communities worldwide and feature testimonials from those who have learned to read and write because of the nonprofit's work. Live monthly webinars connect her and fellow ambassadors with Warren to ensure they're staying on track while juggling summer classes and family vacations. 'I like to check in on them because I know things happen. ... I want to be personal with them,' she said. But mid-August will see Liz Aronson in her element — designing and running a WLF fundraising campaign. She says rounding up cash resources is when she's most made an 'impact in the community' before. She has organized campaigns for Miami Animal Rescue and most recently partnered with Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, a national dessert chain, on April 21 to support Flow Forward Foundation. 'We did that type of fundraiser where I get 20% of the sales ... it was really successful. A lot of people came to enjoy some ice cream, but also make an impact in the community,' she said. She raked in a $100 cut after selling $500 worth of ice cream in eight hours, though she says 'that's not super important' compared to the reach her nonprofit gained that day. For Liz's WLF campaign, she's still weighing her options and who to team up with, Warren said. Ambassadors 'have the opportunity, if they want to work with other youth investors ... she's still figuring out her fundraiser idea and projects she'd like to work for, but she is working with others to try and fundraise and get all that set up.' The teen says she might try her hand at a bake sale or partner with local businesses. The message, she promises, will stay the same. Illiteracy is 'a big deal, because if you think about it, there's somebody else that doesn't have any access to books and can barely even write their own name,' she said. 'So I really like to acknowledge the fact that I have that privilege and take advantage of it.'
3 days ago
Grandkids of men who experienced Japan A-bomb attacks work for peace 80 years later
HIROSHIMA, Japan -- When the United States dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, Ari Beser's grandfather was on board both of the American B-29 bombers that carried the weapons. On the ground, Kosuzu Harada's grandfather survived both attacks. Neither of the men — U.S. radar specialist Jacob Beser and Japanese engineer Tsutomu Yamaguchi — met during their lives. But both became staunch advocates of nuclear abolishment. Decades later, that shared goal has brought their grandchildren together. Ari Beser and Harada are telling their grandfathers' linked stories, and working to seek reconciliation and understanding about an attack that continues to divide people in Japan and the United States. During this week's commemoration of the 80th anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks, the grandchildren visited a station in Hiroshima where Yamaguchi, badly injured, boarded a train back to his hometown of Nagasaki a day after the bombing on Aug. 6, 1945. The two grandchildren then went to the Hiroshima peace park where they spoke with The Associated Press about what their grandfathers experienced during two of the 20th century's most momentous events and their consequences. Yamaguchi was 29 when he was burned severely in the Hiroshima bombing. He was in the city on a temporary assignment as a shipbuilding engineer. After Yamaguchi arrived in Nagasaki, and was telling colleagues about the attack he had witnessed in Hiroshima, the second bomb exploded. Harada first learned about her grandfather's experience of both bombs when she interviewed him for an assignment in elementary school. Yamaguchi didn't talk about his experience in public until he was 90 because of worries about discrimination. He then became a vocal activist for peace until he died in 2010. In 2013, Harada learned that the grandson of an American who was on the planes that bombed both Hiroshima and Nagasaki wanted to hear about Yamaguchi's story. 'I had mixed feelings as a family member of the survivors,' Harada said, recalling Ari Beser's first visit. Ari Beser quietly listened as Harada's mother talked about Yamaguchi. Harada and her mother were surprised when they learned that the senior Beser was exposed to radiation during his missions. 'We used to see ourselves only from the victims' perspective," she said. "We learned that war affects and ruins everyone's lives.' 'I feel it is my role to keep telling about the horror ... so that the same mistake will never be repeated," Harada said. She visits places across Japan to talk about her grandfather's story and to push for a nuclear-free world. Yamaguchi used to say that he could never forgive the U.S. government for dropping the bombs, but he had no hatred for Americans. Even as his health deteriorated, Yamaguchi still spoke of his past, holding an interview from his hospital bed. Beser, a visual journalist and producer, has since regularly visited Nagasaki, and he and Harada have become friends. Harada believes the U.S. government should formally apologize for the bombings. 'A reconciliation takes time. It's a long process which takes generations,' Harada said. When he was asked about the attacks during his first visit to Hiroshima 40 years ago, Jacob Beser didn't apologize, but said: 'I wouldn't say it was our proudest moment.' He said the world needed to make sure it doesn't happen again. At 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1945, Jacob Beser was on the bomber Enola Gay approaching Hiroshima after a seven-hour flight from the Mariana Islands. The B-29 quickly descended from 32,000 feet (nearly 10,000 meters) to 1,820 feet (about 550 meters) and then dropped the bomb. "A door was open to a new era in man's inhumanity to his fellow man,' he said in a lecture at Johns Hopkins University in 1985. Beser, who was in the back of the aircraft working as a radar specialist, said that all he saw out of the window was a 'boiling muddy mess with fires continuing to break out on the periphery.' Three days later, he was in another bomber, Bockscar, above Yamaguchi's hometown. The city was gone when he got to the window. Growing up, Ari Beser was told that his grandfather's bone cancer was presumably from his radiation exposure during the bombing missions. In 2011, Ari Beser traveled to Japan for the first time to learn more about the bombings. He has since met with many survivors and is eager to hear their stories. 'Before, I think that we all believed in the same justifications. I can't justify it anymore,' Ari Beser said about the bombings. 'For me, all I focus on is trying to convey it to people so that it doesn't happen again." Because his grandfather was on both B-29s, Ari Beser was always interested in meeting a double survivor. That led him to Harada's family 12 years ago. 'It's passing the baton and it's leaving the record … We are the keepers of memory,' Ari Beser said. He was young when his grandfather died and never got to talk with him about the bombings. 'I also want to interview him or just want to ask him so many questions' and find out if there were other options besides dropping the bomb. Despite language difficulties, the two grandchildren keep communicating and working together on projects, including a book about their grandfathers. As the world increasingly becomes a divisive place, with fighting in the Middle East and Ukraine, Ari Beser believes that his work with Harada is more important than ever. 'It makes you nervous, makes you worry because if this history repeats with today's nuclear weapons, it's almost unimaginable how much would be destroyed,' Ari Beser said.
