Michael Sorkin at the Green Living Room - West Woodlawn

Michael Sorkin presented at the soft opening of the Green Living Room in West Woodlawn, Chicago. Located in 6431 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, the Green Living Room is the result of the work and dedication of Naomi Davis, founder of community nonprofit, Blacks In Green, which:

“serves as a bridge and catalyst among communities and their stakeholders in the design and development of green, self-sustaining, mixed-income, walkable-villages in communities owned and populated by African Americans. In these places, every household can walk-to-work, walk-to-shop, walk-to-learn, walk-to-play, and neighbor dollars circulate to reduce greenhouse gases.”

— “Woodlawn’s new coffee shop teaches residents about sustainability, green neighborhoods” by Margaret Tazioli, Curbed Chicago.

Photographs by Blacks in Green. See more here.

“Davis doesn’t take the “living room” title lightly; the muti-purpose space is open to the public and designed to feel like a second home for West Woodlawn residents. Given Davis’ background in theater, she added a stage for performances, live broadcasting, mini concerts and film nights. The Green Living Room also holds a cafe with free wi-fi, computers with low to no-cost green economy curricula, and information on resources and job opportunities.”

— "Chicago Green Jobs Group Gets Official Headquarters" By Emily Nonko, Next City

Sorkin shared his housing design and collaborative journey with Davis at the opening.

NAOMI DENISE DAVIS: SURTHRIVE! in the cities where an entire acre is impossible to find -- consider the BIG: Blacks in Green BIG Urban Homestead plan and our "House As Garden" design that adapts to common Chicago lot sizes. Our award-winning design is by internationally renowned Michael Sorkin Studio, and we previewed it to standing room only at our #HardHatHappening on 8/31. From fruit/nut orchard and vegetable sanctuary to water reuse and of course solar, we're building a "living building" affordable to the black middle-income purse. Groundbreaking and breaking ground in 2020 -- visit us #TheGreenLivingRoom for info on how to own your own green 4-flat in the 'hood...and start building your family health and wealth!!

From public post below:

Learn more about Terreform’s work with BIG and Chicago on our South Side Stories project page.

Support Blacks in Green.

A Timeline of The Obama Presidential Library and Terreform

Check out this interactive timeline made by Terreform research associate Casey Breen that tracks our work and interest in the development of the Obama Presidential Library.

From South Side Stories project page:

Our goal is to produce a series of proposals–including physical plans–that can channel the great history, energy, and creativity of these communities and leverage the huge impetus that the arrival of the Obama library will bring, not simply to its immediate surroundings but to a territory stretching from Bronzeville to Calumet. We intend to collaborate and work with any organization that looks forward to mobilizing positive changes on the South Side, in particular: the citizens, the city, the community activists, the University of Chicago, and the Obama Foundation.

The project will center itself on the belief that everyone should have access to a parity of rights and expression in developing their communities. A successful plan is one that is premised on the idea of a common “right to the city”, that addresses not only the needs of the community, but also, its desires.

More South Side Stories.

South Side Stories is also in our latest newsletter, Shifting Gears — check out all our other projects!

New Terreformers!

Meet our new 2019 team members!

Anthropologist and spatial strategist DeNeile Cooper and environmental consultant Oliver Wright are contributing research to Waste Not, the second installment of New York City (Steady) State. Theo Brandt is a student and NYC native assisting on New York City (Steady) State: Home Grown. Casey Breen and Alex Serbanescu are visiting us from the University of Chicago and contributing to South Side Stories.

Learn more about them and the rest of the Terreform team at People.

From left to right: Oliver Wright, Theo Brandt, Casey Breen, DeNeile Cooper, and Alex Serbanescu.