Urbanism doesn’t always want to hang out with Black queer feminism, especially at times in my embodied & socially distant Black queer feminism, but there’s always an internal map and compass that leads me back to it, my inner child specifically.
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This is The Black Urbanist Weekly, an email newsletter that highlights the Black Queer Feminist Urbanist thoughts and commentary of me, Kristen Jeffers, internationally known urban planner, designer, analyst, keynote speaker, media maven, and fiber artist. This week I talk more about what May will look like if you choose to join me in the Black Queer Feminist Urbanist intensive. Additionally, this newsletter is brought to you this week by Elsewhere and CultureHouse’s new job openings (both closing soon!), Greater Greater Washington’s Spring Gala (on Thursday, a rare chance to see me in the flesh, safely), and my Patreon supporters, who will have a first-row seat to the Black Queer Feminist Urbanist Intensive starting Wednesday, May 4th. Scroll down to the Before You Go section to learn more.
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Since I’m at home a lot more and coming up on 3 years in the same apartment, I’ve been thinking about what attracted me to the places I’ve lived in that I wasn’t born in. And even to the place I was born in, what about that place was so fascinating I wanted to know the ins and outs of why certain places and buildings and spaces were where they are?
In other words, In a world that already made it hard to be Black, feminist, and queer — why would I care so much about its urbanism in the first place? Especially when that urbanism was actively working to make it hard for me to enjoy it without guilt, shame, or this overwhelming need to wear myself out to be able to enjoy its spoils?
Before I ever bought this web domain, secured all the social media accounts and , there was a child, on a planet, loving its flowers and leaves and dirt even when they made them allergic, pedaling and walking to the places that still wanted to be in their neighborhood, wishing for good neighbors, great art and craft, and a loving supporting collective of souls, sometimes called family, sometimes called friends.
That’s why I do it. That’s why I’m still here. Skating against brick walls through clouds of grief, stitching up blankets of processed natural fibers to graze on, and kites to fly to heights that I aim to see again when there’s life to be given by those flights.
I’m here for that child. When I forget that, I fall off. When I remember that, I stand tall.
By the Way
I wanted to start giving props to articles and other content that I really liked that I thought was relevant again, much like we have a section for shoutouts/classified ads. So, welcome to By the Way, and make sure you check out Before You Go too.
I’m really excited about this new CityLab series encouraging cities to bet on Black women. The first article in the series is by friend of the platform Sherrell Dorsey. Make sure you grab her book as well and look out for her on this platform sometime soon. Oh and look out for me down the line with my own contribution to the series.
Take this article by Tanisha C. Ford (@soulistaphd) (paywalled, let me know if you need access) on Bel-Air and other Black excellence moments on TV as another teachable moment to actively talk about how Black capitalism fails us all and has failed us over time, and how our own internal insecurities and elitisms can put us down even before we make it to the white gaze.
I’ve also talked before, when we launched the original Black Queer Feminist Book Club/School/Intensive Pilot on how I associate certain songs with certain cities and I often have to play said songs each time I drive or ride or fly into a place. Of course I loved reading friend of the platform Ko Bragg’s( amazing breakdown on how so many artists, namely Stevie Wonder, were warning us in the early days of integration and post Civil Rights Movement activities of environmental danger and climate change and how these songs of our parents and grandparents generations were planting the seeds of our Black intersectional environmentatalisms.
I’m really enjoying these Curbed 21 Questions of New York based architects, planners and designers. Click through for some familiar and unfamiliar names, but plenty of intriguing conversation, especially around what people want to change around the art/design/planning world.
Transitional housing isn’t supposed to be jail, but these tiny home villages in LA are one example of how that’s happening there and sadly in other places that can’t just accept folks living in tents or that folks can handle their own housing, if we stopped pushing that capitalistic narrative on everybody that everyone needs to work X amount of hours to be worthy of survival.
Before You Go
Check out some special announcements from me and friends of the platform.
Elsewhere, the extraordinary living museum and artist residency in Greensboro, NC, is now hiring two key managerial/curatorial positions that will lead organizational programs and communications. Both roles are highly collaborative, shaping their respective work through collective visioning and goal setting, project management and coordination, and on the ground facilitation.
The Program Manager/Curator will lead curation and operation of the museum experience, the international artist residency, and alternative learning programs. The Communications Manager/Curator will lead the development of social media, newsletters, press releases, print objects, and museum interpretive materials.
Both positions are 30-hour per week roles starting at $18-20/hour. Benefits include 160 hours of paid time off, $1,000 of healthcare/self-care reimbursements and $1,000 of professional development annually, daily participation in Elsewhere’s vegetarian food co-op, and FMLA leave.
Applications are due May 1st at 11:59PM EST. Cover letters can be a barrier to entry. Elsewhere is asking applicants to complete a questionnaire in lieu of a cover letter and submit work samples of any kind along with their resume. Additionally, Elsewhere will host two town halls to introduce current staff, share information, and answer questions. The first town hall is for everyone on 4/13, 6:30-7:30PM EST, (register here) and the second town hall on 4/20, 6:30-7:30PM EST, will be exclusively for BIPOC participants (register here).
Elsewhere is artist-run space, but has a radically expansive definition of artist that can include practitioners from many fields and backgrounds (educators, organizers, etc.). Elsewhere seeks staff who are visionary, curious, self-reflective, assertive, proactive, solution-oriented, and mission-driven.
Elsewhere shares a radically expansive understanding of creative practice and identity. We strive for a diverse representation of voices, life experiences, views, and interests to reflect the collaborative community we have and wish to serve. To decolonize systemic structures of institutional oppression, we encourage queer creatives of color, as well as all other marginalized groups, to apply. Elsewhere is a ‘second chance’ employer and believes that those who are judicially challenged have a place in our community. If there are accessibility needs or questions, please contact museum@goelsewhere.org.
More information and applications: https://www.elsewheremuseum.org/apply
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CultureHouse, a queer-led urban design nonprofit based in Somerville, MA (Boston area) hiring for two positions to join their creative and passionate team. CultureHouse works with communities to transform unused spaces into vibrant public places. Their projects increase access to social infrastructure (the places we build and form connections)—creating cities that are more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and vibrant. Their work is deeply rooted in participatory community design and the core belief that everyone has a right to high-quality public space.
Sound like something you want to be a part of? More information on both positions is available at culturehouse.cc/join-us. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but please submit by EOD on April 30th. Reach out to aaron@culturehouse.cc with any questions. Read on for position descriptions.
Design position: Are you passionate about public space? Do you enjoy having a job that is impossible to explain to friends? We are searching for a full-time Designer to design and build creative tactical urbanism projects. In this role you will scope, design, construct, and see projects through completion.
Operations position: Are you a well-organized person with a passion for helping organizations run smoothly? Well, you just might be right for the CultureHouse Operations position! This role will work to make CultureHouse a more efficient organization by developing and maintaining operational systems.
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It’s not too late to get tickets to the Greater Greater Washington Spring Gala, which will be on April 28 from 6-9 pm at Mess Hall, a wonderful indoor/outdoor event venue in DC. Head here to purchase and learn more. COVID-19 Vaccination is required.
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If you just want to support me for any reason, but don’t need anything in return, you can become a monthly Patreon supporter( which comes with my special May intensive content), or you can donate to my capital campaign, or Venmoor Cash. App me. You can join the advertisers above, learn more and secure one starting at $75/week.
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I’ll resume my office hour next week with a livestream. Details to come in next week’s newsletter. However, you can stream a chat with me this Wednesday at 12 noon Eastern as part of Design Museum Everywhere’s Design Week 2022.
Until next time,