AARP: Tell us about Bridge of Grace and what you do as the community development director.
Bradley:Our vision is to build thriving and sustainable neighborhoods with engaged residents.
My primary focus is on helping residents create the neighborhoods they want to live in.
So, we do work that transforms our community.
When we’re looking at concerns facing the community, we’re not coming in as outsiders.
Theres a complicated relationship between placemaking and gentrification.
How do you view this?
We all want those things.
Bridge of Grace’s work involves elevating voices.
Were listening to what people have to say.
We dignify people in what is designed and created.
AARP:How can a community make vital improvements without losing its identity?
Its voices, concerns, successes and vision ought to be the basis for improvement.
When thats the case, improvement will not eclipse the communitys identity.
It will strengthen it.
In November 2019, Rena Bradley was a panelist during a session at theAARP Livable Communities Placemaking Workshop.
How did that work advance or address the community and Bridge of Graces vision for the park and neighborhood?
Bradley:First, a shout out to AARP.
The AARP grant was for a project calledEnter.
The idea was to create intergenerational public spaces in our neighborhood.
That grant was forTired-a-Lot,a studio to engage youth in the design process.
I walked the campers through the design process that drives inspiration, ideation, implementation and investigation.
Then they would come up with a concept and build a full-scale working prototype of that concept.
They wanted to design an intergenerational space.
That was the challenge she identified.
And, frankly, I hadn’t even recognized the need.
Second, by hosting intergenerational story-telling events.
AARP:What are some of the other needs you see being important to residents of Mount Vernon Park?
Have they changed over time?
So, the first thing I did in 2015 was launch a community listening tour.
Our initial study revealed that our neighbors wanted more beauty within the community.
They wanted to feel like there was more of a sense of pride in ownership.
They mentioned wanting more spaces to get to know one another.
And they were concerned about neighborhood crime.
Weve addressed a lot of that over the past five years.
Overgrown lots are being maintained.
Once-blighted and vacant homes are being restored and occupied.
With that achievement plus the addition of theEnter.
The city now has an age-friendly advisory committee.
Whats currently livable and age-friendly about Fort Wayne?
What still needs to be done?
I think the same is necessary for youth.
Thats why we have things like youth councils.
I made sure I took the Tired-a-Lotkids with me to zoning appeals hearings.
I was happy to see that the kids actually enjoyed being part of the civic process.
Its important to create more space for people of all stripes to have a voice.
We have to remove the silos.
Right now, where you see elders, you dont see a lot of young people.
Where you see young people, you dont typically see elders.
Bringing people together to gain perspective and insight from one another is massive.
Leadership Development:Leaders are sought and developed to lead by grassroots
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Enhance Natural Capacities and Networks:Identify existing sources of strength as community assets and work with them
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