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ADAM PODOLEC

I was once a remarkable human being.

I was able to see a herd of animals way

off in the distance, disappearing over the

horizon. I am now near-sighted, need-

ing glasses to see my computer screen.

I was once a remarkable human being,

with tough sun-soaked skin and strong

muscles.

I now have frail pale skin and a weak

body because I stay indoors. I used tobe in touch with nature, seeking solace

along the walking trails. Now my closest

connection to nature is in making sure

my lawn is weed free and well-watered.

I once had a large community of

friends and family, all connected through

song and dance. Now I am lonely, only

speaking to my friends online and my

family when I need something. I was

once a remarkable human being, making

love to my partner in a long, passionate,

sensuous dance.

I now use a robotic love doll to fulfill

my sexual desires.

We were once remarkable human be-

ings, with our children born at home,

into the arms of someone dear, and

placed on a blanket. Now our children

are born in a hospital, into the rubber

gloves of a stranger, and placed in a

chamber of plastic.

We once celebrated creativity and en-

thusiasm, but now we zap our children

with calming drugs. We were once hap-

py and smiling, but now everyone is on

anti-depressants or has fake smiles fromcosmetic surgery. We once discovered

and explored the land, but now there are

no wild places left.

We were once a remarkable people,

cultivating and growing thousands of

varieties of fruits and vegetables. Now

we only grow a few.

Once we were a declining civilization,

but remarkably, we began to change.

Where we once coveted speed and ef-

ficiency, we slowed down and practiced

mindfulness and care. In places where

we lost touch, we re-connected and felt

whole again.

We decided to become remarkable again.

We unplugged ourselves from distract-

ing technologies and experienced the real

world again. We gave up fast-food and

junk-food and ate good food. We sup-

ported local, and developed fairer trade.

We shrunk the power of corporations, al-

lowing government to look after the people

and the land.

We spent less money on the military, and

more on education. We worked on our

neighborhoods, transforming them from

alienated bedroom communities to vibrant

places full of culture and personality.

We raised our children outdoors, active

and in touch with nature. We went out-

side, took to the streets, and marched to a

different drum.

We chanted a call for a new world, and

it was remarkable.

Once Again Remarkable

MIRANDA CROSS

Te City Repair Project is a colorful and

inspiring story of place making at its finest.

What began as an act of civil disobedience

is now a legitimate and highly reputable

organization facilitating creative commu-

nalization of local neighborhoods.

hrough a process of collective em-

powerment and creation, the residents of

Portland, Oregon are making history by

re-defining values, and re-creating com-

munities one neighborhood at a time.

Te City Repair story demonstrates that

radical urban rebuilding must be initiated

and implemented by the people who live

in their places, because current social in-

stitutions deter necessary changes in order

to maintain the status-quo.

City repair was founded 14 years ago by

Mark Lakeman, a visionary architect, who

was inspired by vibrant traditions and cul-

tures around the world. He joined forces

with friends and neighbors to build theea House, a sprawling backyard struc-

ture, made of salvaged materials, to host

community potlucks. With the weekly

Monday night potlucks the popularity of

the ea House grew rampantly.

Over the following months of ea House

potlucks, a group of residents began to

meet monthly to brainstorm way to im-

prove community elements such as liv-

ability and vitality. From here City Repair

extended its wings and took off.

Te Place Making Coordinator, Makin

Chai, describes the ea House as a cocoon

out of which flew two new project ideas.

Te first was the ea Horse, the butterfly

to blossom from the original ea House.

Te second was Intersection Repair.

Te ea Horse is quite literally, a giant

mobile butterfly that randomly lands on

street corners, throws down its plush pil-

lows, to serve free chai tea. Te objective?

o slow people down and give them a

chance to talk with each other.

Te other project to blossom from the

ea House was Intersection repair, which

Chai identifies was inspired by the real-

ization that having immediate access to

common gathering spaces was necessary

for society.

People started to re-create their places:

Sunflower paintings across intersections,

permaculture gardens, benches and cob

structured tea stations. All designed and

implemented by the community. How-

ever, these are more than just paintings

and cob; Chai points out they are em-

blems of social creativity, established fertile

space where imagination can run free and

develop.

Te first crew of visionary intersection

repair activists attempted the formal ap-

proach to the Portland city council for

approval of their plans, only to be bru-

tally rejected. Impregnated with the spirit

of rebellion the city repairists took to the

streets, paint cans and shovels in hand.

City Repair had an alternate idea for com-

munal resources.

he civil disobedience, persistence of

the residents, and the blatant success of

the first intersection repair project in im-

proving the wellbeing of the community

led to a shift in the city from opposing to

supporting the projects. Professor Connie

Ozawa of the Portland State Universityhighlights that in January 2000, the Port-

land City Council passed an ordinance

allowing any group of citizens to create

public squares at street intersections in

their own neighborhood.

Interestingly, had the initial intersec-

tion repair crew waited for permission, I

wouldnt be writing about these epic place

making gurus today. However, everyone I

spoke with at City Repair, emphasized that

working with the city, and government is

vital to the City Repairs Project. As Chai

said ...the government people need [com-

munity] just as much as we do.

Another member, Homey Love, said its

about having the necessary conversations

to start talking about transforming our

landscapes and mindscapes. By having

these conversations, and going through

the long, and often frustrating process of

bureaucratic approval, Te City Repair

Project is clearing the way for future com-

munities to create the places they want to

live in.

Chai further pointed out, City repair

focuses on empowerment; where as ourcurrent social structure inhibits that cre-

ative vision that we all have. o start this

process, Chais advice is to Start with pot-

lucks, begin with no agenda, and then

hone in on project ideas.

When we think about all the problems

in the world today, it can be overwhelm-

ing, and discouraging. But when thinking

about new visions of the future, the City

repair project is a good reminder to follow

the counsel of reknowned anthropologist

Margaret Mead, to never underestimate

that a small group of thoughtful, commit-

ted people can change the world, indeed

its the only thing that ever has.

Re-Defining Value, One Intersection at a Time

PHOTO BY NICOLE FONG

ART CAN BE AN EFFECTIV E WAY TO CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE ARTWORK BY SARA FRALIN

PHOTOD BY JULIA BENNETT

CITY REPAIR CREATED GARDENS IN INTERSECTIONS

Georgia Brander

Tese bars are tasty, easy, and good

for you!

Dates are low in saturated fats

and cholesterol, and high in vi-

tamin C, iron, and potassium.

Tey are great for strengthening

the immune system and helpingin the absorption of iron.

Cashews are low in fat, contain

oleic acid which is good for your

heart, and are rich in antioxi-

dants.

Tese bars are great for pre- and

post-workout snacks, in your

lunch, or even right out of the

bowl!

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup Whole Pitted Dates

1/2 Cup Raw Cashews

Place dates into food processor,

pulse until smooth.

ransfer to a mixing bowl.

Place nuts into food processor

and pulse until finely chopped.

Mix the nuts and dates together

with your hands.

Once incorporated evenly, you

can shape them into bars (this

recipe makes about 2 bars), balls,

or any shape imaginable.

Store in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Raw VeganCashew

Cookie Bars

HOW CAN WE RECONNECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT? IMAGE BY CASEY ROCKWELL

March 17, 2010 ESSENCE 3