Over 100 local groups and small businesses participated and presented alternatives for use of public space, historic preservation, but most of all, green alternatives for the city.
Take This Idea
Ideas included nontoxic routes to healthier homes, alternative ways to generate energy, and new ways to recycle. The Green Depot featured an interesting concept for self-watering planters made by recycling plastic bottles.
Some stands, such as the Housing Is A Human Right Storytelling Project, designed graphic photo displays and audio presentations to educate the public about pressing community issues and to draw community support. Other organizations, like the Urban Futures Survey: Subway, invited fest-goers to interact with hands-on displays.
Teach the Children
Many of the booths had activities for children that were designed to educate them about their local communities and the environment as a whole. Children were invited to “fish” as they learned about aquatic ecosystems. They prepared food at Anne Apparu’s There Are No Recipes, choosing, fixing, eating, and sharing their local food experience.
The Bowery Mission
Community Stakeholders
Freda, from La Finca del Sur, in the South Bronx, talked about why she participated in the festival: “The festival is about people from the community helping to shape it.”
She considered it an opportunity to teach others, especially children, about the culture of growing food and how it encourages a sense of community and helps urbanites reconnect with nature. “There’s a spiritual element to it, too,” she said.
From urban to suburban spaces, low-tech farming to high-tech energy, the SteetFest gave hundreds of participants much to think about.
For more information about the participants and vendors, visit www.festivalofideasnyc.com/map
