What Does Freedom Mean to You?
This time of year always brings me to reflection on the word “freedom”.
My thoughts this time of year turn to those who served in the wars and those who felt compelled to leave their homelands for a better life in America. But, no matter the time, or the place, I feel it’s important for everyone to reflect on what “freedom” means to them. Often, my own definition seems to center on the ability of people to make choices, build, and create what is right for them.
With my definition in mind, I’ve seen how people have taken the tools Patronicity’s crowdfunding process offers to create great things in their community with neighbors, friends, and supporters.
Coming Together to Share
One of the great things about community is how neighbors sharing the day-to-day together on the street level transcend topics often shouted about in the news cycle. I have seen how people of goodwill come together locally to create wonderful things for all to enjoy when each gives a little through crowdfunding. Let’s take a look at some inspirational projects from our programs:
The Carrie Morris Arts Production (CMAP) has been connecting community through an artist-run non-profit dedicated to providing a forum for contemporary puppetry, multimedia performance and artistic exploration in Detroit for the past five years. In Spring 2018, CMAP saw over 120 people come forward to support — raising over $5,500, along with a matching grant through the Public Spaces Community Places program, to upgrade their performance space.
In Lynn, Massachusetts, Beyond Walls has built community around a mural festival featuring artists from around the world and down the block, sculptures, neon artwork and interactive LED underpass lighting. Over the past two years, more than 2,700 people have helped to raise more than $170,000 unlocking $100,000 in match funding through MassDevelopment’s “Commonwealth Places” program to make it happen.
Last week, Beyond Walls threw the switch to light up the walkway under the elevated train tracks in the downtown. This amazing project took something that had been seen as uninviting and dangerous, especially at night, and turned it into a beautiful asset blending safety and the arts welcoming the Lynn community and visitors alike.
It’s a given that children should be free to play. But, for some kids it’s not possible for them to enjoy the local playground due to physical or other impediments. That’s where a local mom and teach decided to roll up her sleeves and get to work creating an inclusive playground for all kids.
Wasbash, Indiana’s Shelly Myers took the vision for the playground to the people and helped to raise the money needed to make it happen thanks in part to support from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s “CreatINg Places” program. After raising over $51,000 through a crowdfunding campaign and receiving a $50,000 match from IHCDA, that was the final piece of the puzzle to give children, and even adults, the freedom to play in the community. Shelly has great things to share about the effort and you can hear her story and her tips on crowdfunding through the video below.
What Better Time Than Here? What Better Time Than Now?
We all have dreams of better things — be it personal or for the community we share together. Many people often put off pursuing their dreams only to regret it later. The roadblocks can seem huge when starting something new, especially something that will involve community support and raising money. At Patronicity, we have found over and over again that a great idea, told well in an engaging way, builds not only something wonderful but a legion of supporters making community development sustainable in a way that only crowdfunding can.
In the end, isn’t what we are celebrating today? The idea that people can come together, claim their independence, and then work to improve it. Either way… I think that’s something worth celebrating — not just today… but, every day.
Feel free to reach out to me, Rob St. Mary, and let me know how I can help you realize the freedom to create at Patronicity offers to communities, non-profits, arts, and small businesses. You can get in touch through our website: https://www.patronicity.com or by emailing me Rob@Patronicity.com
