MY REGION WINS!

MY REGION WINS!(MRW!) is applying for the Elevate Prize to help with our 'From blight to BOON!' project (A 100-year journey). Funds would be used to create BOON AREA 1an interactive, functional piece of artwork that acts as a contemporary community garden. BOON AREA 1 will be the first of many BOON AREAS spread throughout the west side of District 5 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Our goal is to obtain, beautify, and maintain properties owned by Land Bank and KC Housing Authority that are on the west side of District 5 in KCMO.(These two own over 600 vacant properties on the west side of District 5.)  

Turning these properties into BOON AREAS to generator revenue to provide funds for the neighborhoods these BOON AREAS are in. The funds given to the neighborhoods can be used to compensate residents who take on roles (President, Vice President, Secretary and so on... (There are over 40 'Office Titles' that can be held in each neighborhood. Ultimate goal is to be able to generate enough revenue to be able to stipend every household in the neighborhood a BOON AREA is in.

Born (1977) and raised on the west side of District 5 in KCMO., graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2006 with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts.

Founded MY REGION WINS! in 2014 after years of working as a freelance Artist and realizing that the Arts did not have a place in society nor at the table of addressing environmental and social injustices.

My vision is to turn the west side of District 5 into a sought after destination again. There used to be an amusement park, drive-ins, movie theaters, arcades, & bowling alleys and now there is only Swope Park. This is all due to 1945's white flight that took place, a 100-year plan were white people left this area with the intention to come back in 2045. My purpose is to provide support for those who have been, are, and will be effected by gentrification.

Our mission: 'To transcend everyday challenges' by using the Arts to nurture creative & undeveloped ideas that shape society.

"If your Bruce Wayne has a Batman or Diana Prince has a Wonder Woman, let MY REGION WINS! be your Alfred."                                                        Carl Stafford - Founder, Visionary, Certified Community Coach.

Specific Problem(s) MRW! is solving.

• Addressing white flight, redlining, gentrification.
  • By providing supplemental income for residents in these neighborhoods.

The scale of the problem spans throughout the west side of District 5, all of District 3, and the north part of District 4. Millions have been affected since 1945.

Contributing factors are the past(since 1945) and current city Mayors, city Managers and Council who are going along and benefiting from white flight, redlining and gentrification that is to come.

Local statistics.

• Look at Land Bank and see where the majority of the blighted vacant properties are. They are all on the west side of District 5, District 3 and the north part of District 4. Areas that are still feeling the affects from white flight, redlining and beginning to feel the affects of gentrification.

How MRW! is addressing this problem.

• Our goal is to use the Arts and nature to address environmental and social injustices.
• We obtained our first vacant lot in 2016.
  • Have held social gatherings, nonprofits have booked our lot to host demonstrations, a company leased our lot to store heavy equipment while working on pipes. Early this year MRW! was able to provide a check to the neighborhood.

New (not so new) approach.

• Using the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend model were residents receive funds from Alaska's oil revenue. MRW! will do the same with the blighted/vacant lots owned by Land Bank and KC Housing Authority. Turning these properties into BOON AREAS (revenue generates) and sharing the proceeds with the neighborhoods and the households within these neighborhoods.

Unique and/or disruptive.

• This is unique for it will be the first time Art and nature are being used to address environmental and social injustices.
• This will be disruptive to the white flight agenda, this will help offset gentrification, and this will help bring residents together to realize their own value so they may appreciate their neighbor's value and the value of their neighborhood. In doing so, this should encourage more residents to become more involved in there neighborhoods.

Steps taken to achieve our plan.

• Communicating with the 40-neighborhoods on the west side of District 5, their neighborhood leaders and sharing our idea.
  • This is effective for it is important to have a collective approach. The neighborhoods are appreciative that someone is thinking about them and how to help them. This increases involvement from within.
• Every first Saturday of the month there is a 'Revive the west side of District 5 first Saturday of the month virtual meeting'.
  • This is effective for it provides an opportunity for residents to follow and share their voices and ideas.
    • To view past virtual meetings click here.
• Communicating with the 5th District Council, the Mayor and City Manager asking for public acknowledgment and support.
  • This is effective for when they get on board more funds will be provided, the process will be expedited and the citizens will see the city is supporting something that came from within and not just another big corporation who lobbied their way into getting what they wanted.