We’ve been so busy this past few weeks, we haven’t been good at posting about the work we’ve been doing! So here goes….

These photos are of people engaging with our ‘Neighbor Maker’ conversation tables, a project we launched earlier this month at the Minnesota State Fair. The Bush Foundation and InCommons commissioned Works Progress to create sculptural tables that would spark conversations at the Community Pride Showcase, a day-long celebration of community changemakers from across Minnesota. What you see is our take on table talks - a fun, wearable design that definitely gets people talking!

The tables themselves are fairly simple, and we hope to make a few tweaks to the design now that we’ve had them out. We also designed a card deck of conversation starters and games to be played by participants around the table. These games ask people - whether they are strangers or friends - to think creatively about their communities; to draw, talk, and in some cases discuss or even reenact challenging conversations with their neighbors. 

Since the fair, we’ve already had a handful of requests from neighborhood groups asking to borrow the tables for their next community event. We’re excited to have a simple platform we can share and teach to others to help them creatively connect with their neighbors! 

We’ve also had a couple of requests to buy tables, and yes, we will make you your very own Neighbor Makers! You can email colin at worksprogress dot org for details and prices.

Many thanks to the Bush Foundation for their support! And to Miles Mendenhall and Luci Kandler, who helped us with problem solving and fabrication at their studio, Faux Poco! Also Peter Schilling, Ismahr’ehl Mondal, Kristin Murray and Janelle Nivens for making neighbors with us at the fair!

High fives to Janelle for taking such great photos of the day, which are all posted on our Works Progress Flickr page. While you’re at it, check out her great neighbor-making project, Minneapolis 81.

Cooperation Makes It Happen.

SHM