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Chicago Project Case Studies: Lessons Learned
Burners Without Borders is a heading to be broadly applied. In Chicago, we have found that it describes a spirit and a style inspired by the work of the original crew in Camp Katrina (Biloxi and Pearlington, MS). That spirit and style include a direct and passionate intention to meet a need, and an ability to do so with common sense, follow-through, humor, art, humanity and generosity. It is a hometown expression of all the values we live on the Playa.
In Chicago, we have been fortunate to have good rapport with city officials. We live in a city of neighborhoods where action can be taken on a human scale, and you can make friends easily. We have also undertaken projects in which results are immediate and personal.
Art is part of every action, and the goal is to make new friends as we address their problems. And we are all aware that we are learning as we go.
The following is a list of Chicago projects. You can download a .pdf file for each, and learn more about how it works and find out what we are learning.
If you want to connect with us, feel free to call Tom La Porte at 312-742-1029 or email tom.laporte@gmail.com.
• Halsted Street Halloween Parade- For five years, we have combined spectacle and strategy to help create Chicago’s biggest Halloween tradition.
• Downspout Disconnection- Working in neighborhoods where flooding has been a problem, Burners Without Borders have broken new ground in the uses of art to make friends and solve problems.
• Recycled Art Project (RAP)- Burner artists invited into a Chicago Public High School to teach recycling through art. Unlikely partners include the local chamber of commerce, a City Council member and block clubs.
• Pilgrim Baptist Church-When the “birthplace of Gospel music” burned down, BWB stepped up and has helped for two years. “Scanner Sundays” have re-established their historic photographic archive and even unearthed a “lost” film of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• NOBLE - As a result of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, we are creating an oral history project for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
• Earth Night Concerts- For three years, the Chicago Burning Man community has staged innovative concerts to celebrate the planet and break new musical ground.
• Chiditarod- This urban Iditarod has provided food for distribution by BWB, winning new friends and extending the reach of other projects.
• Trusted Channel- BWB has been the beneficiary of fund raising efforts by Synchroni-city, the Acorn Theater and Chiditarod. Worthy recipients have been identified and money put to good use.
BWB Peru Phase II !!