How might we foster stronger community connections in urban planning projects through multilingual and culturally sensitive engagement strategies?
Capping the Cross Bronx Expressway
The Cross Bronx Expressway, a mid-20th-century project by urban planner Robert Moses, was meant to speed up travel in northern Bronx but instead caused severe environmental and social issues, such as air pollution and community division, exacerbating health problems like asthma. The "capping" strategy aims to cover parts of the expressway with green spaces or new developments to reconnect communities and mitigate negative impacts, enhancing local air quality and creating public spaces for social and recreational activities.
This project, in collaboration with Loving the Bronx and Montefiore Health Residents, uses local insights and healthcare expertise to redesign the expressway, focusing on community health and increasing civic engagement. Bhavya, as a researcher and workshop facilitator, played a crucial role. She developed educational materials, led workshops, and ensured that health impacts were effectively communicated to the community, facilitating a collaborative environment for a healthier Bronx.
Role: Client Lead (for Montefiore Medical Group), Researcher,& Project Manager
Collaborator Organizations: Montefiore Medical Group, Loving the Bronx, and SVA Design for Social Innovation
Team Members: Madhuri Rao, Alejandra M. Libreros
Duration: January 2023 - April 2023
Keywords: Civic Engagement, Urban Health, Community Collaboration, Environmental Justice, Sustainable Development
Context: The Bronx has one of the highest rates of asthma, almost 17.4% of children up to 12 years old have been diagnosed with asthma. But rarely have the cases been linked to the pollution caused by the Cross Bronx Expressway (CBX).
The city has won a $2-million federal grant for a community-driven study to “CAP” the Cross Bronx Expressway.
The study will focus on creating bike and pedestrian links, connecting neighborhoods, reducing emissions, improving traffic safety on ramps, and finding sustainable freight transportation methods.
Challenge: The partner organizations for this project Loving the Bronx and Montefiore Health Residents Team, wanted to co-design community engagement tools, so the awareness about this "Capping" the CBX can be increased and there could be more turnout for the government-hosted events, where the community can share their ideas.
Research Methodology: Research methodologies included surveys, workshops, and direct community engagement to gather insights and understand the expressway's health impacts
Insight: Insights gathered included:
The Bronx is covered in green space, but much of it is inaccessible.
The a need to focus content on "capping" the CBX rather than re-imagining, as the latter is too open-ended.
Identifying and understanding who was not attending community meetings, prompting a focus on inclusivity and broader engagement.
Intervention: the project aimed to communicate in multiple languages to include the diverse Bronx community and focus on capping the CBX to make it more tangible for participants. Additionally, the project solution included organizing community events with different interactive booths to engage all age groups, creating a scale model of the expressway, and documenting oral histories.
Implementation/Impact: The project led to heightened community awareness and engagement, with more residents participating in civic events and discussing the expressway's future. It fostered collaboration between healthcare professionals and the community, promoting a healthier, more connected urban environment.
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Working with the community
Working in the Bronx was an invaluable opportunity that profoundly shaped my approach to social impact design. Each day was filled with deep collaborative efforts with a vibrant and diverse community, learning from their experiences and insights. I facilitated workshops and discussions that sought their input and empowered them to take an active role in re-envisioning their environment. This hands-on involvement allowed me to witness firsthand the challenges they face due to urban infrastructure and environmental issues, in all their richness and complexity.
