Community Forklift’s Community Building Blocks (CBB) program provided free paint from our reuse warehouse to aid in the construction of The Bridge Spot mobile kiosk. The kiosk is designed to support a group of small businesses from east of the Anacostia River, allowing them to travel around the city and vend at festivals and markets.
The River East Design Center (REDC) applied to our CBB program for the grant of free materials. This group of designers provides educational opportunities and low-cost design services to underserved communities. Their goal is to empower communities to shape their environment through workshops, planning and research, and concept design.
“I believe knowledge is power and I want to increase access to information for east of the river communities,” says REDC Executive Director Anna McCorvey. “We try to engage residents that may not be present at more formal community forums or who may not be digitally connected. We also aim to make the design process more accessible.”
REDC designed The Bridge Spot kiosk as part of the small business enterprise programs of the 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Building Bridges Across the River. Seven businesses from Wards 7 and 8 were selected to use the kiosk free of charge, providing them exposure and vending opportunities across the city. Eventually, the kiosk will take up residence at the 11th Street Bridge Park once the park is complete.
The kiosk floor features a mural map of DC’s eight wards and highlights Wards 7 and 8, the region that the small business enterprise programs serve. Painted with the donated paint from Community Forklift, the mural uses neutral colors and a simple design, so that businesses can make the mobile space their own.
The kiosk debuted in May at the Anacostia River Festival, so keep an eye out for it at events around town!
MORE INFORMATION
- Community Building Blocks Program: Learn more and apply to Community Forklift’s program providing free materials to other nonprofits and community groups.
- The River East Design Center: Volunteer for projects, sign up to receive their quarterly newsletter, or donate to support their mission.
- The Bridge Spot: Learn more about the kiosk, the businesses that will be featured in it, and where it will be.
“I believe knowledge is power and I want to increase access to information for east of the river communities. We try to engage residents that may not be present at more formal community forums or who may not be digitally connected.“
Every time you donate or shop at Community Forklift, you’re helping us lift up local communities through reuse. We turn the construction waste stream into a resource stream for communities in the DC region – by keeping perfectly good items out of the landfill, preserving historical materials, providing low-cost building supplies, and creating local green jobs.
