#they have a hq base on a farm where they grow their own food and even have horses (rare and stolen ofc)

[wraithsoutlaws]

been thinking about the neglected section of dagger's lore after he leaves the bakkers as a teen and winds up in a smuggler outfit and aaaa for so long i couldn't grasp details of it all but now its flooding in and its coming together :ratscream:

[ayemanolld]

How Successful People Make the Most of Their phd in international development studies in usa

Study Abroad for African Students

Study abroad experience could have a deep effect on the individual: from transforming one's career route and social circles to improving global engagement.

Pupils from Africa, for several decades, have been in the pursuit of high-quality education provided all over the world. Motivated by strong ambitions and livelihood opportunities, the African students are looking past what their home nation can provide.

Study abroad experience can have a profound effect on the individual: from transforming one's career route and social circles to improving global engagement. A recent study conducted at the University of Minnesota has demonstrated that international students become civically involved and, regardless of the expectations, are most likely to come back to their home countries.

Why Does African Students Search Education Abroad?

Based upon the character of an individual and their career objectives, international students from Africa can either study in prestigious African American universities or venture to go farther and go to the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, Dubai or a number of different destinations in Europe or Asia.

In the last decade, South Africa has witnessed that the 2nd biggest number of students from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Libya, along with other African nations.

Below is a brief overview of the entry statistics printed in 2018.

What motivates African Study abroad students?

As the following graph reflects, pupils from the area are strongly motivated by career aspirations and the possibility of enhanced career opportunities. The responses reflected in the chart are for prospective undergraduate students, but the exact very same patterns hold for master's and PhD students too.

Nearly three in four respondents imply that progressing to a higher degree qualification is an important factor in their interest in pursuing an undergraduate degree overseas. Nearly half see a foreign undergraduate degree as a means of advancing into their current career path, and a comparable proportion see a foreign degree as a requirement to enter their intended career. At length, almost a third (29%) see study abroad as a way of enhancing their career prospects.

The graph illustrates clearly how weighted the survey response is to those factors, relative to personal or cultural motivators such as opportunities for exchange or personal interest.

Where to study abroad?

According to the Newest QS Applicant Survey, the US and Canada are the top destinations for African American pupils to proceed with their studies. Around 36 percent of pupils refer going to colleges at both US and Canada for undergraduate and master classes.

China is yet another popular destination which has witnessed a stride in the circulation of African pupils to their top universities. The number of pupils from Africa took a whopping spike of 95,000 in 2014, and the country has since pledged 30,000 more scholarships to promote more mobility from Africa. France has also been bringing pupils from French-speaking countries like Algeria and Cameroon.

The reasons for pupils from Africa to choose these countries is highly affected by the caliber of education and over all the Financial Aid. Many universities in Europe also need very less or no tuition fees.

The investment in a diploma from a US establishment has been viewed positively by global employers for decades. The Higher Education program in the USA helps develop powerful critical thinking skills and fosters a collaborative approach to learning. The width of the program encourages students to research topics far beyond their major. This gives a broader comprehension of the world along with a much more open view.

Such skills and approaches are much valued by employers and have also developed a strong entrepreneurial spirit among US graduates. The rapid growth of Silicon Valley in California is one particularly shining example of the benefits of a US Higher Education. Study in the united states and follow your own American dream.

Study In Canada

Canada offers a exceptional chance to research completely in English, entirely in French or on a bilingual program. Having a population of roughly 10 percent of its southern neighbor, the USA, Canada has lots of space. Canada is renowned for the friendliness of its people, its security, and its quality of life.

These points have made Canada an increasingly popular destination for studies among international students in general. Approximately 20 percent of the Canadian population speak French as their native language. English, in 56 percent, is undoubtedly the predominant language across the country. This is important to bear in mind if you're out of a French-speaking country.

Study Abroad agencies mostly operate with institutions in the English-speaking portion of Canada. This is only because we consider proficiency in English is an essential skill for the worldwide mobile workforce. If your plan is to operate in Canada after graduation that a strong knowledge of English will be essential. However, for people who do prefer to research from French, Seed can offer extremely inexpensive options also.

At all levels that the British education system has an excellent global reputation for academic achievement. The UK is home to a number of the most famous schools, universities and colleges on the planet.

It is the accomplishments of graduates of the UK higher education system which created the country's academic standing.

Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe with the continent's biggest economy. The earliest research universities in the world have been in Germany and several continue to be open now.

The United Nations Development Programme places Germany as 6th about the Human Development Index. This is ahead of more popular study abroad destinations that the USA, United Kingdom, and Canada.

The German Government reports that there are around 375,000 international students registered at university there. That's over 12 percent of the entire amount of university students in the nation. Approximately 18,000 African pupils, each year choose Germany for university overseas.

No surprise as the country is home to famous engineering and manufacturing brands. STEM subjects are popular class choices with African American study abroad students.

Turkey is not only a gorgeous destination for travelers but also attractive to many foreign students. Research in Turkey can be relatively cheap in comparison with many other countries overseas. There has been enormous investment in universities there in the past couple of decades. As a result, Turkish universities offer high-quality education and top-of-the-range centers, but at a really reasonable rate, to equip their students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel at the professional world.

Public universities mainly offer applications delivered entirely in Turkish, though it is also possible to find some bilingual (Turkish and English ) programs and even some applications delivered in French select institutions. There are no programs taught entirely in English in public colleges so any African student looking to study in public universities will need to study the Turkish language initially and successfully pass the Tomer Exam (the Turkish equivalent to the TOEFL Exam).

Personal universities offer a great deal of programs taught entirely in English. We will mainly focus our attention on private universities in this guide as we can strongly believe in the global work opportunities that are going to be offered to you if you study in English.

Dubai is located in one of the seven United Arab Emirates and is home to specialists from all over the world. Dubai has a famously fast-growing market and is famous for innovation. Obviously, the luxury shopping adventures make it a dream destination for many foreign students.

Study in Ireland

Ireland is a European nation famous for its civilization the world over. It is true a less known study destination for African pupils than its close neighbour, the United Kingdom. However, because we hope to reveal in this manual, there are lots of great reasons to think about Ireland for your research.

The Irish men and women are proud of the civilization and so work hard to preserve it. Ireland is an Anglophone country that makes it attractive for both African American students who speak English and those who want to improve theirs. Ireland is home to students from different areas of the planet too. Most of the students that study in Ireland come from the European Union, Switzerland, the UK, and North America.

Ireland has a younger population than most Western European countries and also a highly educated population. The nation is often referred to as the Celtic Tiger because of its strong economic performance over the previous 30 years.

Ireland includes a pioneering and can-do soul. Through innovation a country with a population of about 5 million people produces enough food to feed 60 million! Irish experience in agriculture has helped turn arid lands in Africa into abundant farming. And, an upstart Irish airline business, Ryanair, revolutionised air travel within Europe, becoming the largest European airline in terms of passenger numbers pre-COVID.

Unlike the UK, Ireland is a member of the European Union (even though it isn't part of the Schengen visa zone). In recent years, as a result of its highly educated workforce, Ireland has attracted multinationals, such as Amazon and Microsoft, to install European HQs here. Since 1st February 2020 it's the largest Anglophone state over the European Union, which will be very likely to make it an attractive base for additional international companies seeking to install hubs inside the European Union's Single Market.

Ireland is a very safe and gorgeous country with fantastic places to visit. Popular attractions are The Cliffs of Moher, Grafton Street at the capital city, Dublin, for shopping lovers, Killarney National Park and Muckross House & Gardens. With this kind of rich history it wasn't a surprise Capital Dublin was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010.

African students at the U.S.

Nownot all of those students listed previously are coming to the U.S., needless to say, and next week we will talk more about where else these students might be studying and how to contend with the other destinations African pupils are considering and choosing.

As for the nations with the most students traveling into the U.S., the breakdown is as follows, according to the Institute of International Education's 2018 Open Door report:

Source Nation

(2018 IIE Data)

Nigeria

12,693

Egypt

3,701

Kenya

3,322

Ghana

3,213

Ethiopia

2,118

South Africa

2,040

Morocco

1,563

Nigeria leading the pack isn't a surprise, as it's got the highest GDP of African American economies, and thus has more students that can afford a U.S. schooling. The remainder of the record all have savings in the Top 8 across the entire world, except for Ghana, that is not much behind at 11th.

While the other 47 nations in Africa are not listed above, almost all them are sending students to the U.S. and other nations for tertiary education.

It might appear, by taking a look at the above list, which Nigeria is the crystal clear place to invest your recruitment efforts. But remember, with greater pupil numbers comes more competition from other schools abroad.

Don't ignore the rest of the countries with fewer pupils already traveling to the U.S., as those may be untapped markets which would provide you more bang for your recruiting dollar. As we said in a previous blog post about Africa, the less traveled route represents the less competitive route. Consider how nice it is to be among the top-ranked universities in a college fair.

According to this 2018 report from IIE only 4 percent of foreign students in the U.S. were from sub-Saharan African countries. (The data for those from northern African countries is united with those from the Middle East, which account for two percent.)

Who are these students and what are they studying?

African students bring an invaluable perspective and drive to campus,'' states WENR within this slightly older post. WENR spoke to The University of Rochester's vice provost and dean of admissions Jonathan Burdick, noting,"These students, most of them engineers working to address quite tangible challenges, have an outsize impact within their departments and on campus."

According to Africa.com, the jobs with the most growth in Africa's expanding markets are those in agricultural engineering, agricultural management, telecommunications, structural engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, structure, actuary science, and geophysics. Tourism and health care are also on the rise.

If your institution has a strong program in these fields, there are a number of frequent flyer miles to be earned and pupils to be recruited.

Can they afford it, though?

But while the language barrier may not be a substantial challenge, a financial one certainly is. The price for a single year for an American school greatly exceeds the average annual household income for many African American nations.

What incentive is there for universities to supply larger financial aid bundles to these international students? Word of mouth for you personally. Remember that college-aged population boom? That's a good deal of mouths and the following generations will probably be learning about schooling options from those who went before them.

Research from World Education Services (WES) reveals that 93 percent of U.S.-enrolled students from sub-Saharan Africa were likely or very likely to recommend their university to peers in their home countries. WES predicts that,"Given the cost of successful recruitment efforts and the need to deploy both dollars and recruiters , these networks of alumni can provide an abundance of rewards with comparatively few risks."

Requirements to Study Abroad

The needs to study abroad for many international students would depend on the nation, the university, and also the program. However, there is a typical set of files necessary to apply to all universities.

Transcripts from Faculties

Recommendation Letters

Statement of Purpose

For Undergraduate programs, students would need to pass the typical international entrance exams like SAT depending on the country you're applying to. The African American matric qualification alone might not qualify one to the required degree.

For postgraduate programs, you'd require completion of diploma certificate and would be required to compose the nation and course-specific entrance examinations.

The minimum grade requirements for Universities will change across the countries. Also based upon the medium of instruction, students will need to take language tests to demonstrate the amount of proficiency.

Apart from this, to get a student loan, you would also have to show Confirmation of registration, proof of sufficient funds and fulfill the medical insurance requirements.

Composing an extensive admission essay or personal statement puzzles many international applicants. The vast majority of non-native English applicants do not feel confident in their application papers. That's why many of them utilize this platform to purchase informative article online:

Scholarships for Students from Africa

All the countries mentioned previously are focusing on widening their educational prospects by welcoming more international students. As a part of this, many scholarships are offered by many organizations to encourage pupils. Listed below are a couple of notables ones for students from Africa.

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship: Canadian and American Universities have booted up the Mastercard to offer you a $500 million initiative to offer scholarships for 15,000 pupils, particularly from Africa.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) for African American Students: An initiative from the Australian Government to provide fellowships and financial aid for 1,000 postgraduate students from Africa.

The Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS): Offered by the Beijing Municipal Government that offers a partial or full tuition fee for international students studying in Beijing.

French authorities (Eiffel Excellence) Masters and Ph.D.. Scholarships: Scholarships of Masters and Ph.D. students from developing nations majoring in technology, science, economics, law, and political science.

VLIR-UOS Training Scholarships in Belgium: Offered for students from African nations with preference given to women who take available master and training programs in English.

Language Language Proficiency

Students will need to give evidence they've achieved a particular level of English language proficiency.

These are the commonly accepted tests.

IELTS Academic Module

TOEFL

University of Cambridge Advanced

Pearson Test of English

VU English EAP

These tests should be obtained no less than two years prior to commencing the course.

The majority of African students prefer to settle on a degree in engineering or business studies. In Western countries notably languages, art, and human sciences are popular subjects followed by law and political science.

Pupils from African nations are wanting to move overseas to countries that offer them better standards of living. The ability to stay in the nation after finishing the training course will be also becoming a significant deciding factor. But it's also common for pupils to return their expertise to their home states and contribute to strengthening their economy.

Every nation has something to offer, and it is ideal to pick the course depending on academic and individual tastes.

Information sources and financing for Study Abroad

Nearly six in ten prospective students look to schooling agents for help in identifying and researching alternatives for study abroad. However, the QS survey clearly indicates that most pupils make heavy use of online channels as well, particularly organic research, institutional websites, school choice websites, and social websites. Between 80% and 100% of survey respondents said they make extensive use of all these online tools.

Another striking feature of pupil mobility from the region is the prominent role played by third party funders, particularly in the kind of government or company scholarships. As the following graphic reflects, private or household funding plays a major role for many students from the region.

The ranking of funding sources exemplified here reflects the prominent part of third party funders (and also the significance of affordability factors) that we have seen elsewhere to key markets in the region, notably Nigeria, northeastern university notable alumni Kenya, and Ghana.

The broker recruitment channel is still growing in Africa. They're determined and

[adavalenkova]

The Muse’s Profile - Carter (Supernatural OC)

Fandoms

Supernatural (main)

From Dusk Till Dawn

Atomic Blonde

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

General

Name: Ada Carter-Trevelyan

(Formal English: Lady Ada Trevelyan)

(Formal Russian: Ada Erastovna Valenkova)

Goes by: Dr Carter

Title: Baroness Trevelyan, a minor aristocrat owning a small estate in Porthzennor, Cornwall, encompassing a stately home and a lighthouse. Other assets on the land, including a farm and a tin mine, were sold off in the 1890s to cover the family’s debts. The family acquired the double barrelled surname, Carter-Trevelyan, around this time, after marrying into a wealthy merchant family to avoid losing the estate entirely.

Born: August 1st 1924, in a lighthouse near St Ives, Cornwall

Species: human/zombie

Age at time of story: 92

Apparent age: 43

Relationships

Parents: Marian Elizabeth Carter-Trevelyan, Erast Nikolaievich Valenkov

Other notable family: Lord Arthur Percival Carter-Trevelyan, grandfather, Irene and Varya Stepanova, cousins

Romantic interests: Ketch, though “romantic” is debatable

Sexual interests: Ketch

Friendships: none, though she develops some degree of platonic affection for Dean

Allies: Dean, though somewhat shakily. Ketch, even moreso.

Enemies: Alastair, somewhat, though she generally takes a neutral stance on demons; the Thule Society

Appearance

Hair: black, generally kept long but with an undercut to disguise the bald patches resulting from radiation poisoning

Eyes: grey

Complexion: pale, freckles

Markings: several scars covering most of her back and chest, with scar tissue replacing her left nipple, white scar tissue on her left upper arm, frequent bruises and puncture marks on her inner elbows that have variable rates of healing, left ring finger is slightly crooked following a broken knuckle

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 130lb

Build: toned, but almost sickly thin due to the effects of radiation sickness, small chest and narrow hips that give her an almost “boyish” shape

Tastes

Attire: casual, typically jeans/tank tops/combat boots, favors black

Drives: black Jeep Renegade, later a black Chevrolet Colorado

Music: Celtic/folk, classical, swing, hard rock, also very fond of Vera Lynn

Food: can taste very little due to nerve damage, only able to taste hot food such as chillis or curry

Drink (soft): coffee, but has to be strong and black for her to taste it, able to taste tea with a preference for Yorkshire Gold

Drink (alcoholic): Stolichnaya vodka, sometimes Glenfiddich Scotch

Colors: black, navy, hunter green

Hobbies (rarely practiced anymore): playing piano, boxing, fencing, hunting, horse riding, Cossack dancing (from her father), old time dancing (from her mother)

Hobbies (still practiced): shooting, open water swimming, reading

Likes: living in America, the seaside, and anything that makes her nostalgic for her childhood

Dislikes: sex, though she does like the power play of it; hypocritically, posh or upper class elites; taking orders; socialising; any of the organisations she used to work for, such as MI6, the BMoL, or the CIA; basically, anything that reminds her of the parts of her past she’s ashamed of

Skills

Former profession: lighthouse keeper, spy (WWII and Cold War), medical student

Current profession: demon doctor, alchemist

Practical skills: traditional boxing, horse riding and hunting (learned from her father), fencing, hand-to-hand combat, ranged weapons, sharpshooting, combat medicine, Western medicine (specialising in cardiology), Middle German and English alchemy, medicinal alchemy, torture

Language skills: fluent in English, Russian and German, conversational in Dutch and French, knows a small amount of Cornish

Preferred weapons: fists, knuckle dusters, handguns in combat. For torture, she’s master of the scalpel.

Special abilities: above average strength as a result of the formula, accelerated healing, immunity to almost all diseases

Personality

Traits: cynical, threatening and sarcastic with a dry sense of humor, she can be arrogant and frequently overestimates her own abilities, with terrible consequences. She projects an image of being cold and uncaring, but on occasion her inner feelings of compassion and affection inadvertently show through. Once established, those feelings are often intense and set in stone.

Qualities: assertive, confident, loyal, perceptive, smart, resilient, unprejudiced, principled, fair

Flaws: abrasive, complacent, jealous, vindictive, wrathful, selfish, cruel, manipulative, often fails to meet her own moral standards

Strengths: her intellect, physical strength and skills, excellent poker face, strategic ability, and good judgment of character

Weaknesses: arrogance, complacency, reluctance to admit her own vulnerabilities, easily manipulated once those vulnerabilities are found, emotional dishonesty, sometimes cowardice

Morality: she believes torture is justified in the case of a) punishing terrible people, or b) serving the greater good, though it isn’t clear how much she truly subscribes to this belief at heart. As of the 21st century, she chooses to harvest blood from demons so as to avoid torturing humans unless absolutely necessary. Her personal philosophy is that the worst of humanity is worse than any monster, and includes herself in that as having the capacity to do terrible things.

Fears: her own past

Triggers: corkscrews, the specific phrase “Was ist dein name?”

Religious views: none

Political affiliation: after benefitting greatly from Nye Bevan’s NHS following the war but suffering under a communist regime while undercover in the USSR, she leans cautiously left, though politics has little direct effect on her anymore

Alignment: true neutral, leaning good/evil or lawful/chaotic at different times in her life

Sexual orientation: asexual, but with a Machiavellian attitude towards sex where she views it as a game for power rather than a pursuit for pleasure

History

Her father was a Russian Cossack who fled to England following the revolution, being wanted by the Bolsheviks for trying (and failing) to defend the life of a Russian aristocrat. The aristocrat in question (having married into the Russian aristocracy) was the niece of an English Baron and retired naval captain who owned land in Cornwall, who agreed to take in Erast and permitted him to live in the lighthouse on his land as a gesture of gratitude after hearing his story.

The Baron’s daughter, politically active suffragette Marian Carter-Trevelyan, eventually fell in love with Erast and the pair married in July 1923, with Ada arriving a year later.

Baron Trevelyan was also active in the House of Lords, a keen alchemist, and member of the Men of Letters, who taught Ada much of what she knows about alchemy and the supernatural growing up. During the war, he sat on the government’s secret occult war council and recommended his granddaughter for a role spying on the Nazis - a private education had ensured her fluency in German and several other vital skills. Ada trained with the WAAF and underwent special training between 1939 and 1941 before airdropping into Frankfurt, along with an American agent, Roland Jefferson, at age 17.

Ada worked as a spy for the Allies during WWII to sabotage the Nazis’ occult program, where the Thule tried to develop a formula that would render their soldiers immortal based on an alchemical recipe from the 1500s.

Ada’s cover was blown in 1944 following a Russian telegram sent with a compromised encryption (suspected sabotage). She was imprisoned and tortured for several months, before escaping with the help of the Dutch resistance shortly before VE Day. The medieval text containing the alchemical recipe was brought back to England and placed in the custody of the Men of Letters.

During her absence, Baron Trevelyan was killed during the Blitz in 1942 when a bomb landed on the Men of Letters’ HQ. Her parents, after traveling to London to retrieve the body, were also caught in a bombing raid and killed less than a week later. Ada returned to England to find almost her entire family dead, the exceptions being her housekeeper, Mrs Hogarth, and the family cat, Grigory.

For a time after the war, Ada attended medical school before being asked to return to work for MI6 against the Russians. Part of this work involved torturing enemy agents, where she used her advanced knowledge of human anatomy to devastating effect.

Later, during the Cold War while undercover in Siberia, Ada suffered acute radiation poisoning from close proximity to a nuclear test site. She was, at this time, 43. While dying she used the Nazis’ formula combined with her blood to preserve her own life, albeit it in a “zombie-like” state - this was the first successful implementation of the formula, which sustains her to this day.

The active ingredient in the formula - the blood of someone in excruciating pain - she now supplies by performing surgery and medical enhancement procedures on demons in exchange for a fee, benefiting both parties. (For example, medical or alchemical enhancements granting demons certain abilities, powers, or immunities, requiring a painful procedure that allows Ada (now going by only the name ‘Carter’) to harvest the blood. Carter doesn’t disclose this, but rather charges for her services.)

After hearing about her in passing from Crowley, Dean approached her to help deal with his health issues that arose after being stabbed by Metatron and from the Mark of Cain.

Later, Dean reached out to Carter again to help find Kelly Kline and deliver her nephilim child. Instead, Arthur Ketch got to her first and prevented this, though the two struck up an unusual alliance in the process.

[oliveratlanta]

From Fort Mac to Dunwoody, 12 Atlanta projects to watch in 2020

Keep an eye on Midtown, where several block-altering projects like Midtown Union are underway. | Granite Properties, via Midtown Alliance

Across the city, big changes are in store for the new year

While it’s easy for development wonks to drool over activity in crane-studded areas such as Midtown, major real estate projects abound across metro Atlanta right now.

This year, expect progress with colossal adaptive-reuse projects, skyline-altering new construction, and, in some cases, a hybrid of the two. The future promises an Atlanta that’s taller, denser, and, ideally, more vibrant.

Below are a few projects worth keeping on your radar as so much heavy machinery does its thing in 2020.

Star Metals

Star Metals Atlanta

Stacked like a pile of books on a bedside table, the offices at Star Metals are expected to impress.

A mixed-use district evolving in West Midtown, the Star Metals complex features modern architecture that just oozes originality. Now under construction, the 14-story Star Metals Offices stack is expected to open on Howell Mill Road later this year.

Across the street, 409 apartments (above, at left) are projected to be tenant-ready this summer.

Quarry Yards

Urban Creek Partners/Quarry Yards

One example of development that embraces nature.

Little news has emerged lately about the Westside project that could deliver $400 million of new development in just its first 27-acre phase, apart from a groundbreaking that was scheduled for November. Still, its importance is tough to overstate.

Sited just south of Bellwood Quarry and the under-construction Westside Park—primed to become the city’s largest public green space—Quarry Yards is slated to bring retail, apartments, and a 300-key hotel. All said and done, the community, in development by baseball star-turned developer Mark Teixeira’s Urban Creek Partners, would straddle the Proctor Creek Greenway and neighbor the Beltline’s Westside Trail.

Midtown Union

Cooper Carry

The most recent vision for Midtown Union.

Unlike its much anticipated neighbor project, No. 2 Opus Place, the colossal mixed-use development Midtown Union is undergoing bona fide construction.

Sited at the corner of Midtown’s 17th and Spring streets, the development promises more than 600,000 square feet of office space within a 26-story tower, an 18-floor residential building with 355 apartments atop eight levels of parking, a newly announced 12-story hotel, and 30,000 square feet of retail. Kind of a big deal for a section of town that’s long been marred by surface parking.

Assembly

Renderings courtesy of The Integral Group

Expect a lot from the Perimeter area this year.

The north side of Atlanta’s Interstate 285 Perimeter is on fire—development wise, that is—and Doraville is no exception. Spearheaded by the Integral Group, Assembly, a mini-city that’s expected to grow from a former General Motors plant site, is just one example of the area’s rapid urbanization.

Expect 165 acres of housing, office space, restaurants and retail, and entertainment options eventually. (The film hub Third Rail Studios was completed in the first phase, along with an office component.) This year, a food hall by Paces Properties and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema—a Texas-based movie theater company—should start to materialize, with openings expected in early 2021.

Pullman Yard

Images: Brock Hudgins Architects, via Alliance Residential

Part of the Pullman Yard apartments proposal submitted to the City of Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission in late 2019.

Progress has been sluggish, but the future holds much promise for this former Kirkwood rail yard. Owned by Atomic Entertainment, a film production group doubling as real estate developers, the project is now called the Pratt-Pullman District.

The more than $100 million overhaul of the 27-acre site is expected to be part movie studio, part live-work-play space. Atomic head Adam Rosenfelt told Curbed Atlanta in November that Alliance Residential is taking over part of the property, with plans to build three apartment buildings—with some affordable units—that could be move-in ready by early 2022.

Norfolk Southern HQ

Midtown Alliance

Expect a shiny new addition to Midtown’s skyline.

Under construction since March, railroad giant Norfolk Southern’s potentially $575 million Midtown headquarters is rumored to open later this year.

Though holding your breath isn’t advisable, this Cousins Properties project is sure to make a mark on the subdistrict’s skyline and landscape. Plans call for a glassy, two-tower building spanning some 750,000 square feet, 13,000 square feet of retail—with a “food hall-style dining facility”—sprawling green spaces on rooftops and at street-level, and a 24/7 fitness center. Officials have previously said it’s all slated to open in mid-2021.

King Memorial MARTA TOD

MARTA

Plans for Atlanta’s next mixed-use project next to a train station.

At long last, this Grant Park transit-oriented development seems primed to break ground next to the King Memorial MARTA train station.

The more than $60 million project by the development team of Place Properties and Russell New Urban Development would comprise 300 new apartments—100 of which would be earmarked as “affordable” units—and 10,000 square feet of new retail space where underutilized surface parking exists today.

High Street

Renderings: High Street Atlanta

More density planned along the Perimeter.

Expect serious signs of progress at the site across the street from the Dunwoody MARTA Station and catty-corner to Dunwoody’s massive State Farm campus later this year.

The potentially $2 billion High Street project, if realized, would deliver a roughly 8 million-square-foot mixed-use destination, comprised of 400,000 square feet of restaurants and retail, 635,000 square feet of high-end office space, 1,500 apartments, and a 400-key hotel. Also, a public park.

760 Ralph McGill

New City Properties

The behemoth project could soon begin work along the Beltline’s Eastside Trail.

Proposed by the minds behind Poncey-Highland’s 725 Ponce office block and the “Beltline Kroger” beneath it, this Old Fourth Ward venture would bring serious density to the Eastside Trail—on a scale not yet seen with new construction.

Sited at 760 Ralph McGill Boulevard, the New City Properties project is moving forward and scheduled to break ground soon. Expect 1,100 residences, more than a million square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail offerings, and a 75-key boutique hotel.

The MET

Carter

Art and culture aplenty are expected at The MET.

Developer Carter, recently known for its ongoing overhaul of Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood, is also currently transforming the 1.1 million-square-foot former cotton warehouse built by Coca-Cola cofounder Asa Candler.

Officials hope The MET will ultimately evolve into the “cultural engine of Atlanta” for locals. The complex has already claimed myriad creative tenants, such as the once-displaced art gallery Mammal Gallery. Expect award-winning barbecue at the site this spring.

Interlock

The Interlock

An early concept for the mammoth project.

Under construction in West Midtown, developer S.J. Collins’s Interlock mixed-use venture would bring some $450 million of new construction to the area.

Scheduled to begin opening this fall, it’s ultimately expected to feature roughly 200,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of retail, 350 apartments, and 70 single-family homes. Preliminary work has also begun on a 161-key boutique hotel that would ascend roughly 13 stories. Puttshack, an indoor putt-putt concept from London, has signed on to open at Interlock this year.

Fort Mac

Fort Mac LRA

The old Army base could see new life in 2020.

Marred by leadership shakeups and squabbles with the City of Atlanta, the redevelopment of former U.S. Army base Fort McPherson is somewhat up in the air, but it’s still a key site to watch.

Now called Fort Mac, the Southwest Atlanta property—at least, the 145 acres not owned by film mogul Tyler Perry—is poised to come alive with a mix of residences, retail, arts spaces, and more. The potentially $25 million first phase could kick off construction this year.

source https://atlanta.curbed.com/atlanta-development/2020/1/7/21052178/atlanta-development-construction-projects-2020-fort-mac-dunwoody-beltline

[chrysalis-rp]

Welcome to 𝓢𝓪𝓵𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓻𝒆, 

Seen by industrialists as the preeminent vision for the ecotechnic utopia, the Commonwealth of Saltaire Archipelago is the newly minted city-state currently floating off the coast of Massachusetts. In a contract with the overtaxed and desperate American government, TrueStar Industries (an engineering research and development division of the Ulex Conglomerate) was tapped to solve the major issues plaguing the United States: alleviate the strain on overcrowded cities, raise the general quality of life experienced by the average citizen, and help reverse the damage to the earth caused by climate change and social turmoil. TrueStar pitched many ideas, but the most expedient involved utilizing the vast, blue and largely unused space covering seventy percent of the globe.

Thus, the Offshore Settlement Initiative (known more fondly by those involved as Operation Lilypad), a project aiming to make net positive living spaces atop the Atlantic Ocean, was founded. In the tumultuous era of the 22nd century, self-sufficiency, sustainability, and social responsibility is of the utmost importance, and as such, every inch of the ‘ships’ themselves are packed with the best organization and engineering humanity has to offer. As upheaval and uncertainty lay heavy upon all world citizens, Saltaire was designed to introduce safety, security, and comfort back into a culture riddled with catastrophe. As such, Saltaire is a decidedly optimistic beacon for the future of humankind.

To that end, the buoyant colony enjoys many amenities that are usually available to only the wealthiest land dwellers. In addition to a continuous supply of food provided by the Euryale Island and freshwater desalinated and filtered from the ocean, various facilities are available including virtual reality suites optimized for Esper link-ups, state-of-the-art android servants/companions, crystal clear saltwater swimming pools, landing pads for anti-grav vehicles and much more. But most importantly, the islands are covered in green arboretums, lush gardens, and the Euryale Island is used exclusively for plants and insect agriculture. Thanks to Ulex technology, many rare plant species are being preserved on The Commonwealth while other extinct plants (like cocoa and coffea plants) have been successfully revived, and Saltaire citizens are the first to enjoy their reintroduction to the world as a result.

Above all the luxe trappings, however, the archipelago serves a purpose greater even than providing safety and comfort to the masses, for its main function lay in reversing the damage wreaked by industrialization.Coastlines are caked with garbage, the acidity in the ocean is killing marine life at a shocking pace, and the air we breath is clogged with harmful pollutants. To combat this, the archipelago itself acts as a massive powerful filter, removing and recycling chemicals and trash, and restoring the ocean’s natural pH as it roams the expansive waters. Meanwhile it’s robust gardens, arboretums and fields work alongside cutting edge carbon sequestration systems that scrub the air clean of pollution. Though a single island is hardly enough to overcome centuries of damage, progress toward healing the planet will gain momentum as more offshore settlements set sail.

As an archipelago, Saltaire is actually a chain of “small” districts (or isles) comprising the first of what will become several modules. With a diameter of around 3000m, each pad has a 1000m tall central tower that houses the majority of the population and provides its necessities. On the oceanfront, the vast and open area surrounding the tower, there are low-rise townhouses that provide more living space, as well as businesses and government buildings. Comprising the outermost rim, however,  pristine beaches spread out before the eyes and meet with the water. Overall, the oceanfront is a versatile space and how it’s used reflects the norms and lifestyle of each island; a cultural nexus meant to be shared and enjoyed equally by all. Thus far, Saltaire is comprised of three islands:

Victoria (p. 40,000)  - As headquarters to U.G.C., many of its subsidiaries and global partners such as TrueStar and Lorica, Victoria Island is the financial center of the commonwealth, and the driving source of GDP. Tech and software, as a result, is Saltaire’s top export. Because of this and Ulex’s pervasive impact, Victoria is a major influence upon Saltaire’s culture. It is a constantly buzzing hive of activity and energy, a place where some of the best modern minds congregate and work toward a common goal. In Victoria’s case, its oceanfront is mostly for docking/landing pads, storage, and lab space. Acting as the financial hub of the commonwealth, it also sees the most foreign traffic in and out of the island. As a whole, the aesthetic is meant to be free of distraction and therefore leans toward minimal and utilitarian design. Thusly, there aren’t many families/children in this district, and those living on Victoria tend to be individuals recruited worldwide for their talent and vision in technology. 

Euryale (p. 125,000)  - As the most populated district, Euryale makes up the core of Saltaire’s government, and is the most diverse island in terms of function. Again, anyone allowed to immigrate to Saltaire was vetted - extensively - and serves a purpose. For the experiment to work, after all, everyone is required to do their part in advancing society. Nevertheless, people living on Euryale Island have more room to be simple citizens, to grow and figure out what it means to be a Salenite. As such, the people living here are going to be small business owners, technicians, scholars, servicemen/women, local government employees, teachers, medical professionals, students, families, artists, etc. In short, the common majority. While each tower contains everything a person might need, staying indoors is detrimental to human health. As a result, Euryale’s large oceanfront is a compact metropolitan area stocked with entertainment and culture venues such as restaurants, capitol offices, theatres, museums, libraries, clubs, and even a small arena for major events. Presently, many of these areas have to be shared do to the lack of space, so your favorite Italian place might sell Pad Thai on the weekends. But as the archipelago grows, the strain on Euryale’s facilities will lessen. Euryale Remoras - Unlike the Victoria and Padma Islands, Euryale also has a pair of towerless annex cells called Remoras. A last addition, these cells are each about a third the size of Euryale Island and hold the Oben University (p 1,684) and Cavender School (p. 523) campuses respectively. 

Padma (p. 10,000) - While Saltaire plans on using trade to supplement and diversify its food stores, it must first be self reliant. With the largest surface area of the three islands, Padma acts as the breadbasket for Saltaire. At the center of Padma Island is the hydroponicum, the large tower’s main function is vertical farming, but shares space with the agricultural labs. And though each district tower has its own hydroponics bays, Padma does the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to farming and feeding Saltaire. It is also used as the proving ground for the revived plant and insect life coming out of the Flora/Fauna Genome Catalog.

Ancile Security HQ Garrison (3,400) - Despite the optimism for the future Saltaire is meant to represent, there is a substantial subsection of society that wishes to see the project burn. As a result, protection for Salenites is one of the leadership’s highest priorities. Unfortunately for the US government, whose resources are not what it used to be, the military simply does not have the manpower to effectively protect Saltaire. That, consequently, is where the Ancile Security Firm fills in the gaps. Using a Howard-class aircraft carrier as the firm’s HQ, Ancile has a fleet of warships and submarines that circle Saltaire as a barrier for those that would do it harm. HQ is the home of most of the firm’s highly trained mercenaries, and also the location of the Base Exchange, where Salenite small business owners can sell their goods and interact with soldiers. Civilians also provide medical/custodial work as well. While the 1st Expeditionary Cohort remains based in HQ to protect Saltaire, the archipelago is actually HQ for the entire firm as well, and the majority of Ancile soldiers come in and out of the carrier as a resul, leaving the islands when they are deployed elsewhere.

As a whole, Saltaire represents the good and ingenuity humanity can achieve despite circumstance. But to many on the outside, it is easy to view Saltaire as another way for the powerful to hoard resources for themselves while others suffer. To them, Saltaire is just an experiment in gluttony, and another way for the elite to deny the grimmer realities faced by everyday people. And for those with dark intentions, Saltaire is a target for retribution. The world has yet to see which version of Saltaire’s future will come to pass, but whatever the outcome, it will surely be forever changed.

[trendingnewsdotstream-blog]

Voxgro: Why Tech Companies need gardens

Question: When is a garden not just a garden?

Answer: When it is also a place where over 1500 employees can meet, converse, learn, meditate, grow fruit and vegetables, explore creative arts, and set up businesses.

Voxpro has seven Centres of Excellence in four different countries; the company Headquarters are in Cork, Ireland. ‘Campus 1’ sits on a four acre green field site that, until two years ago, was just a four acre green field site. But then someone had an idea. As part of an entry to the company Innovation Programme, a Voxpro technical support specialist named David Humber suggested that part of the site be opened up to staff who would like to grow their own fruit and veg. And it was approved.

David’s idea became the ‘Voxgro’ project. In just two years it has grown to include a bio-dome, gardens, a disco ball pizza oven, an outdoor bar, and a family of chickens, all overseen by a full time horticulturalist and volunteers. But far more than just being an outdoor space, it has become a channel through which the Voxpro community can pursue and develop individual creative and entrepreneurial ideas.

Here is the story of Voxgro, in the words of some of the people closest to the project.

David Humber — The Man with the Vision

The Voxgro Project first started in 2015 when Voxpro launched its Innovation Program. The Program enables employees to submit any idea to Voxpro’s leadership team for adoption by the company.

My original idea was to speak to the local authorities to see if we could use the spare bit of land next to Voxpro’s HQ in Cork, Ireland, for employee’s to grow fruit and vegetables. I’d always had an interest in food, horticulture, and the environment and it seemed like a very good/fun thing to do.

It was decided it would be best to first test the idea at an existing allotment close by. So during 2015 a number of volunteers and I transformed an allotment near Cork airport and grew loads of veg. It was a steep learning curve as none of us had ever done this before and there were some failures, but we all really enjoyed it.

A few months later, due to the interest in the allotment, it was decided to move the project to the land at Voxpro HQ. So we got together with some great builders and came up with a really funky garden to mirror the transformation which was taking place inside the offices at the time.

Following discussions with all parties, Voxpro engaged the services of a team of external professionals to advise and work on the project to bring it to its current stage of development. The result was a really funky garden to mirror the transformation which was taking place inside the offices at the time. This external team was headed up by Paul O’Flynn — Landscape Designer/Project Consultant, Tim Farley and Jack Thorne — Bespoke Structures who are responsible for our Geodome and all the nice paving. Hendrik Lapel — Bakehus responsible for the Pleasure Dome and unique disco-ball Pizza Oven.

By the end of the first phase, we had a huge Geodesic Dome greenhouse, vegetable beds, herb pyramid, chickens, outdoor amphitheater/cinema, plus a one of a kind ‘disco-ball’ pizza oven with attached bar… We even teamed up with a local cork brewery (The Rising Sons) to produce our very own Voxpronanian beer.

In May 2017 Voxpro hired a full-time Horticulturist called Kitty Scully to help expand the project. This is kind of a big deal as we believe it’s the first such hiring by a tech company in Ireland, showing Voxpro’s commitment to education, health, sustainability and the environment.

Since the project first started in 2015, there have been a lot more Innovation projects by other employees, all really feeding into one another. There’s Voxdetox: a juicing operation at our HQ’s restaurant, that aims to have all the produce coming from the onsite gardens; there are also cycle schemes and even plans for electric car charging points.

Voxpro also has an ambitious vision to completely transform the onsite Gyms, Restaurants and Outdoor Dining Venues too. All this combined really does have the potential to make something much greater than the sum of its parts.

I’ve really enjoyed my time here. When most companies say that they have glass walls, open doors, it’s usually just buzzwords. At Voxpro you’re encouraged to ‘DREAM BIGGER’ and given a level of freedom you just won’t find at other companies.

It’s really inspiring stuff and clearly paying off. When I started in Voxpro it was just a small section of rented floor space on what is now the 1st floor of Voxpro’s HQ. Just four years on, there are offices all over the world, an ever-expanding client list that works on the cutting-edge of the latest technologies, and the countless opportunities for Voxpro’s employees that go with that.

Hopefully, other companies will take a leaf out of Voxpro’s book. I think it’s what’s needed to make the really inspiring changes that we’re all hoping and, perhaps, need to see.

Kitty Scully — Voxgro Horticulturalist

Before joining Voxpro, I was Head Kitchen Gardener in the beautiful surrounds of Airfield Estate: a 38-acre working farm open to the public in Dublin, Ireland. It was such a wonderful place to work, a total gift of nature in the middle of Ireland’s capital city.

I came across the job spec for the position of Voxgro horticulturist in late January 2017 — it looked fun, challenging and cutting-edge, and I had the required skill set (plumbing and chameleon-keeping aside!). Also, having grown very concerned with how rapidly we are losing green spaces in our planet’s urban areas, I was really impressed that Voxpro were even considering a ‘Grow’ project, particularly one in an industrial area. Having said all that, I was also very happy in my role in Airfield so I had to give a huge amount of thought to leaving.

Ironically, what ultimately made me decide to join Voxpro was one of Airfield’s tag-lines: ‘A Gift of Nature’. Airfield’s original owner, hundreds of years ago, had had the innovative vision of establishing beautiful woodlands and gardens as a gift of nature to future generations. Joining Voxpro would give me the opportunity to be part of a similar vision at a start-up stage, and to lead a team dedicated to creating another gift of nature for posterity. Airfield is a gift, I wanted to create a gift.

I was also really excited to work with an innovative technology company such as Voxpro, and one that employs over two thousand Millennials from around the world. The fact that it was a Cork company and Irish success story made it even more enticing. Gardening, food and farming are generally the passions of an older generation so the thoughts of being part of a project conceived by and aimed at engaging a younger generation had big appeal. Greenfield sites also excite and challenge me.

My Vision: To Create A quirky Oasis of Productivity and Beauty

The project had enjoyed a really great first year when I joined. The garden infrastructure was in place and the vision for what the 3.5-acre green field site could become was evolving rapidly. My brief was not specific, but it was very clear that Voxpro wanted their gardens to expand and to be unique, quirky, beyond beautiful, engaging, and altogether representative of the company’s innovative ethos.

At the core of Voxpro, human connection and multiculturalism are both valued and celebrated. This aligns with my own personal philosophies. My vision is to create quirky, unique and beyond beautiful earth-based experiences that will enhance the lives of individuals and communities around the world. Voxgro will be a place to nourish nature, body and soul. The garden and dome are already epicentres for conversation, fun, food, learning, sharing, education, meetings, meditation, cultural exchange, relaxation, innovation and more. It can only get better.

The best is yet to come

The site will be transformed into a hive of healthy productivity where humans feel refreshed, connected and inspired by land and nature.

A diverse community of structures, trees, fruit, vines, vegetables, herbs, cereals, flowers, bees and farm animals will intermingle.

Native habitats, wildflower meadows, foraging forests, garden structures, art and zen spaces for yoga and mindfulness will also feature.

Education, events, markets and urban farm consultancy to promote sustainable food and pleasure production systems will contribute to the economic and ecological viability of Voxgro.

Commercial profitability will be achieved by growing high-value crops under protective cropping and using every inch of space including rooftops.

Mighty Oaks from little Acorns grow and I feel our Voxgro seeds first sown in Cork will germinate, grow, flourish, inspire and yield similar ‘Beyond Beautiful’ productive projects and experiences for people and places around the planet, changing the world we live in.

Karolyn Feely — The Voxdetox Story

Being a person who has always had a passion for health and well-being, I quickly realized the importance of have access to healthy food at the workplace. As one spends so many hours at work I felt the need to try and bring some healthy ideas and options to the Voxpro Offices.

As the VoxGro dome started to blossom with ripe fruits, vegetables and herbs it inspired me to come up with an idea for how these could be used to their maximum potential. And that’s when the idea of the juice bar originated. What better way than to use these fruits and veg than in their raw uncooked form.

I initially submitted the idea to the innovation team, writing up a project plan and business case. After a few meetings, I was given the go ahead to set this project up on a pilot phase. I started with a trial and testing session by creating four juice recipe ideas which I named them according to the Voxpro core values.

I set up samples for people to taste, printed out flyers and posters and had a feedback form available for people to fill out. I was blown away by the reaction, feedback, emails, messages that I received after this. It was then I realized how much everyone was behind this project idea.

After the trial phase, the sales figures proved the viability of the project. We set up the juicer bar with abundant fruits and veg as I realized that it was more pleasing for people to pick and choose as they wanted. It was surreal to see the sales figures soaring as the weeks went by. The positive feedback was rolling in and the juice bar became a huge success. We quickly needed to buy a second juicer to cope with its popular demand.

The next phase now involves introducing items from the dome in the juice bar so we can begin the ‘Voxdetox cycle’. Presently we have fresh mint and basil at the bar each morning. This is moving into the next phase of growing wheatgrass and introducing a second type of juicer ‘The wheat grass juicer’ to the bar.

Furthermore, this project has just been extended to Voxpro’s Dublin Centre of Excellence as part of the first pilot outside of the main Cork office. I have no doubt that this will be a success and hopefully the story will continue is Voxdetox expands throughout all of Voxpro’s Centres of Excellence around the globe.

Barbara Falke — Photographer extraordinaire

For me, the garden is the perfect place where I can combine both my passion for photography and gardening. I find it fascinating to watch plants growing from little seeds to their full potential. A garden can be also very rewarding and in my opinion, teaches you about living more consciously. In addition to this, it has a very relaxing and soothing effect which is great for people who are in the office for most of their time. I think that this project was an amazing idea and the feedback we’ve received so far from employees shows that it is a loved spot for slowing down from busy everyday life and to learn about gardening. We had a very successful last year with growing and harvesting different kinds of vegetables and are continuing this year with even more green attractions.

— — — — — — — — — — — — –

Question: When is a company not just a company?

Answer: When it is also an eco-system where people can be creative, entrepreneurial, innovative, and ultimately where they’re part of a community, not just a workforce.

The user and customer experience is more central to success now than at any other time. This is why so many tech companies focus so heavily on beautiful product design and intuitive interfaces. Achieving excellence in these areas means hiring creative people with digital skillsets. Similarly, games, animation and visual effects companies are dependent on hiring people with technical and creative skills in equal parts. Technology and creativity are becoming more intertwined every day.

So do tech companies really need gardens? Well, of course not. And for the majority, space doesn’t allow it. But they do need to be places that encourage and nurture creativity. Some of the world’s most successful tech companies provide the space and the practical tools for staff to be innovative and creative, and not just in a way that is directly relevant to their work.

In Voxpro’s case that space for innovation has so far led to a beautiful garden project, and a rapidly growing juicing business. But who knows where the next idea might lead? From Google’s ’20 percent time’ was born AdSense, which now accounts for about 25 percent of Google’s total revenue, Gmail, Google Transit and Google News.

Watch this space.

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[trendingnewsb]

He left prison for the first time since he was a teenager. Then he started filming.

14 days after finishing a 20-year sentence in prison, Bilal Coleman appeared on video in an unlikely setting: a garden full of fresh herbs.

With this, Coleman kicked off his video diary project called “The Freedom Chronicles,” which documented his first year out of prison.

He doesn’t say much in that first video, which was filmed in December 2015. His mentor, another formerly incarcerated man named Anthony Forrest, shares the names of various plants around them. He encourages Coleman to break off pieces and smell the rosemary and basil — the scent of which, Coleman says, reminds him of his grandma.

These were Coleman’s first experiences of life outside of prison since he was a teenager — and most people in his place wouldn’t dream of sharing something so personal with the world.

Coleman meets goats on his 11th day out of prison. All images courtesy of Planting Justice.

For most people, the first year out of prison is a struggle. After incarceration, many have trouble finding stable jobs, accessing basic needs like healthy food, and transitioning back to daily life on the outside.

In fact, in Coleman’s home state of California, 7 out of 10 former inmates go back to prison within a year after being released.

Coleman was only 17 years old when he was sentenced to 20 years at San Quentin State Prison — so at 37, he didn’t exactly have a ton of work experience. Like so many others returning to their communities after incarceration, he faced the world with the odds stacked against him.

But when he got out, he had a good reason to start filming his journey — a job waiting for him at an organization called Planting Justice.

Planting Justice is an Oakland-based nonprofit that empowers people to grow their own food. In 2009, when co-founders Gavin Raders and Haleh Zandi launched the organization, they wanted to support people who are most affected by issues such as poverty and a lack of access to nutritional food. And they couldn’t think of a better way to do that than hiring people who, like Coleman, are leaving prison.

Planting Justice staff members Maurice “Big Mo” Bell and Darryl Aikens with co-founders Haleh Zandi and Gavin Raders.

“We really wanted to build the world that we want and need, and focus on solutions,” says Gavin Raders, executive director of Planting Justice.

The organization offers a living wage and full benefits to all of its staff — an opportunity that’s all too rare for people with criminal records. Since its start in 2009, the Planting Justice team of landscapers has built over 450 edible gardens around the Bay Area.

Today, they employ about 35 full-time staff members, and just over half — including Coleman — are formerly incarcerated.

They’ve garnered some significant support, including plant sales from customers all over the country and $300,000 a year in small donations earned through street canvassing. They were even awarded a grant through The Kresge Foundation’s Fresh, Local, and Equitable initiative, known as “FreshLo,” for building healthy, inclusive communities.

FreshLo is all about supporting work that leverages creative, neighborhood-based food enterprises for community development, and these Bay Area gardens are brilliant examples.

The Planting Justice edible gardens grow in unlikely places — empty lots, schools, and concrete neighborhoods that don’t have fresh produce or green spaces for miles.

About 100 of the gardens they’ve built so far have been free or on a sliding scale, with fees depending on income, for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them.

A Planting Justice garden begins to grow at a juvenile detention center.

In spite of his inexperience, it turns out that Coleman is actually the perfect fit for this work. He’s from the very communities that Planting Justice serves and can relate to their struggles on a personal level.

“You try to instill a life skill within the youth, but what you don’t understand is you’ll receive one as well,” he shares in the video for his 200th day out of prison.

Planting Justice has a success rate of nearly 100%. In nine years of existence, only one formerly incarcerated staff member has returned to jail.

What began as a simple landscaping service now includes education programs, farmer training, and a holistic re-entry program to help former prisoners transition back to a stable life.

And in 2017, after a lot of hard work and the help of over 900 donors, Planting Justice acquired a 2-acre plot of land to open up a nursery and farm. Rolling River Nursery provides landscaping services to the neighborhood, and ships plants, herbs, and trees all over the country. It’s located in deep East Oakland, California, in an area called Sobrante Park, which is known for having some of the highest rates of unemployment and crime in Oakland.

Sobrante Park is exactly the kind of place that needs green jobs like the ones Planting Justice creates, and Raders hopes that similar neighborhoods throughout the country can replicate their model.

Staff members at Rolling River Nursery.

In his final “Freedom Chronicles” video, Coleman celebrates his 365th day of freedom — and shows a total transformation.

This time, Coleman’s the one naming the plants, and he’s much more outgoing than he was when he started. His smile glows as he shows viewers his work, including the gardens he tends daily and a high school where he passes his skills on to youth.

“I feel overjoyed!” he exclaims about beating the odds by thriving in his first year out of prison.

It’s clear that he’s gained some skills, including newfound abilities in public speaking, youth education, and analyzing issues like economic and environmental injustice that affect the communities where he lives and works.

Coleman on his 365th day of freedom.

Coleman’s story shows how an opportunity to thrive after prison can help lift up a whole community.

Coleman was still working at Planting Justice at the time of this writing. He also enjoys spending time with his two kids, and he’s developed a passion for health and personal fitness.

On top of providing fresh food, vital skills, and an opportunity to escape the cycle of mass incarceration, the formerly incarcerated staff members get a chance to help lead these initiatives to transform their neighborhoods.

At the end of his last video, Coleman grins as he looks over the results of his hard work.

“Seasons pass, tomatoes are gone, the chard has popped back up like the spring,” he says. “That’s resilience.”

Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/he-left-prison-for-the-first-time-since-he-was-a-teenager-then-he-started-filming

from Viral News HQ https://ift.tt/2L0aETc via Viral News HQ

[designmiast-blog]

Material Profile: Mycelium

What is Mycelium?

Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus or fungus-like bacterial colony, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Think of mycelium as the root and mushrooms being its fruit. 

Mycelium can feed off of discarded, simple and organic elements to create sustainable and durable materials.

For example, designer Sebastian Cox and researcher Ninela Ivanova produced Mycelium furniture by combining mycelium with scrap willow wood and timber wood from Cox’s own woodland.

The discarded goat willow was sliced up to create thin strips, which were woven together to create individual moulds. Within these moulds, the designers added a type of fungus called fomes fomentarius, which was cultivated using more wooden strips as food.

"It's not just about the fungus, it's about the marriage of the two materials," said Ivanova. "It's not sustainability for us – it's just what makes sense. These two materials have a natural relationship in the woodland, so let's see how we can exploit that."

Brunel University student Aleksi Vesaluoma has developed a technique for using mushroom mycelium as an environmentally friendly construction material by combining it with something as simple as cardboard. 

He developed a technique where the mycelium material is mixed with cardboard before being moulded into what he calls "mushroom sausages" using a tube-shaped cotton bandage.

The long sausages are then placed over a mould and left to grow over a four-week period inside a ventilated greenhouse.

Architect Dirk Hebel and engineer Philippe Block used mycelium to create blocks for a self-supporting structure, Mycotree. Mushroom spores are combined with a food mix that includes sawdust and sugarcane.

The fungi consumes the nutrients, so after a few days it begins to transform into a dense and spongy mass. It is then transferred into moulds, where it continues to densify.

Ecovative Design provide packaging alternatives by mixing mycelium with crop waste like seed husks and corn stalks to form a bioplastic.

Mycoworks mixes mycelium and agricultural byproducts in a carbon-negative process to create a new kind of leather that is sustainable, versatile, and animal–free. Philip Ross, founder of mycoworks stated that mycelium "can grow on lots of things - sawdust, crushed pistachio nuts, corncobs, seed husks - often on waste material that would otherwise have no use and that the mushroom grower is paid to take off their hands,"

Mycelium has excellent properties such as:

It is fully biodegradable. When broken down into small pieces and placed out in the elements, your mushroom materials will return to the earth in about a month. (does however require soil biota and long-term water exposure to fully and naturally biodegrade)

Low cost to produce it as it is grown instead of manufactured

This also allows for it to be grown into moulds

Rapidly renewable

Low water consumption

Good insulation properties

Shock absorbent

Naturally fire retardant but also hydrophobic and not waterproof unless dried and coated

Carbon Neutral

Can be mixed with a vast variety of organic materials, including waste and unused/discarded materials 

More applications

Packaging

Replace polystyrene foam/ plastic foam in cars

Acoustic tiles for buildings

Provides alternative option to genuine leather products

Build structures

Furniture

Building blocks

Temporary Installations

Panels

Can it be mass produced?

Mycelium could be grown in a similar way that mushrooms are grown. Mushroom farming can inform the way mycelium could be produced on a larger scale. 

Moreover, for Dirk Hebel’s and Philippe Block’s MycoTree the blocks were produced by MycoTech, an indonesian company which started out as ‘mushroom gourmet producers’ but eventually began producing sustainable materials made from mycelium.     

“The blocks used for MycoTree were designed using a 3D modelling program developed by Block's team. The templates for the moulds were sent to a mushroom farming company in Indonesia called Mycotech. The blocks were grown there, before being transported to Seoul for assembly”

Mycotech also aims to help local economy and labour in Indonesia by pushing for the recycling and appreciation of agricultural waste.   

‘Burning waste crops is one of the main causes of environmental pollution. We help alleviate this by raising economic interest in the recycling of these “waste” materials to generate extra income for the farmers. Furthermore, the boards produced are bonded with natural mushroom based adhesive. This is environment friendly, and the technology can be easily transferred to the local industry. 

Since 2015 Mycotech have been empowering 4 mushroom farmer groups to supply and manufacture raw material. By managing 5000 kg waste, they supply 3000 kg/month. This creates additional income and impact to 200 people involved‘ 

https://www.mycote.ch/impact

In addition, companies such as Ecovative design prove that it is possible to produce mycelium on a larger scale, opening their second manufacturing plant in 2016.  

From 03/07/16 Blog Post:

‘Well, we are excited to announce that the 20,000 square foot facility is up and running, and the team has produced over 68,000 Mushroom® parts there since June!’

‘We started production at this facility in June with 10 Ecovative employees on site. Since then, we’ve consistently kept around that many employees over there everyday running the line.’

Eco-East — Green Island, NY

Eco-HQ — Green Island, NY

https://ecovativedesign.com/blog/146 

Mycelium’s compelling narrative as ‘magic’ material

Mycelium has been described and marketed as a ‘magic’ material because of its long list of good qualities and ability to fully biodegrade. Companies such as Mycoworks and Ecovative Design provide a large amount of information on mycelium on their website. They are also very active on social media and engage the public by providing full transparency on how mycelium is made. Ecovative’s educational approach goes beyond online education. Through its sister company GROW.bio, they organise workshops for children to learn how to grow mycelium and on its website, GIY (Grow It Yourself) kits can be purchased helping the public become more informed and engaged with the material by showing them how eco-friendly and easy it is to produce. There’s also a forum and blog where people can exchange ideas and tips on growing mycelium.

https://grow.bio/collections/shop 

https://ecovativedesign.com/blog/135

Sources:

https://ecovativedesign.com/

https://www.mycote.ch/

http://www.mycoworks.com/

https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/04/mycotree-dirk-hebel-philippe-block-mushroom-mycelium-building-structure-seoul-biennale/?li_source=LI&li_medium=bottom_block_1#/

https://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Philip-Ross-crafts-furniture-from-mycelium-4116989.php

https://grow.bio/

https://www.dezeen.com/tag/mycelium-design/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ystRW4rlqTk

https://www.dezeen.com/2015/03/25/mushroom-materials-ecovative-modelling-kit-mycelium-designs-of-the-year-2015/