A program in Boston encourages young people to use collaborative outreach techniques to design and paint murals -- and foster community pride in many of Boston's neighborhoods.
Many of the participants of the 'Mural Crew,' a program that encourages young people to design and paint murals in Boston, say that murals are a part of the City's 'common culture.' "Look all around the city, from Roxbury's Dudley Square and Uphams Corner in Dorchester to Jamaica Plain's Centre Street and the South End's Tremont Street, and you see them -- portraits, montages, and landscapes -- on grocery stores, salons, and health centers."
The program has been so popular that community groups, residents and businesses regularly ask the Mural Crew to paint their walls. "Boston's crew has taken a cue from San Francisco, home to 600 murals, and Philadelphia, which has more than 2,400." Program organizers hope one of these days to see the City of Boston organize a mural tour similar to the one in Philadelphia.
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: The urban gallery

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont