PASCAL EcCoWell 2 Recovery Programme - Harlem

A composite report from each of the contributors to the PASCAL EcCoWell 2 Recovery Programme has recently been published. In a series of postings, we are now for the convenience of subscribers, publishing each report separately with a short introduction from the programme leader, Peter Kearns.

Led by the City Seminary of New York, the Harlem neighbourhood of New York has been innovative in applying EcCoWell principles in a local community. The present report shows the cross-sectoral approach integrating faith, the arts, learning, and eco-justice implemented through the role of the Walls-Ortez Gallery and Center. The Justice Seedbed Project described extended the innovation to a wider audience, and illustrated an approach to building community understanding of environmental issues affecting the neighbourhood.

The Harlem experience shows how an effective free-standing learning neighbourhood can be developed outside the framework set by a learning city initiative. This model, with leadership provided by a cultural institution or community college could be more widely applied in big cities.