I’m in an airport on the way home from a trip to Illinois. While walking Chicago streets this past week, I saw a lot of sidewalk slabs printed with the business info of the concrete company(this will make more sense in a sec). I also visited numerous neighborhoods packed to the brim with the culture and heritage of the people who built those communities. 

The cultural footprints of major players was clear in most of these areas. The greats had streets, restaurants, and parks named after them. But what about the smaller players? They still had major impacts, but where is the recognition? 

I wonder if there could be (or already is) an organization whose mission was to 1) publicly and permanently recognize those who built communities and 2) make it more accessible for community members to build up their neighborhoods - through private funds? 

At the very least we could stamp some sidewalk slabs with the names of individuals, groups, and families who were a part of that areas heritage. Like a neighborhood walk of fame? 

All that to say I just picked up the domain buildthiscity.org! Maybe I’ll make something out of it, maybe I won’t, but I’m damn sure I’ll try!