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The Ke'nekt Cooperative (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Reconnect Communities
└ Reconnect Communities
When Interstate 20 opened, the new highway displaced residents in Atlanta's Westview neighborhood. In the decades since, the area experienced disinvestment, with pedestrian infrastructure lagging behind other areas of the city. This sparked a legacy of advocacy, as residents formed neighborhood association to advocate for better sidewalks. To document the neighborhood's story, the Ke'nekt Cooperative launched an oral history project. Community outreach sessions focused on the historical impact of highway construction, as well as genealogy workshops. Participants said these event empowered them to engage in local advocacy to address ongoing impacts. Additionally, neighbors built intergenerational connections, with older adults sharing experiences and younger residents introducing modern research methods. Organizers say the project laid the groundwork for future efforts, including a local archive, which they hope will be a catalyst for ongoing community engagement.
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AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
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