❄ Before You Peace Out, Let's Kick This Annus Horribilis to the Curb!

Nine months in, this is our final edition of Bright Brothers COVID-19 Cliffs Notes on Response & Recovery for 2020. We’re not sad to kiss a fond farewell to this annus horribilis, and have high hopes for so much better in the coming year. There’s a governmental change of guard to look forward to, a promising vaccine rolling out to the public, and confirmation that Stranger Things has been renewed for a fourth season. No, that’s not Mandela Effect – this IS real life! Anecdotally, it seems as though many of us have gone ‘all in’ for the holidays this year, and that’s not surprising. In times of duress, friends, family, tradition & ritual play a comforting role for us elevated apes. We’re closing out the year on a high note – with a heavily-spiked glass of nog raised in your honor. THANK YOU, to each and every one of our subscribers and readers. We wish you heartfelt happy holidays and toast to a promising, fruitful and productive new year. Catch ya in January! 💋 MWAH!

– Your Bright Brothers Team

You probably know that we’re a “data-driven, people-first strategic consultancy”. But what does that mean? And what does data mean when it’s just a blinding batch of eye-numbing numbers? Nothing. Without a people-first approach to data collection, inputs, analysis and an action plan – you’re flying blind.

Wanna know how we accomplished:

• A 20X increase on restaurant Week – during COVID!
• $40.5 MILLION in economic impact for one city
• #1 of top 25 markets for hotel occupancy (+21%) during COVID!

It’s no secret. Learn how data + people drive placemaking success, and if you want the same kind of results for your district or DMO – drop us a line! 

Right now there are millions of unemployed in the US due to COVID; 12.6million to be exact. Communities are hurting in epic numbers – in ways we haven’t seen since the 1930s. Supporting our neighbors has never been more imperative — and during the holidays — it’s a sympathetic message to say the least. A few months ago, during “back to school”, we loved seeing this “community-based, artist-led, neighborhood-driven” supply portal stocked by-and-for local Chicago residents. How simple a gesture that provides deep, loving support for a community? How could your district coordinate something similar as the long “COVID winter” of 2021 looms ahead?

Photo credit: TheAsterGates

Say it out loud, “Participatory Budgeting”! Not only is it fun to say, THIS is how government SHOULD work; with direct community engagement and decision making about how the money is spent! For the first time in the city’s 338 year history, Mayor Jim Kenney announced that Philadelphia is launching a community engagement initiative to determine how and where city resources will be spent in the next budget cycle. It’s a first step towards true, crowd-sourced democracy, and no better place than in the country’s cradle of democracy. Need the tools to make something like participatory budgeting take place in your municipality? Look no further than Bright Brother’s vetted partners at ntropy data. Their community engagement platform is chockful of bells & whistles like a visual website builder, interactive landing pages, dozens of preloaded widgets and all the tools you need to tap into insights directly from the mouths (or keypads) of your constituents. Need help? Just let us know.
 
Photo credit: Unsplash, Steve Carrera

Did you know that Victorians in England embraced outdoor winter activities with crafty innovations like baked potatoes sold street side; that served as both a hearty and belly-filling snack, as well as a hand/muff warmer? (Yes, we said muff warmer). Whether out of pleasure or by necessity, we all need to brave the blustery, brumal days ahead. As stewards of cities we need to embrace the obstacles that come with “COVID winter” (hopefully, of our content). With a nod of our hat (or perhaps a wool beanie), we’d like to acknowledge our neighbors to the north. In Edmonton, Alberta they not only dive face first into winter, but also provide exemplary toolkits for cities and communities to warm up to – and maybe even love the season.  So, since we’ve no place to go (it’s safer at home, y’all) – let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Public art is essential. No one understands the roles of public art and street art better than our good friend and Philly-based compatriot, Conrad Benner aka StreetsDept. This (Fish)townie-local-turned-activist has been publishing regular updates on street art for nearly a decade now, and has assisted Bright Brothers with several impactful projects. We even tapped him to speak at IDA’s first-ever Placemaking & Place Branding Summit in 2019. Conrad is so well respected that he recently cemented a relationship with PlanPhilly and WHYY’s News and Information Challenge Exchange to launch “Our Space”, a new series of monthly public radio segments. Check out his 2020 round-up of the top 10 public art installments in Philadelphia (and why they matter), and give his public radio show or podcast a listen.
 
Photo credit: StreetsDept