Herman Miller Cares supports the Peace Neighborhoods program in Mexico
Sofie De Wulf
Club leader Mexico
For more than 60 years, Herman Miller firmly believes that design-driven problem solving is a practice, a philosophy and a way by which the world can be improved. This philosophy comes from its founder, D.J. de Pree who encouraged his workers to be good citizens, in harmony with nature and the community.
In that sense, the leading company in innovation and design trends reaffirms its commitment this year by joining forces with the international non-profit organization MasterPeace. It is through the Peace Neighborhood program in Mexico-City, that both organizations aim to support 100 youngsters-at-risk from the Atlampa neighborhood, where they seek to help them acquire digital, social-emotional and productive skills that respond to the current context, and in this way provide tools for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Peace Neighborhoods aims to contribute to violence prevention and reduction, involving young people at risk in community training, artistic expression and Culture of Peace processes, in alliance with actors from the creative industries in Mexico-City.
“We are very grateful to Herman Miller Cares because with their contribution we have been able to continue our work in the Atlampa neighborhood and thus expand our positive impact among young people. We are excited to collaborate with a company that believes in creativity and design to promote social change “expressed Sofie De Wulf, Director of MasterPeace Mexico.
Mid October the first of three series of workshops started. In collaboration with Radio Nopal, MasterPeace México is realizing a radio and podcast workshop. Radio Nopal is a unique partner in the creative industries in Mexico-City, as they have developed an open source technology, a transmission device called mensajito.mx which allows to create an internet radio station without the use of conventional computers.
“We are very grateful to Herman Miller Cares as with his support we have been able to give continuity to our work in the Atlampa neighborhood (CDMX) and thus expand our positive impact among a hundred young people in the colony. We feel excited to have the support of a company that believes in creativity and design to drive social change” expressed Sofie De Wulf, Director of MasterPeace Mexico.
With the support of Herman Miller Cares we will work with young people in the Colony Atlampa, a predominantly industrial colony located in the Northeast of the Cuauhtémoc Delegation, for a year starting activities this month of August 2020 until April 2021.
A examination is currently being carried out, through surveys, groups focal points and interviews to learn about the cultural consumption of young people, and conditions of technological accessibility and connectivity. Based on the results the proposal of workshops that combine arts and digital media will be elaborated.
It should be noted that since 2018, MasterPeace Mexico has carried out different interventions with groups of young people and women in Atlampa, through the creation of community murals. All were results of participatory processes and they are part of a cultural corridor that is being created little by little in Las Vías.
Social Impact of MasterPeace Mexico
- 11750 Young people and adults educated on issues of violence and construction of a Culture of Peace through our campaigns and PeaceTalks
- 930 Youth and adults trained with peace building tools through workshops
- 245 Created works of art; murals, photographs, stories, cartoons and concerts.
- 86 Collaborators with whom we have co-created, carrying out community interventions, workshops of Nonviolent Communication, PeaceTalks, contests and experiences.
