The Aging ISSUE - Winter 2016 by ISSUES Magazine

the aging

ISSUES Magazine seeks to raise awareness of the intrinsic link that exists between cities, design, and social issues. The spaces we inhabit every day mold our experiences, both by fostering interaction and by putting up barriers. Leveraging the diverse experiences of our contributors, ISSUES draws connections between both tangible and intangible aspects of the social and built environments.

Illustration by Laken Sylvander 3

letter from

the editor PRESIDENT Claire Huttenlocher

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carrick Reddin

DESIGN CHIEF Libby Perold

VICE PRESIDENT Emma LaPlante

VISUAL EDITOR Leora Baum

SENIOR EDITOR Alicia Yang

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Yuwei Qiu

Dear Thoughtful Readers, ISSUES Magazine is predicated on the belief that an issue is not simply a problem or difficulty. An issue is the intersection of multiple perspectives. It is the beginning of a discussion, something unresolved that needs attention. This semester, we have considered the issue of aging and have found that it is a process that is neither fluid nor concrete. The communities we claim, the buildings we inhabit, and the objects we value evolve disjointedly over generations. As cities like St. Louis age, can infrastructure keep pace with demographic, social, and economic changes? As we age, how do our needs and priorities change in regards to our communities? Models for the development of institutions, housing, and public space eventually become obsolete, and community values and socio-economic barriers shift. In this unstable environment, how is tradition and memory preserved in space? Which sites, stories, and objects do we value over time and what do these choices say about our society? How do different generations experience the same city and how are millennials transforming the urban landscape? What can planners and community members do to facilitate multigenerational interaction? Through a diverse array of articles, poems, illustrations, and reflections, our contributors have taken on these questions. We hope you enjoy reading our responses, and we encourage you to join us in continuing the dialogue. -

Claire Huttenlocher & Carrick Reddin

Cover Illustrations by Erica Canup Above Illustration by Yuwei Qiu

MUSINGS ON THE URBAN LIFE CYCLE by claire huttenlocher

ON TRADITION by emma laplante

THE VALUE OF TIME by leora baum

A WALK IN THE PARK by eleni andris

MAPPING MEMORY by carrick reddin

DESIGN FOR AGING by kayle langford

ELDER VOICES by briana bostic

EYES, NEW SHOES by mariel erlich

THE RISE OF THE ’MUPPIE’ by claire huttenlocher

THINGS REMEMBERED by miranda hines

BUCKET LIST by anurima sharma 7

musings

on the urban life cycle Written by Claire Huttenlocher

Illustration by Libby Perold

rowing up, her house was the backdrop of a Norman Rockwell painting. In the summers, she ran her chubby fingers over the three-inch grass, tottering around the cul de sac with her neighbors. From the backseat of a tan Volvo, she remembers endless freeway rides, distant city skylines, strip malls, and bus rides to the “better schools.” When her neighborhood became too small for her ambition, she moved to a college bubble in a midwestern urban jungle. Every once in awhile, she ventured downtown to that hipster coffee spot with exposed brick and fancy foam, or to that classy Italian place whenever her parents were in town. With uneasy hands, she adjusts her green polyester gown and shifts a tassel to her left cheek, looking at all of the smiling parents and grandparents perched on folding chairs. She packs her life in a rental truck and drives into the heart of a strange metropolis. She shares a flat with her college roommate, navigates the subway, tries all the trendy bars and street markets, and debates moving in with her significant other, then her fiancé. After much deliberation, they buy a house together far from the city lights, with a reasonable mortgage and a backyard big enough for future toddlers and maybe a puppy. One day, they blink and their nest is empty. In a moment of midlife crisis, they might buy a rehabilitated townhouse back in the city, with original hardwood floors that were installed before she was born. Her daughter’s college friends might even refer to her as “cool.” But when the college graduates next door keep her up at night, and she can no longer handle the subway steps or carry grocery bags up the fire escape, her children will agree that a city life can no longer be hers. With a resigned smile, she will learn to embrace “independent living,” in a sterile complex off the interstate where only the distant purr of cars will be audible from her rocking chair.

on tradition Written by Emma LaPlante

Illustration Courtesy of James Victore

arly this year, Brown University decided to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day, effectively accomplishing what we all wish we’d thought of years ago. Traditions matter — they matter to individuals, and they matter to whole communities. But just like the rest of us, traditions age. Some age gracefully, seamlessly integrating into new societies and habits of life. Others become messy and outdated: Columbus Day, the Washington Redskins, damsel characters in distress. Thanksgiving. These are not problematic because they are old; age does not necessarily corrupt. They are problematic because our society has outgrown them. We are not just “too sensitive”; we know better now.

I am not proposing a complete overhaul of such traditions. I am merely wondering why we feel the need to keep alive dark tropes from our past without addressing their darkness. And who gets to choose which traditions carry forward and which get lost in time’s obscuring forces? Some elements of our past are worthy and salvageable. As for the others, shouldn’t we let them die?

the value of time Written and Illustrated by Leora Baum

e have many ways of assigning — and defining — value, whether economic, cultural, or emotional. And sometimes, over time, something worthless can become priceless: a rare penny now worth millions, a bottle of wine now a collector’s item, an old pocket watch now a treasured family heirloom. Paintings, books, and archaeological artifacts are prized not only for their commercial value, but for their worth as cultural and historical objects. Ancient trees, a thousand years older than the oldest nation in the world, are guarded as natural treasures. Buildings become monuments of national history. Sometimes, objects become more valuable not only because of their age, but because of those who owned or used them, and the history of which they are a tangible remnant. Stories and memories, the most transient cultural and emotional artifacts, can also become more valuable over time. Moments in history are preserved through the memories of those who witnessed them, and the narratives they allow us to construct. Value can come not only from the commercial worth an object acquires with age, but from the cultural, emotional, and historical worth an object — or a story — gains over time. 11

a walk in the park

exploring the evolution of green space Written by Eleni Andris

Photography by Libby Perold

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Exploring...the history of parks in American cities can reveal a lot about how cities were founded, how they were planned, how they have developed, and the virtues the cities have tried to uphold

n a rapidly urbanizing world, the value of public parks is ever-growing. Delineated green space amidst urban chaos is not only an aesthetically pleasing planning strategy, but a social and emotional necessity as well. Parks break up the mundaneness of asphalt and concrete, providing a moment of reprieve from the otherwise dull predictability of everyday urban living. Parks breathe life into cities (both figuratively and literally) and provide spaces for city residents to meet, intermingle, interact with nature, and make memories. They are a daily reminder to take a breath, take in the surroundings, and take time away from routine. The definition of the urban public park is constantly aging, becoming obsolete, and then evolving. Throughout American history, parks have transformed to reflect the desires and needs of the times, as well as the people inhabiting them, based on social and municipal contexts. Parks are even evolving into modern day, taking on shapes and functions that several generations ago would have seemed bizarre and foreign. Exploring and critically observing the history of parks in American cities can reveal a lot about how cities were founded, how they were planned, how they have developed, and the virtues the cities have tried to uphold. Galen Cranz, an Associate Professor of Architecture at UC Berkley, has studied and named various American park models according to historical trends he has observed. The first model is called the Pleasure Ground model and loosely covers the period from 1850 to 1900. In this model, parks are placed on the edges of cities, emphasizing the notion that buildings are “subordinate” to the bucolic landscape. These places are supposed 14

to create “contemplative” spaces reminiscent of the countryside, but not as overwhelming or untamed as wild nature. Acclaimed landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted, known most widely for his work in designing Prospect Park and Central Park in New York City, adopted this design model, attempting to evoke relaxation and serenity through design. The goal of the Pleasure Ground model was creating a kind of natural oasis on the edge of the urban jungle, providing a mental departure from the constructed and artificial. [1] Despite the physical beauty of these parks, they were not socially successful at the time of their creation. In practice, these kinds of parks, due to their location on the edges of cities, were much less accessible to the working class and merely created “playgrounds for the rich” with copious leisure time and carriages to race. Because of this model’s isolating effect, at the end of the nineteenth century a subset movement called the Small Park Movement was born. This period proposed smaller parks with the same landscaping principles as before, closer to the tenement districts, allowing working class people easier access. This movement also absorbed playground advocates, many of whom were actively seeking out safe urban spaces for children to play off the streets. Combined, these two movements became the Reform Park model, challenging the classist status quo and resolving to use the park as a tool for urban social reform. For example, planners hoped that by creating easily accessible, centrally located parks, immigrants would mix with established citizens and pick up the language and culture that surrounded them. By designing urban park spaces accessible to all classes, planners created places that transcended socio-economic hierarchy and

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allowed for people of all walks of life to meet. [1] The movement that followed, known as the Recreational Facility model, no longer exclusively defined parks as areas of uninterrupted green space. Between the 1930s and 1965, urban planner Robert Moses advocated for public funding to finance city parks. This development made the definition of what qualified as a "park" significantly more fluid. Although the technical definition of park was expanding at this time, the “artistic” and “social” vision that the word had previously carried was shrinking. Moses and other proponents of this model put aside the social goals that had guided the previous movement— “reducing class conflict, socializing immigrants, stopping the spread of disease, educating people”— and instead merely looked to extend parks out into the suburbs. This lack of social mission manifested itself in a lack of artistic direction as well, producing cookie cutter parks with little character or uniqueness. To put it more bluntly, the middle of the twentieth century is viewed by some as the Dark Ages of urban public park development. [1] The park movement took a turn for the better, however, during the later half of the century. Throughout the end of the twentieth century and into the twenty first century, park design has looked to reconcile the use and consumption of resources with sustainable practices, attempting to make parks ecologically productive in their own capacity. Chinese cities use some of their parks to selectively harvest plants, turning green space into economic resources. [2] Other innovative and productive uses of space include reclamation of land [3], such as the transformation of Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor, a landfill-turned-park, providing residents with opportunities for swimming, boating, and hiking. [4] Many other cities have adopted similar models as well. Other urban park spaces like the High Line in New York City and the proposed Under Line in Miami have utilized or plan to utilize disused railroad tracks and metro lines to create long urban green

walkways that facilitate the reclamation and repurposing of otherwise unproductive spaces, bringing people from all parts of the city together. [5] As we look toward the years to come, the future of park design looks bright. As older models age and become obsolete due to the context of the times and what they demand (rapid urbanization, environmental sustainability, etc.), parks will be challenged to become more creative and innovative in their use and reuse of natural resources. Park designers must look to consult citizens of all ages and abilities to get direct input on how local urban parks can meet the wants and needs of their users. Designers and planners must actively question what they want their parks to accomplish and how they want them to facilitate interactions between people of all walks of life. Ultimately, future designers must understand how essential parks are to the fabric of cities, challenging them to adapt to the constantly evolving ways in which people in cities live their lives. Sources: [1] Cranz, Galen. "Urban Parks of the Past and Future - Project for Public Spaces." Project for Public Spaces. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. [2] Saffron, Inga. "An Introduction to City Parks." Dwell. MEGACITIES, 09 June 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. [3] Bruce, Nicole. "15 Landfills That Were Transformed Into Stunning Parks." Thrillist. N.p., 15 July 2015. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. [4] "Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park."Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. [5] MiIler, Elizabeth. "The World's Best Public Spaces." Dwell. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

m a p p i n g m e m o ry : how cities (selectively) remember the past Written by Carrick Reddin

n a well-known NPR interview for the This I Know series, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel famously stated, “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.”1 The sharing and collecting of memory through oral and written tradition has long served to connect people and places. These connections span across time and space, delivering a sense of origin and belonging to populations regardless of social or economic position. Memory exists as a non-hierarchical form of human experience, in that it is unfiltered and unmediated, unlike formal history. Despite its equalizing nature in the human context, the physical manifestation of memory in the built environment is often grounded in discrimination and selective erasure. Cities reveal spatially the values and culture of a place; through investigating the ways memory exists as a spatial phenomenon, we gain a deeper understanding of the history and values a city holds. Where a penitentiary was built 100 years ago, a new shopping mall now stands. The Punta Carretas Shopping Center in Montevideo, Uruguay, serves as a model for understanding the specialization of memory. Cells that once unjustly held political activists and victims of torture are now home to boutiques and cafes. The new

Illustration by Sarah Gabriel

development was built by wrapping a modern exterior around the original prison structure, combining the old with the new in hopes of transitioning a painful memory into an optimistic future. In discussing the project, poet and researcher Hugo Achugar notes, “The relationship between trauma and memory, or between traumatic memory and mourning, often leads to the reconfiguration of specific spaces and temporalities.”2 The Punta Carretas mall demonstrates this “reconfiguration of spaces and temporalities.” In developing the project, stakeholders debated whether institutional memory should be maintained or dissolved. Much like conversations currently taking place around sites of the Holocaust, there were major disagreements regarding identity, trauma and memory. As a political jail used under military rule, the space contained histories of corruption and violence; to destroy it, some said, would be to erase the stories of those who suffered under the dictatorship, many of whom were unjustly persecuted and imprisoned. While many celebrate the building’s ability to memorialize the past while simultaneously looking toward the future, it is important to understand the motivations of decision-makers, many of whom represented political and economic elite. In their eyes, Punta Carretas marked

an opportunity to manage public memory, reminding citizens that the new government is for the people, unlike past dictatorships. But what about those whose memories were not considered? Did the disenfranchised families of those tortured in the prison want it to remain standing? As we commemorate the past, it is crucial to question whose memory is being recognized. In analyzing projects like these, the mapping of memory begs the question: whose lives are being remembered, and whose are not? The City of St. Louis has an urban history marked with definitive answers to this question. Evans Howard Place was once a thriving African-American community located in the county municipality of Richmond Heights. Throughout the beginning of the 20th century, Evens and Howard Fire Brick Company played an instrumental, albeit financially selfish, role in developing neighborhoods that would allow African-American residents, unlike much of the rest of St. Louis. For more than ninety years, the neighborhood was home to a close-knit black community of blue-collar workers and their families. Despite neighborhood cohesion, plans were set out in 1996 to demolish much of Evans Howard Place in order to build a government-subsidized shopping and commerce center, intended to serve the needs of predominantly white, wealthy county residents. In this way, the collective memory of racial segregation and community resilience was sacrificed in favor of economic growth, a decision rife with classist and racist implications. As Alex Ihnen, Editor-in-Chief of the urban issues website nextSTL, writes, “There’s something different about a home being demolished. It’s an emotional experience to see a place where a family has celebrated holidays and birthdays, a place where children have been welcomed into the world, and eventually thrust back into it, pulled apart…One cannot help but feel that more than brick and mortar are being destroyed.”4 This statement hints at the ephemeral, yet achingly important nature of memory. The destruction of Evans Howard Place made evident the values of St. Louis policymakers, revealing the residents whose memories the City would work to maintain as well as the ones the City would rather forget. Today, little remains of this historic neighborhood

other than a small plaque ceremoniously placed next to the dumpsters. The City has made no effort to memorialize the people who called this place home for generations. Throughout the history of St. Louis, entire communities have been erased without even a plaque to commemorate their existence: Mill Creek Valley’s destruction to make way for Highway 64, Pruitt-Igoe’s condemnation after years of decay, Chinatown’s removal to relocate Busch Stadium downtown, and many more. In mapping memory, we come to understand whose lives are being remembered– and, perhaps more clearly, whose are not. These examples demonstrate the importance of memory as it exists as a spatial phenomenon. Its palpable presence, or absence, in cities reveals intricacies of urban history and sociocultural conditions. As leading memory theorist Karen Till writes, “Scholars of cities, urban studies, and heritage projects need to take seriously not only the work on memory but also how remnants constitute a multisensual, spatial, ritual, and embodied way of knowing and imagining our worlds.”5 It is undeniable that the collective and individual memories of urban dwellers profoundly impact the development of a city. As practitioners of the built environment, we have a responsibility to act in ways that incorporate the memories of all—“without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” Sources: 1. Wiesel, Elie. “A God Who Remembers.” NPR. National Public Radio, 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. 2. Achugar, Hugo. “On Maps and Malls.” City/art: The Urban Scene in Latin America. Durham: Duke UP, 2009. N. pag. Print. 3. Stelzer, C.D. “Evans Place No More: A Brentwood Neighborhood Is Destroyed for Yet Another Strip Mall.” Riverfront Times [St. Louis] 19 Feb. 1997: n. pag. Web. 4. Ihnen, Alex. “They Paved Richmond Heights to Put Up a Menards Parking Lot.” NextSTL. N.p., 05 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. 5. Till, Karen E. (2010) ‘Urban Remnants: Place, memory, and artistic practice in Berlin and Bogota’. ENCOUNTERS, 1:75 - 88.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; Cities reveal spatially

the values and culture of a place; through investigating the ways memory exists as a spatial phenomenon, we gain a deeper understanding of the history and values a city holds. â&#x20AC;?

D E S I G F O R AG I N g Written by Kayle Langford Drawings from Design for Aging Studio Adolfo Maalindog & Maude Wagner Photography by Rod Waddington 20

he university as an institution and as a social space is well suited to become the new intergenerational academic village of the twenty-first century, where young and old live and learn in reciprocity. How do we radicalize the notion of the university to meet the needs of a twenty-first century society, one that is rapidly aging in many nations? How can we make efforts to not only accommodate the needs of this population and respond to their desire for a reasonable quality of life but also leverage the immense intellectual, economic, and social capital among these citizens benefiting society as a whole? In the Spring of 2014, the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University hosted a semester-long studio focused on intergenerational communities. Led by Gyo Obata and Peter MacKeith, the semester consisted of a range of projects, with a variety of durations, scales, sites, materials and programs. The design process was informed by conversations with experts from a variety of disciplines. A rapid succession of overlapping research and analysis projects into issues of design for aging populations occured in the beginning weeks, leading to the focused consideration first of a one-room dwelling (urban/suburban, from furniture to detail) for a specific older adult client, and then to a much more complex site and programbased project adjacent to the University — an intergenerational community.

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This studio demonstrated how seemingly simple design decisions can make the difference between living a full, rich, independent and “engaged” life and solitary loneliness - or worse yet, institutionalization. We live in a rapidly urbanizing world. For the first time in history, the number of people over age 65 is greater than the number of children under 5. Population charts project an aging population for the foreseeable future.

Design is often underestimated as a tool for addressing an aging world. As professor of social work Kayla Steinke reflected, “As a social worker in the field of aging, I have often underestimated the impact that design can have on the life of a client. Several major issues being addressed by older adults in the field of aging — social isolation, fall prevention, access to resources such as food or medical services, etc. — could be alleviated or prevented through well designed living spaces. Further, a space designed to enhance social, physical, and emotional health for older individuals contains qualities that enhance well-being for individuals of any age. By engaging with forward thinking architecture students at Washington University in St. Louis, I have had the opportunity to begin to understand the benefits of a well-designed living space. Subsequently, I have become aware of the challenge of bringing well-designed and client-centered spaces to under resourced clients.” The work from this studio demonstrates the immense power of design to contribute to the quality of life of older adults.

The work centers around the design of an intergenerational community, sited on the University’s South Campus property, that will have a complex mixed-use program of multiple housing types (student housing to older adult housing), public/community spaces, retail space, a daycare facility and the University’s Lifelong Learning Center (among other academic elements), outdoor recreational areas, and indoor and outdoor wellness areas. Defining the ways that different groups of people use and occupy the buildings constituting the community is a critical aspect of the formal development of the project. The designs have balanced internal (program) and external (site) parameters, taking into account often subtle relationships between context and content at several scales of experience. Designs necessarily address the mutual interaction of the various age groups in the community, in the belief that all inhabitants will benefit from the diversity of population, activities, and spaces.

“Housing for the elderly is a major problem facing the globe. They want a community where people of all ages live together.” —Gyo Obata

The drawings featured come from PASS[AGE], the work of Adolfo Maalindog and Maude Wanger. Their project draws inspiration from the activity and warmth of the Italian corso. The liveliness of these European streets is captured through the use of an interior promenade that bisects the site and forms a new connection between Clayton Road and San Bonita Avenue. Residential bars of various age groups are linked through the use of an architectural spine as a major circulation point. Community programming interspersed along the length of the promenade provides a variety of activities which draws the residents from the perimeter of the project towards the center and encourages intergenerational social engagement between various occupants adnd visitors.

The pedestrian experience through the project is given life through the number of activities along the spine as well as the changes in spatial conditions as the interior street expands and contracts both in plan and in section. The composition of bars on the site allows the opportunity for varied outdoor rooms that serve the community and act as pleasant interventions for movement along the eastwest axis. As part of the university, the project aims to not only connect individuals of all ages, but to also promote interactivity within the neighborhood. In reflecting on the proposals, Senior Architectural Designer Tony Patterson stated, “As a general topic, Design for Aging provides an amazingly rare opportunity to focus on qualitative special moments within a larger design context. Developing empathy for impaired senses and limited mobility forces a heightened awareness in the design of human-scaled building elements: the poetic potential and social grace found in a window seat, the experiential power of a well- considered entry threshold and door, the vital importance and delight in a beautifully detailed handrail. This work should prove valuable for students as they transition into the profession, narrowing the gap between architectural theory and practice.” As the world continues to experience rapid population growth and an againg citizenry, it will be crucial to consider how design plays a hwo to design for aging.

vo i c e r e d l s e o n f e rg us on

Written by Briana Bostic

Illustrated by Libby Perold

hen you meet people who have lived in St. Louis their entire lives, what would you expect them to say in a discussion group about that experience? Would you expect disappointment, pride, or insight gained from lived experience? Professionals from the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging, St. Louis County, Better Family Life, Washington University (WUSTL) and University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) launched the Elder Voices on Ferguson project to learn about the experiences that older adults in Ferguson, and nearby municipalities in North St. Louis County, have had since the death of Michael Brown. As of now, there is no perfect formula for determining the services that elders need in order to age meaningfully and healthily in North St. Louis County. In response to this need, Elder Voices on Ferguson is a multifaceted initiative that seeks to holistically consider the experiences of older people in the area by way of those who participate in focus groups. Adjacent to Elder Voices on Ferguson is the Life Story Interview Project, headed by Dr. Tom Meuser, Director of the Gerontology Program at UMSL. When older adults are given the space to tell their life story, they emphasize the kinship they found in their communities as adolescents, often through the church. They speak about the duplicitous nature of race relations, quickly followed by dismay at the young people within their neighborhoods who do not seem inclined to invest in interpersonal interaction.

I am a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and I was interested in the project because it tries to address the social and economic implications of social unrest. I believe elders within the Ferguson community, and other communities, hold a broad and wise insight about the needs of a neighborhood, and how it has changed over time, for better and for worse. In my own family, my eldest relatives often express their displeasure and discomfort with younger generations who regard them as too sickly and lacking of wherewithal to contribute. I came upon the project after it received a grant from the Ferguson Academic Seed Fund, which funds efforts to promote research on issues that relate to sustainable urbanism in our communities. I work closely with Dr. Nancy Morrow-Howell, Director of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging, and Clarissa Jackson, who is currently pursuing her Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Social Work at the Brown School. Dr. Morrow-Howell and Clarissa are incredibly knowledgeable about St. Louis, especially the marginalized populations, and have taught me a lot about the ways in which aging is nuanced. One of the principle ideas set forth by the Elder Voices on Ferguson project is that sustainable communities are built around and involve aging adults so that they may productively transition from the workforce into the years of retirement ahead of them. Most often, the project is advertised in churches and community centers in or near Ferguson, places where older adults frequent on a regular basis. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen that the majority of Washington University student engagement off campus is centered around children and young adults, 25

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During the protests and in the time hereafter, they worry about their safety, avoid shopping at night, and remain wary of certain areas where protesting took place.

so being in this setting, even though it is moderated, is refreshing. The focus groups are facilitated by Sheilah Clark-Ekong and Jacquelyn Lewis-Harris, professors in Anthropology at UMSL, as well as Richelle Clark, Co-Director for the Center for Community Health Partnerships at the Institute for Public Health at WUSTL. At the beginning of the discussion, the facilitator tells the participants that there are no right or wrong answers, giving them liberty to share as much or as little as they wish. Oftentimes, people arrive to tell their stories, to talk about their communities, their loved ones, and the change they need to see: Where do you live and how long have you lived there? Why are you interested in participating in the focus group? “I’ve lived in my present home for 40 years now…we need to find out more about what’s going on. I have a daughter and two grandchildren that were highly impacted by the Mike Brown death. They live right there, almost where he was shot, in the next apartments. I just want to know what’s out there to help them. It’s also affected me and the area that I live in, you know with all the rioting...I was scared to death.” As the discussion continues, the older adults are asked to talk about how they are currently involved in their communities. Some of the responses include how older adults relate to young people: “None of the neighbors even know each other anymore. If you want involvement, go and meet your neighbors.” “Contact the school near you and ask if there’s a day you can come in. Help in the lunchroom and help in the library...” Finally, the discussion segues in to services: ` What programs are needed or could be useful in your community? “I come in at night. I live an active life. I think I’ll feel safer to see the police patrolling around the neighborhoods especially past 12 o’clock or 10 o’clock at night.” “Put the resources out there [in newsletter], you’ll get a few that’s going to read it. A lot of people don’t do stuff because they don’t know what they can get. If we don’t know we can’t get anything.”

Since October of 2015, 10 focus groups have been held, with each one bringing in a new piece of information or a new perspective. Most of the focus group discussions have centered on major themes. Intergenerational communication, the way in which older people talk about the youth in their neighborhoods, can depend on how the older adults feel about the protesting, though many do understand from a historical perspective why the youth are frustrated with law enforcement. The elders who participate also understand the media can provide a biased truth and so they are selective about the news they watch. As the discussants share their stories, they bring in their children and grandchildren, revealing their concern for the future of their community. During the protests and in the time hereafter, they worry about their safety, avoid shopping at night, and remain wary of certain areas where protesting took place. Looking forward, on April 9th, the professionals overseeing the project would like to have a feedback forum so that everyone who has participated thus far will be aware of our findings and can respond to the results. In early May, there will be a roundtable discussion where older adults can converse with young people, many of whom will be members of the Ferguson Youth Initiative, in order to gain a better understanding of what involved community members from different generations need from each other. Overall, the elder voices are varied, but resound to ask for senior care facilities, transportation, food pantries, and trustworthy inexpensive repair services. The seniors have recommend going door to door to reach those who lack the ability to attend a focus group. Seniors can be active in schools, working with children, or physically active in the Silver Sneakers class at the local YMCA. They have a history in the community as members of the Urban League, assisting with voter registration, or volunteering through their respective churches. So far, nearly seventy people have shared their stories. Most of our participants are African-Americans, with an average age of 70. Elders have given the St. Louis community a vitality that is difficult to articulate and even more difficult to ignore. Elder Voices on Ferguson acknowledges that wisdom can be a major contribution to sustainable neighborhoods.

Eyes, New Shoes Poems by Mariel Erlich

Photos by Libby Perold, Courtesy of the Creative Commons

eyes I look at eyes a lot more now From behind the counter of Whispers When you don’t want to face the whole person Or there isn’t much to see. Between black uniforms and safety shoes Eyes tell a lot more I think the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen are here. Jamika’s are white orbs Standing apart from the dusty Olin sunlight Forefront of my morning With a light brown blemish in the lower right lens They could be in a tired face But her jump of a nose keeps them Awake, alive, young Present White orbs Beautiful, glossing over the old wood, They look up at Andre, across at me, towards some customers I look high up At Tashera’s big set of eyes With fake lashes that add Boom. How will we react today? They trace a path to her earrings Around to her braids Into her head 28

new shoes Squeezing your women’s feet Into children’s shoes Jordans cost 160 Don’t hurt yourself, Jamika. They came out in white and red this weekend Next month they’ll be black Some new shoes And your baby has a pair

the rise of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;muppieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; And the Urban Generational Divide Written by Claire Huttenlocher

Illustration by Libby Perold

While the stratification of neighborhoods by age might not seem problematic...an absence of multigenerational interaction creates an urban phenomenon that is similar to gentrification.

ue to complex histories of decline, cities like St. Louis are consistently analyzed for their deep racial, economic, and educational divides reflected in space and quality of life. However, this sort of social and spatial analysis often neglects the importance of age. Now the largest and most diverse generation in the US population, the infamous millennial is coming of age and shaping a new urban landscape. These young adults are often characterized as over-educated, politically engaged 22-35 year olds driven by social impact, technology, and an unprecedented enthusiasm for urban living. According to a Nielsen study, millennials prefer to live in dense, walkable, and diverse urban villages rather than traditional suburbs. Moos finds that cities are experiencing “youthification,” whereby urban neighborhoods remain young through a constant influx of “muppies,” or millennial urban professionals. At the same time, older generations and families are leaving the city looking for a more comfortable lifestyle. According to a White House report on millennials, college graduates have gravitated toward urban areas in the past few decades, leading to segregation by age and skill level. According to the Centre for Cities, urban cores with larger shares of young adults tend to be more economically vibrant and contain more cultural amenities, nightlife, and condo development than cities dominated by older populations. These amenities in turn attract more millennials, and planners support development that caters exclusively to the desires and priorities of the “muppie,” such as the disproportionate designation of rental housing and the prioritization of specialized commercial districts. While the stratification of neighborhoods by age might not seem as problematic as segregation based on race or socioeconomic status, an absence of multigenerational interaction creates an urban phenomenon that is similar to gentrification.

Almost 60 years ago, Jane Jacobs warned urban planners that the built environment is a critical determinant of the quality of urban interactions, and that diversity in the use of space and target population is imperative to urban vibrancy and sustainability. Moos finds that the division of urban space based on age prevents the intergenerational exchange of ideas and experiences. This, in turn, breeds distrust and misunderstanding between the “muppies” and the baby boomers, reflected in uneven and fragmented economic and social systems. Just as the New Urbanism movement has advocated for the social, environmental, and economic benefits of mixed-use and mixed-income development, planners and developers need to promote neighborhoods that are diverse generationally. Planners have the power to redefine urban living through comprehensive designs that incorporate both owned and rental housing along with pre-schools, senior homes, and public spaces that are accessible to a variety of age groups. Sources: Flint, Anthony. “What Millennials Want—And Why Cities Are Right to Pay Them So Much Attention.” Citylab. 5 May 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2016. The Council of Economic Advisors. “15 Economic Facts About Millenials.” Oct. 2014. Web. The Nielson Company. “Millennials: Breaking the Myths.” Reports. N.p., 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2016. Thomas, Elli, Illona Serwicka, and Paul Swinney. “Executive Summary - Urban Demographics | Centre for Cities.” N.p., 22 July 2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

Things Remembered (And Things Chosen Not to Be) Written by Miranda Hines

Illustration by Libby Perold, courtesy of the 1855 Colton Map

e live in a world that loves new things. Old neighborhoods are torn down, gentrified or entirely erased; everyday reminders of the past are often deemed obsolete. The age of something doesn’t guarantee its worth in the minds of those affected by its immediate presence. Therefore, what pieces of history we choose to keep and display with pride says an enormous amount about what our community values, as well as which parts of history it most identifies with. The places, people, and events that a community identifies as important markers of its heritage provide insight into a group’s perception of its shared cultural heritage. While there are undoubtedly numerous local institutions valued and loved by people in the St. Louis area, places that are protected by government organizations carry the distinction of having been considered worth saving. Among these are National Historic Landmarks, identified as “nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States” (National Park Service). This notion of the United States having its own heritage is an important one, as it implies that to be American is to be part of a shared cultural legacy that is independent from ones family history, race, or personal cultural experiences. It suggests that everyone is part of a history that is not

their own. This legacy follows us even if we don’t identify ourselves with it. The 37 National Historic Landmarks in Missouri are eclectic. They include the Gateway Arch, the AnheuserBusch Brewery (yes, the brewery is also a historic landmark), Fort Osage, Graham Cave, and Mark Twain’s boyhood home (National Park Service). Surprisingly, much of our own Washington University Danforth campus is a National Historic Landmark. It is identified as the Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District, and it includes many of the buildings in the vicinity of Brookings and Eads as well as the athletic field. This portion of campus received the designation in 1987 (National Park Service). Does it have local significance? Yes, as the university has always had a significant influence on the area around it. What about national cultural significance? It is true that they are connected to the Louisiana Purchase Expedition 1904 World’s Fair and the Third Olympic Games, but it could probably be debated whether the steps of Brookings really carry much symbolic significance to the whole of America.

“…What a community chooses to remember shapes its cultural identity. It is worth considering who gets to make that choice”

However, it is worth considering what was nominated and decreed a National Historic Landmark first: the Sainte Genevieve Historic District, which became recognized in 1960. Selected in order to protect the examples of French colonial architecture, it is arguably the least American

landmark in terms of the reasons for its preservation— yet it represents an important part of Missouri’s cultural identity (National Park Service). It is interesting that, however diverse Missouri’s urban centers have become, the first site to be selected recognizes the French colonial heritage of Missouri as a foundational part of the region and nation’s history. This physical reminder that the region was a French colony just over two hundred years ago adds a tangible sense of history to the textbook names and dates. While most of Missouri’s culture does not feel French, its French influence is among the most important aspects of the state’s heritage and its early relationship with the rest of the nation. However, it is important to remember that what a community chooses to remember shapes its cultural identity. It is worth considering who gets to make that choice, and what subset of the population gets to celebrate its history on account of having the power to make that choice — as well as which groups do not. Unfortunately, this is highly visible in Missouri. While several of the 37 National Historic Landmarks appeal to a diverse past, the landmarks are not as culturally resonant as they could be. Only two of the 37 landmarks have direct ties to African

American history and issues of civil rights: Shelley House, the home of the family involved in the Shelley v. Kraemer Supreme Court case concerning the unconstitutional use of racially restrictive covenants; and Field House, the home of attorney Roswell Field who represented Dred Scott in Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case (National Park Service). These are the state’s only protected legacies of the struggle for African American civil rights — and the absence of other landmarks stands in stark contrast with the very prominent social issues of today, which serve as a reminder that the history we cherish neglects the legacies inherited by others in our community. While reminders of Missouri’s French colonial and modern industrial history are important to record and preserve, the list should keep in mind that that “the heritage of the United States” is not accurately reflected by that list. Fortunately, the list is neither fixed nor exhaustive. In the future, hopefully the collection of National Historic Landmarks across the state and across the nation pay equal homage to the heritages of the many cultures and shared histories that make up the United States, not exclusively those with the privilege to write history.

bucket list

Poem by Anirma Sharma

Illustrated by Leora Baum

Wait. Wait for everything to slow down, for the grass to stop growing, for the Earth to stop revolving, and the universe to stop expanding. Take a moment, or as many as you need. Life may be short, that’s for you to decide, but there’s no shortage of moments. “Youth is wasted on the young,” but youth is not terminal, age is not linear. At a young age, we aspire to be older: mature, wise, respected. At an old age, we aspire to be younger: uninhibited, immature, unapologetically careless. So when we decide to be older, we put on our mother’s pearls and pencil heels, and make everyone call us Miss. To be younger, we take a sick day from work, go to a Yankees game and eat chili cheese dogs. In the mean time, we ignore what others lust for. We scoff at the beauties of being our age. At the age of six, naps are boring and the septuagenarians regret wishing to be older while they were allowed to swing on the playground. Missed opportunities are a bucket list. For my twelfth birthday, My friends and I went out to dinner. For my eighteenth birthday, My friends and I went to Trampoline World. As the body ages and weakens, the desire to be young dominates. Aging is inevitable, but getting old is not.

meet our team 36

Alicia Yang is asophomore studying Biology and English Lit. Contact her for book recommendations at aliciayang@wustl.edu

Anurima Sharma is a freshman studying biomedical engineering. She also loves writing poetry and getting into political debates.

Briana Bostic is a senior studying economics and anthropology at WashU. Contact her at bostic. briana@wustl.edu.

Carrick Reddin is a senior and the Editor-in-Chief of ISSUES. He studies International Area Studies and Architecture.

Claire Huttenlocher is the President of ISSUES Magazine. She majors in Urban Studies and minors in Legal Studies.

Eleni Andris is a freshman studying Architecture. Contact Eleni at eleniandris@gmail.com

Emma LaPlante is a sophomore studying English, Creative Writing and Global Health. Email her at emmalaplante@gmail.com.

Erica Canup is a senior studying Communication Design. Check out her online portfolio at ericacanup.com.

Kayle Langford is a third-year graduate student pursuing masters degrees in Architecture and Urban Design.

Leora Baum is the visual editor for ISSUES Magazine. She is a senior majoring in IPH and Spanish and minoring in Art.

Libby Perold is the Design Chief for ISSUES Magazine. She is a senior studying Comparative Arts and Design.

Mariel Erlich is a freshman studying Urban Studies and minoring in Latin American and African and African American Studies.

Miranda Hines is a junior studying English Literature and Political Science. Contact her via email at mirandahines@wustl.edu.

Natasha Tabachnikoff is a junior studying Architecture and English Lit. She can be reached at tabachnikoff@wustl.edu

Sarah Gabriel is a junior studying English and advertising. She is honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to ISSUES Magazine.

Yuwei Qiu is a senior studying Communication Design and Economics. She is the social media director for ISSUES.