Community-Based Design:
Celebrating [in— between] Cultures & Reclaiming the Street
Academic Research at Harvard Graduate School of Design (US) // 2024
Study developed with Hanzhang Lai and Victor Tessler
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As a simple definition, immigration is the movement of people departing from one territory towards another. Despite being an old phenomenon, it has increased over the years given a set of different reasons – such as education, the search for a better life quality, or the necessity to escape or war and natural disasters.
When framing immigration in the United States, Brazilians stand as one of the largest immigrant populations, numbering nearly 800,000 individuals. In Massachusetts, Brazilians form the largest immigrant group as of 2022, with a particularly strong presence in urban areas that offer industrial opportunities and support networks. Since the 2000s, East Somerville has become the destination of a series of people from Brazil.
What does belonging and membership mean when you live in a different surrounding and are faced with unfamiliar cultures and practices? For many in this context, community-building is less about connecting to the new territory and more about designing alternative spaces where their heritage and native culture can thrive.
Methodology
The research process combined fieldwork, community engagement, and qualitative methods to gather insights.
The team dedicated a day to field research along the street of Broadway in East Somerville, MA engaging directly with local business owners to understand their experiences as Brazilian workers in the United States.
The team attended a SomerViva meeting conducted in Portuguese, which allowed for a better understanding of the needs and concerns of Brazilian residents. Two online meetings with SomerViva's Portuguese Services Coordinator were also conducted to gain more knowledge into the organization's ongoing initiatives. An online survey was also distributed to Brazilian residents in Somerville. This survey sought to identify what residents most value in an event designed specifically for them.
For research and to explore strategies for fostering community engagement, the group met with different groups with current activities in the region: with Soccer Without Borders, non-profit present all around the United States with focus on using soccer as a universal language to create positive change, and with CultureHouse, an interdisciplinary team based in Somerville that works with local communities to improve livability by transforming underutilized spaces. These discussions focused on effective ways to design and execute community events tailored to the interests and needs of Brazilian immigrants.
The Activity
Focused on the main commercial street at East Somerville, the project temporarily transformed the front of a public library into a stadium, a place to talk and meet, an inclusive gathering spot for the community to watch the final match CONMEBOL Libertadores, the biggest soccer competition in South America, where two Brazilian teams, Atlético MG and Botafogo, met.
The event included a large screen projecting the game, with seats for the passerby to stop and feel welcome. Goalies and soccer balls by the side, inviting kids to play and engage with soccer in the spirit of fun and community. Interviews were conducted with attendees to gather feedback and insights about their experiences as Brazilians living in Somerville, fostering dialogue about identity, belonging, and cultural celebration.
Beyond the game itself, the event seeks to reclaim urban public spaces as areas for community gathering, connection, belonging, and the contributions of immigrant communities to the city's cultural landscape.
The goal was to celebrate the cultural heritage of immigrant populations, particularly from Brazil and Latin America, by offering a public, shared experience through the passion for soccer.