The Laundromat Project: Community Development in the Local Coin-Op
Join SNEAC and Bridge for a brownbag lunch exploring the intersection of social enterprise and the arts:
A Unique Spin on Social Enterprise
The Laundromat Project: Community Development in the Local Coin-Op
April 22, 2009
12:00 – 1:30PM
Rice Conference Room
Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
RSVP: http://wagner.nyu.edu/events/arts-04-22-2009
Learn how Risë, founder of the Laundromat Project, transformed local coin-op laundromats into dynamic public art projects and self-sustaining revenue models. This innovative social enterprise provides communities of color living on modest incomes with broad access to visual art as a tool of personal and social transformation.
Lunch will be served.
About Risë Wilson
Risë Wilson holds a BA in African-American Studies from Columbia, and an MA in Africana Studies from NYU. After conceiving the idea for The Laundromat Project in 1999, Risë tailored her career path to make her project a reality. She gained a practical education in management and arts aministration by working for institutions like ARAMARK, the Painted Bride, MoMA, and ICP. She also became a printmaker, working primarily in linoleum and silkscreen. Recognized as one of the “World’s Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs”, Risë is a 2004 Echoing Green fellow and prior recipient of fellowships from both CAA and NYU. She also periodically serves as a consultant to other non-profits, offering expertise in visual literacy, curriculum development, and strategic planning. She also teaches at the Parsons School of Design, helping product design students apply their talents to the public sphere.
