Pennsylvania – The high school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will be transformed into an eco-village for young, underprivileged entrepreneurs.
On a mission to give back to communities in need ‘by empowering and uplifting those held back by poverty’, a range of social entrepreneurs have come together to co-develop The Bridge as a place for young people to live and work. Situated in Harrisburg, which according to the co-founder of The Bridge, Garry Gilliam Jr, is ‘the epitome of systematic oppression’, the redevelopment will give access to basic resources for those in need.
Consequently, the village will include housing, retail and co-working spaces, education centres and entertainment facilities. In response to the lack of local grocery stores selling fresh produce, The Bridge will also feature an on-site indoor vertical farm. With solar panels and a rainwater collection system, sustainability is also integrated in the design of the eco-village.
As poverty remains rife throughout the US, innovators are stepping in to create new communities that offer access to work, living spaces and fresh food. For more, read our macrotrend The American Middle.