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PLACEMAKING US
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Seatober

Take a Seat, Make a Place
Introduction

​
Welcome to Seatober, a one-month sprint inspired by the Social Life Projects "Bench on Every Corner" campaign. This month, we challenge placemakers across the country to get a bench or seating out on a corner in their state. At PlacemakingUS, we believe that a simple bench can be the seed of a thriving social space. This October, join us in transforming corners—intersections of geography and intent—into vibrant points of congregation.
Why A Bench?

Seating isn't just furniture; it's social infrastructure. A bench invites conversations, a break from the day's rush, and offers an inclusive space for community members. By focusing on corners, we combine path and place into a single point where lives intersect, fostering more engaged communities.
How Does It Work?
​
  1. Sign Up: Use our simple registration form to sign up as a placemaker for your state.
  2. Plan: Review ou Seatember Best Practices below featuring seating treatments from around the world.
  3. Execute: Install your bench by the end of October.
  4. Share: Post photos and stories using the hashtag #Seatober.
Best Practices
​

Read some of the best practices around public seating from our partner, The Social Life Project:​
  • You Are Where You Sit: Zurich Shows Us How
  • Let's Put a Bench on Every Corner
  • ​How Seating Shapes Welcoming Cities
  • Four Paris Benches, Plus
  • ​Brooklyn Promenade Social Seating and Cafe/Kiosk
  • Victual Market - A Simple Bench in Munich Germany​
Who Should Participate?
​
  • Urban Planners
  • Community Organizers
  • Local Governments
  • Business Owners
  • Concerned Citizens
The Bigger Picture

Those who successfully place a bench and demonstrate leadership will be identified for further collaboration in our more advanced campaigns. Seatember is not just about seating; it’s a launching pad for future community development projects.
Join us Now

Be part of this groundbreaking campaign.
​Sign up today and help transform our country one bench at a time!
Submit

A Bench on Every Corner, the Musical!

We created a musical number and video to further the cause of "Liberté, égalité, fraternité ...et convivialité."
​Walking down the avenue,
Faces pass but no one's knew.
Concrete jungles, empty streets.
Where did we lose our heartbeat?

Imagine if we took a stand?
Turned the corner from vacant land?
A simple change, a wooden frame,
Spark a fire, stake a claim.

A bench on every corner...
Let's start a revolution!
Turn spaces into places,
We're the change, the solution!

Sit down for a moment!
Let's have a conversation!
A bench on every corner,
Could heal our lonely nation!

Both young and old,
From far and near.
We'll find our home,
We'll make it here.

It's not just wood, it's not just steel,
It's how we connect, it's how we feel.
From city lights to small-town squares:
We'll find our heart, we'll find them there.

A bench on every corner...
Let's start a revolution!
Turn spaces into places,
We're the change, the solution!

Sit down and taste some ice cream!
Let's make a scene and live the dream!
A bench on every corner,
Could heal our lonely nation!

Let's build it now, let's make a start
Turn the corner into a work of art!
Empty spaces find new life...
Eyes on the street will end the strife.

Weaving stories old and new,
Bench on the corner?
​Dreams come true...
Picture
PlacemakingUS is a non-profit project of Social Enterprise Entrepreneurs

Become a Donor

PlacemakingUS
​

E-mail us: [email protected]
Donate: Paypal
​Phone/WA: USA 1-213-268-4924
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PlacemakingUS Newsletters
​

  • Home
  • About
  • How We Work
    • American Agora
    • Exchanges >
      • Be a Local Host
      • Jacksonville, FL
      • Santa Ana, CA
    • United Streets of America >
      • Volunteer Placemaker
      • Request a Placemaker
    • Weekends >
      • Be a Local Host
      • PHILLY 2024
      • SOCAL 2024
      • OAXACA 2024
      • 2023 Weekends >
        • BAJA 2023
        • MIAMI 2023
        • NOLA 2023
        • NYC 2023
    • Symposiums >
      • Gathering Places
      • Int'l Parklet Symposium - Bologna
      • Public Realm Roundtable
    • Town Showcase >
      • Salisbury, Maryland
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Learning/Training >
      • Online Learning >
        • Funding for Placemaking
      • Free Webinars
      • Tooltests >
        • Seatober
        • Placemake Earth
      • Rural Placemaking
    • Calendar
    • Placemaking Trips >
      • March Across Australia 2024
      • Placemaking Train
      • The Border
      • City Building Express
      • Roadtrip for the Recovery
  • News
  • Support Us