Cody Ann Herrmann is the lead project coordinator for the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce’s Queens SOUP, a crowd-sourced community-dinner model to provide small grants to community projects and civic initiatives. She is a passionate New York City based community organizer with an interest in participatory design methods, public space, and local sustainable development.
A long-time Flushing resident and environmental activist, Cody spearheaded the first ever innovative Greater Flushing SOUP networking event last spring, which was inspired by a similar program first launched in Detroit. The concept: a $5 donation grants attendees a ballot and a plate at a potluck community meal, also funded by generous sponsorship from local businesses. During the dinner, four local community groups pitch their plan to improve Queens– at the end of the presentations, attendees voted for their favorite initiative. The winning team at the Greater Flushing SOUP, the Earth Citizens Club of Flushing and their Adopt-A-Block project won over $800 at last April’s event.
Through multidisciplinary arts, community engagement exercises, and grassroots organizing, Cody applies an iterative, human centered approach to environmental problem solving. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, she also helps to manage Woody and Pete’s Honky Tonk Lyceum (@QueensLyceum) – an experimental multi-use space which operates as an organic coffee shop, art gallery, and community classroom run by Hydroponic Garden Centers Inc. in Flushing, Queens. Through community outreach driven by Cody, the Lyceum has developed into an engaging environment, serving a dynamic crowd of residents, students, creatives, and commuters. All events are predominately run by a dedicated group of volunteers and collaborators, resulting in an eclectic mix of free and low cost programing. The Lyceum hosts a rolling open call for individual artists and artist collectives of all mediums that are interested in staging performances, or exhibiting works in the gallery.
Cody first got excited about community organizing through her work with the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership’s (TNP) and Trumbull County Land Bank’s (TCLB) community lead land reuse projects in 2015. Cody worked with TNP and TCLB throughout that summer to increase capacity building efforts within the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Neighborhood Initiative Program, Lots to Love, funding community lead projects in vacant lots.
Cody graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York. During her free time she enjoys studying public spaces, cycling, thrifting and talking about local water quality.
Join Cody and get involved in environmental and community based initiatives through Queens SOUP! This coming Earth Day, April 22, 2017, Queens residents borough wide will have the opportunity to participate in the first ever Queens SOUP, a crowd-funded micro-granting community dinner, hosted by the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce (GFCC). Learn more and apply here: https://goo.gl/forms/ccRaXrVUSFkSSRSP2. Application deadline– March 31, 2017.
Saving...