Neighbors launch Black Lives Matter sign project

When a great idea takes hold there is nothing that can stop it. And when determined caring neighbors decide to act, they know how to make it happen. 

We take great pride in our Wilder Street friends and the Good Neighbor leadership who recently organized around a solidarity project in Glass Farm for Black Lives Matter. 

What began as an idea to create and place 10 Black Lives Matter yard signs down a section of Wilder Street quickly turned into a new partnership between GNN and Vector Printing to help scale the idea’s cost-effectiveness so that more signs could be made and more yards could participate all over Glass Farm. 

Gail McKeel, who felt convicted to do something and initiated the project, said once the BLM sign idea was shared with GNN leadership, it was clear everyone wanted the project to happen, and everyone wanted their own sign. “Everyone jumped on board within minutes. I heard,  ‘I want two’  ‘Yes, let’s fill up N. Chamberlain St.’,  ‘I’d love some’,” Gail said.

Within minutes, their first sign order went from 10 to 80. Vector stepped up and not only created the design for the sign, but they also donated the first 100 signs. Soon, other generous members of the wider community showed up with more support by sponsoring additional signs so some would be free to our neighbors. 

With extras in hand, Miss Gail and Miss Audrey set up several pop-up sales at the corner of Glass St. and North Chamberlain with sell-outs in less than an hour every time.  As of this writing, 440 signs have been distributed and they’ll be out there again with another 100 signs for sale this weekend (Saturday, June 25). 

Shout outs to David Raley, Audrey McClure, Molly Bird, Chip Brown, Jamila Robinson Dunigan, and Gail McKeel for coming together so quickly and responsively! Thank you to Vector Printing for supporting positive neighborhood work!

And if any readers need a sign please head over to the pop-up and grab one (or several) for $7 because Black Lives Matter wherever you live.

Check this out!
Some of the first signs made were carried during a protest for Chattanooga area youth in early June.