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How Friends of The West End plan to make West Kendall cool

“How do we get our name on the map?”

Juan David Rey wanted to make something in West Kendall that would make it more than a place where people would go home to sleep. Lo and behold, the idea behind community resident group Friends of The West End’s concert series was born.

The goal of The West End Concert Series, one of The Miami Foundation’s 2016 Public Space Challenge winners, was to create something by and for the West Kendall community so residents wouldn’t have to drive 30 minutes just for food or entertainment.

“There’s all these cultural activities everywhere else in Wynwood, Downtown, South Beach. It seems like if you don’t live in or near the those neighborhoods you don’t get to participate,” said Co-chair Veronica Barrios-Garcia. It was important to her and Rey to build something big in their own backyard that could make community members in West Kendall not feel so underserved.

Friends of The West End is keeping the momentum going with another concert scheduled for October, in addition to working on smaller-scale projects. The group hopes to continue serving the community and encouraging its residents to get involved.

This year, The Miami Foundation is investing $305,000 to make Miamians’ top ideas a reality. Through April 6, everyone in Greater Miami can submit an idea to the Public Space Challenge to help make our city a more vibrant, engaged place to live.

By The New Tropic Creative Studio
The WhereBy.Us Creative Studio helps clients big and small engage locals, through campaigns that use creative marketing, storytelling, events, and activations to build community, conversation, and impact.