7 moments of development progress — as defined by art
The West Village’s Stonewall Inn has become a place of renewed pride in recent weeks. The front of the Manhattan bar serves as a memorial to the 49 people killed in Orlando, Florida, on June 12 in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. President Barack Obama declared the area surrounding the inn a national monument that he hopes will “tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights” in the country.
Prior to its re-entry into the news, however, you may not have known that in 1969, demonstrations at Stonewall — sparked by a police raid at the inn — were a turning point that led to the emergence of gay rights groups in the United States and other parts of the world.
Around the world, there are hundreds if not thousands of such places — as well as art pieces — that signify hardship, hope and progress, but their significance is often unknown.
This extends to monuments, sculptures and paintings that can be found in key development hubs. There might even be a few that sit near or within the office of your multilateral institution or humanitarian aid organization that have a rich history and bear significance to the work you do.
