Scholar Robert Sampson studies Chicago neighborhoods and said he’s never seen block club signs like this in other cities. Part of the reason the signs still exist is because black Chicago neighborhoods have seen disinvestment. Rather than give up, Sampson said, residents put up the signs to demonstrate community pride and cohesion.

Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block My Hood My City, had the idea of updating the signs.

Jahmal Cole Jahmal Cole

As he jogged through his Chatham neighborhood, he paid closer attention to the signs and thought that they were too focused on negativity because of the frequent use of the word “no.”

Cole connected with the Design Apprenticeship Program at the University of Chicago Arts Incubator to get young people to create new signs.