EngagingCommunities

Rik Adamski is the President of Ash & Lime, as well as a co-founder of the  Storefront Renaissance League. He emphasizes the importance of bottom-up, incremental approaches to planning, highlighting the significance of understanding and enhancing the human experience in urban spaces. He discusses the nuances of practical urban planning, from the importance of getting the details right to fostering community pride through small,...

Fatima Elkott is the co-founder of Conscious Community Connectors. She emphasizes the importance of grassroots community engagement and the power of creativity in urban planning projects. From her early experiences in Hillsborough County to founding her own consultancy, Fatima highlights the necessity of building genuine connections and compensating residents for their contributions. We uncover how collaborative efforts, like the i...

Mark Christensen, AICP is a Senior Planner with AVI in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He shares his journey with various planning roles, including his tenure with AmeriCorps. The discussion focuses on Mark's experience in establishing an Urban Renewal Authority in Cheyenne and the challenges associated with urban renewal and tax increment financing. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement, transparency, and utilizing technolo...

Nader Afzalan is a city planner, educator, and researcher at UC Berkeley who runs his own firm called The Triangle. He shares insights on his background and work in urban planning, historic preservation in Iran, and policy focus in California. He details his involvement in designing public engagement processes to reduce emissions and air pollution in disadvantaged communities for the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Nader emp...

Deb Brown is a self-proclaimed “small town enthusiast” and co-founder of Save Your Town. Learn about Deb's journey from a Chamber of Commerce and tourism background to a passionate advocate for small town revitalization. Discover the “Idea Friendly Method”, developed with her associate Becky McCray, which encourages residents to take practical steps and build connections to accomplish their big ideas. Hear success stories from...

Michael Gradis, AICP is the Planning Manager for Centennial, Colorado. He discusses the challenges of engaging the public in the Streets at SouthGlenn redevelopment project. Originally a shopping mall built in the 1970s, this center saw various changes over time, transforming into an outdoor lifestyle center in the late 2000s. Despite these efforts, the shopping center faced setbacks, including the closure of key tenants like Macy&...

Nick Vlahos Ph.D. is the Deputy Director of the Center for Democracy Innovation at the National Civic League. Nick discusses his experiences and insights into public decision-making and civic engagement. The conversation covers the role of the National Civic League, the challenges of polarized public meetings, and the practical application of innovative approaches to civic participation. Key projects highlighted include the 'B...

Dr. Larry Schooler started his career working for NPR before transitioning into city government. He has over 15 years of experience in facilitation, mediation, and public engagement, and is currently a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. We delve into his work facilitating community engagement for memorial projects, including Virginia Beach and Pulse Nightclub. Larry emphasizes the crucial role of integrating family and...

Dr. Martín Carcasson is a Communication Studies professor at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Founder and Director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation (CPD). Dr. Carcasson discusses the role of CPD as an impartial resource dedicated to enhancing local democracy in northern Colorado, training students as facilitators to help discuss complex issues with local governments, school boards, and community organizations. Dr. C...

Mark Sherman is the President of Community Heart & Soul, a nonprofit organization based in Vermont dedicated to community development in small towns. Mark shares his personal journey from Vermont to Seattle and back, and how he became involved with Community Heart & Soul, founded by Lyman Orton of the Vermont Country Store. The organization focuses on a resident-driven process to identify what residents love about their tow...

Jasmine Hartenstein, Betty Nguyen, and Ellina Yin discuss the creation of San Jose’s Civics Masterclass. Discover how this free, online, self-paced course equips residents with essential knowledge on local government, parliamentary procedures, and the California Brown Act, and more. Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, the course aims to empower diverse community members to participate in local governance. They highlight ...

Amber Gregg is the CEO of Community Catalyst and Vice President of Pier Pride, which is a non-profit organization in San Clemente, CA that works in partnership with the city and community stakeholders to help preserve the San Clemente pier. Amber talks about the challenges and successes of Pier Pride, community engagement strategies, and the importance of building partnerships and trust. She emphasizes how critical partnerships and...

Stew Meek is the Local Business Manager for the City of Commerce City in Colorado. Our conversation centers around 'Elevate Commerce,' a business retention and expansion program aimed at fostering relationships with local businesses to help the local economy thrive. Stew explains the foundational strategies behind the program, the importance of proactive and relationship-based community engagement, and the innovative aspe...

Corrin Wendell is the Founder and Executive Director of YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning). YEP! ​is a non-profit organization focused on educating young people in grades K-12 about urban planning and civic engagement. They create opportunities for youth to meaningfully advocate for change in their own communities and built environments. Corrin discusses the importance of involving young voices in community decisions and creative way...

Carlo Tomaino, the City Manager of Signal Hill, California, discusses the successful initiative to achieve zero functional homelessness in the city by coordinating internal efforts and partnering with service providers. Though we spoke with Carlo prior to the June 28, 2024 Supreme Court ruling on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, our conversation highlights how the City of Signal Hill’s compassionate approach is relevant rega...

James Rojas and John Kamp talk about engaging people through their hands and senses for the Yolo County Active Transportation Corridors Plan (YATC) which aims to create multi-use trails, enhance mobility, and break down barriers for low-income and minority residents in this rural California community. The project leverages public interest design of transportation services to address the needs of the region's most isolated and ...