WHAT WAS THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL PLACEMAKING WEEK IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE? - Part Two
If community collectives gather the residents to bring about positive changes in their neighbourhoods, how do local government and public policy forge partnerships that garner shared responsibility and enhanced care for place? For starters, the word invest comes to mind.
Invest in trust; invest in the risk takers; invest in the generosity of the community will.
Executive Director of the Center for Child and Family Achievement, Wanda Webster Stansbury is a problem solver who brings people together to identify common issues and solutions. She pleaded to community and government leaders to dig deep for bravery and relevance within their community. She reminded government agencies that their communities are there… waiting.
The most simple yet significant revelation came from meeting the government employees who took great pride in seeking out and funding grassroots projects. They would actively delve into communities in search of new ideas and also hunt for new leaders. Certain municipalities were growing the talent from within communities, coaching them and also funding projects that reflected the communities in their entirety. We don’t doubt that these trusted relationships take time, but they also take effort: quality government relationships don’t happen by themselves. Here in Chattanooga we found government officials and their collaborators sharing long-running success stories as well as the newer projects that had only just begun.
We will share some vital dos and don’ts I collected in my time at the Project for Public Spaces’ 3rd International Placemaking Week
Don’t attempt to accomplish equity and inclusion sitting in an office.
Do remember you can’t scale what you can’t permit.
Don’t undervalue the power and access you have, which others can only dream of.
Do distribute power to support interpersonal and institutional success.
Do ensure that every engagement is a diverse collection of citizens and, more importantly, a range of perspectives
Don’t forget that communities are waiting for you to work together to transform place WITH them.
Do understand mobility can be sexy.
Do activate your leadership teams and garner the political will of your colleagues.
Do work on ways for a quick build methodology.
Do foster citizen, city, and regional collaboration
Don’t stop asking which other voices should be in the room.
Do be the pirate even if it means going rogue. If it permits or instigates a movement toward positive change, it will be worth it.
Movement towards positive change is a favourite pastime for Maciej Zacher from the municipality of Skawina, Poland. He lucidly moves from both safer streets around schools to biodiversity projects in his neighborhood
Mike Lydon of Street Plans works closely with various council departments to modify redundant and underused roadways and reaches underserved communities to create meaningful open space. He is working with planning departments to engage in robust dialogue with inclusivity at its core, successfully harvesting ideas which in turn creates that excitement for potential partnerships.
Marisa Denker from Connect the Dots noticed there were various approaches to creating environments that encouraged participation, but not all were working. She also recognised the need for this process to have intentional backing by councils. Connect the Dots ensures that every engagement includes diverse collection of citizens and, more importantly, a range of perspectives. The government- supported engagement events have an accessible and facilitated approach full of clear parameters. Most importantly, it is a process and result the citizen does not feel locked out of. Instead, they feel authentically and genuinely a part of their communities.
Part two highlights the role of government agencies and collaborators that work together to celebrate the community input that champions projects in their city. These are the elected representatives that truly shepherd projects over the finish line. The council officials that understand the needs and desires of the community they serve, and tirelessly maintain the relationships to the place and the people. It’s the Departments of Transportations, the Parks Commissioners and Councillors who are rebuilding, reimagining, and sustaining place for the generations to come.
This is only a sampling of learnings acquired during my week in a place unknown to me, on the traditional land of Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) also known as Chattanooga. There, they extended the hospitality to allow me to feel genuinely included as a part of their community-building processes.
My version of shared notes above and below have been gathered from various event speakers including but not exclusive to:
Marciej Zacher - Nate Hommel - Ethan Kent - Jay Pitter - Josiah Golson -Marisa Denker - Wanda Webster Stansbury – Minouche Besters - Shane Morrow - Anne Coulter - Eric Meyers - Nidhi Gulati -Mike Lydon Charlie Brower - Glasshouse Collective
Images by: No. 89 Photography