First suburban communities are characterized by an older, post-WW II housing stock and no green field space for development, which presents challenges for keepi ... more

First suburban communities are characterized by an older, post-WW II housing stock and no green field space for development, which presents challenges for keeping their vitality and fiscal health. Hear from three first suburban (inner ring) communities at the forefront of exploring smart-growth strategies to encourage redevelopment. This tour will feature three inner-ring suburbs and their projects and strategies. In North Kansas City, an older industrial community, they fostered a mixed-housing, mixed-income project on the site of an old and failing garden apartment complex. The project has brought a mix of household types to the community and strengthened their downtown. Mission is a bedroom community that committed to a smart-growth approach to redevelopment, and has fostered a new mixed-use development on an old mall site and developed senior housing next to their community center. As a part of their downtown development strategy, Gladstone, another bedroom community, partnered with the school district to develop a community center and natatorium. The tour will also explain how the First Suburbs Coalition, a 10-year-old coalition on inner-ring suburbs, has fostered new initiatives and collaboration. Transportation includes a bus. Light refreshments will be provided.

Instructors:

Dean Katerndahl

Who are the innovators achieving a ‘quadruple bottom line’? Incubating green industries, driving infill development, reengaging disaffected workforce, and foste ... more

Who are the innovators achieving a ‘quadruple bottom line’? Incubating green industries, driving infill development, reengaging disaffected workforce, and fostering community ownership of assets –business leaders are championing these emergent models in Atlanta, Cleveland, Portland, and San Francisco. These enterprises revive inner city economies by drawing from neighborhoods’ existing assets. They expand notions of ‘smart growth’ and improve neighborhoods in place, preventing the displacement that accompanies neighborhood revitalization. Panelists will reveal the creative models that advance green aims and expand workforce opportunities for existing low-income communities. The panelists will highlight keys to their success: focusing on anchor institutions, forming worker-owned cooperatives, identifying existing goods and service needs (green retrofitting, Brownfield clean up), combining public and private funding sources, and fostering multi-sectoral partnerships. In this “jobless” recovery, hear how sustainability can be the centerpiece of economic recovery and how new economic models can infuse new life into de-industrialized places.

Instructors:

Kalima Rose

Join us for a bus ride through the Marlborough area of South Kansas City, which was once characterized by aging infrastructure and housing, vacant storefronts, ... more

Join us for a bus ride through the Marlborough area of South Kansas City, which was once characterized by aging infrastructure and housing, vacant storefronts, and lack of access to transportation and healthy foods. Marlborough Community Coalition leaders, city staff, educators and business owners will share how partnerships and passion are bringing positive change to the area. See the just-completed green infrastructure streetscapes that reduce combined sewer overflows, and several landmarks that have been catalysts for action. Hear community leaders share how they have engaged residents through strategies such as a “We Live Here” campaign, a Justice Feast to raise awareness about the importance of healthy food, and the development of a school greenhouse and urban farm to support improvements that residents envision.

Instructors:

Kerry Herndon

We want it all. It is our nature. Healthy, attractive communities to live, work and play. Good jobs, more equitable distribution of resources, clean air, water ... more

We want it all. It is our nature. Healthy, attractive communities to live, work and play. Good jobs, more equitable distribution of resources, clean air, water – should these be so far from our reach as urban residents? 25 diverse national leaders (from planning, water, forestry, elected officials+) didn’t think it was too much of a stretch when they converged in 2011 to create Vibrant Cities: A Call to Action, advocating for improved urban forests and green infrastructure to create more resilient and green cities and municipalities. Building on their recommendations, the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition, a multi-disciplinary network of green community advocates, is now coordinating its members, innovators and stakeholder to help drive change from the neighborhood up. This interactive session showcases how non-traditional partners integrate urban trees into local, regional and national projects and campaigns. They will showcase snapshots of their work in communities (all sizes), weaving in water quality, social equity and more.

Instructors:

Nancy Hughes

Shannon Lawrence

Phillip Rodbell

David Rouse AICP

Across the country, rural communities and regions are working to define their competitive advantages, capitalize on their assets, and adapt to shifting national ... more

Across the country, rural communities and regions are working to define their competitive advantages, capitalize on their assets, and adapt to shifting national and global economies. However, rural economic development efforts often leave out land use strategies that are essential to protecting rural character, retaining and attracting residents, and growing businesses. This workshop will teach staff of regional planning councils, local governments, economic development agencies, and nonprofit organizations how to train colleagues and community members on the connections between land use and economic development. Presenters will demonstrate the use of a new training module developed by EPA that includes a menu of land use strategies supporting sustainable economic development. Participants will be provided with access to the training materials--including a PowerPoint, instructors’ guide, and interactive exercises--and will gain the skills necessary to conduct their own successful training that advances smart growth and enduring economic development where they live.

Instructors:

Megan McConville

Scott Tate

As federal agencies adopt or update their Environmental Justice strategies, departments have employed innovative public engagement strategies to solicit input, ... more

As federal agencies adopt or update their Environmental Justice strategies, departments have employed innovative public engagement strategies to solicit input, better assess equity needs, and to engage with traditionally underrepresented populations. This session will discuss applicability of these federal efforts to local and state decision-makers and provide an interactive tutorial on innovative public engagement strategies. Speakers will offer lessons learned from the federal Interagency Work Group on Environmental Justice and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities ‘Team EJ’ efforts; outcomes from the federal Public Transportation Participation project; and showcase how environmental justice communities along a planned transit corridor in Minneapolis are being included in planning and the decision making.

Instructors:

Joan Vanhala

Climate change reports indicate that there has been a doubling of rain events in the past 100 years in the Midwest, with even more to come. This session will fo ... more

Climate change reports indicate that there has been a doubling of rain events in the past 100 years in the Midwest, with even more to come. This session will focus on best practices and community/regional models for adaptation to and mitigation of ever-increasing rainwater in the Midwest. Practices will focus on the intersection of urban and community forestry, green infrastructure and climate adaptation/mitigation. Practices will include regional approaches to policy formulation relative to green infrastructure and urban forestry, low impact storm water management with a focus on forestry-related elements, statewide efforts to create leadership and planning models that facilitate climate adaptation and mitigation, and national initiatives focused on creating data and tools supportive of local efforts throughout the country.

Instructors:

Tom Jacobs

Nick Kuhn

Randy Neprash

Mired in stagnant budgets and escalating politics, are states a growing battle ground for sustainability policies? Or do they remain a center of innovation and ... more

Mired in stagnant budgets and escalating politics, are states a growing battle ground for sustainability policies? Or do they remain a center of innovation and practical solutions? Join a panel of recognized advocacy leaders as they explore current political dynamics, strategies that are working, and critical future game plans. This interactive session will focus on the lessons from several key state policy losses, strategies that are achieving results with limited budget impact, and trends that are key to future state sustainability policies across the country. Following opening presentations, panelists will open a conversation about what is happening at the state policy level, implications for smart growth practitioners everywhere, and how we grow an new generation of smart growth state advocacy.

Instructors:

Bridget Jones

Walking and biking are growing in importance as a key component of daily travel and recreation in communities of all sizes. Whether communities begin with inves ... more

Walking and biking are growing in importance as a key component of daily travel and recreation in communities of all sizes. Whether communities begin with investments in new bike paths, Compete Streets ordinances, or education programs, active transportation provides affordable, healthy, and environmentally friendly options to meet mobility needs of all residents. This session opens with results from the federal Non-motorized Pilot Program in four diverse communities, and then highlights rapidly expanding interest in bike sharing with experiences from over a dozen programs. Participants will learn of investments made in walking and bicycling and associated health, environmental and social equity benefits from reduced vehicle use. The panel will share experiences with expanding and financing active transportation, starting bike sharing programs, and gaining community buy-in. Experts from a range of organizations will offer advice in breakouts how to expand active transportation and start bike sharing.

Instructors:

Joan Pasiuk

Jenita McGowan

When you hear the words “public transportation,” what image comes to mind? For many Americans, the words conjure up pictures of crowded subway cars and diesel b ... more

When you hear the words “public transportation,” what image comes to mind? For many Americans, the words conjure up pictures of crowded subway cars and diesel buses crawling through traffic – in short, scenes of urban mass transit. Small city and rural America has public transportation needs that are just as compelling as those in big cities. Aging populations, young people, disabled citizens, working families and other people who want transportation choices are working together as never before to make public transportation happen. Federal and state government resources have become available for small town and rural transit, and communities are leveraging this investment to great success. Panelists will discuss small city and rural transit success stories from around the country, with an emphasis on why and how success happened so that the lessons learned can be applied in other communities.

Instructors:

Lisa Ballard

Sarah Kline

Roger Millar AICP

Terry Supahan