OU Institute for Quality Communities

The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC), in collaboration with Oklahoma State University (OSU) 's High Obesity Program, recently conducted site visits in Taft, Westville, and Sallisaw as part of the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant initiative. We had a great community engagement event in each of these towns, where we connected with local residents, leaders, and stakeholders to discuss pedestrian safety, accessibility, and street improvements. These conversations are essential in shaping strategies that prioritize safer, more walkable, and connected streets for everyone. A huge thank you to our partners Lacey Wallace,Leo Perez, MS, RDN, LD,Tricia Wall,Kim Lee,Stefanie Mitchell,Skylar Fullbright and all community members for their valuable insights and participation! Excited for the next steps in making Oklahoma’s streets safer and more inclusive. #SafeStreetsForAll #IQC #UrbanDesign #CompleteStreets #CommunityEngagement #Placemaking #PedestrianSafety #TransportationPlanning? Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D.Vanessa MorrisonAnahita N.Afrah ThasneemSanjita BasnetPhilip Moll

Exciting Announcement from IQC! We are delighted to welcome Dr. Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. as the new Director of the Institute for Quality Communities (IQC)! ?? Dr. Wiley is a nationally recognized scholar and educator specializing in historic preservation, urban studies, and community-driven design. Her work centers on equity, placemaking, and the cultural significance of architecture and urban landscapes—a vision that perfectly aligns with IQC’s commitment to strengthening communities through thoughtful, inclusive design. With her leadership, IQC looks forward to expanding its impact in historic preservation, urban revitalization, and community engagement across Oklahoma and beyond. We are excited for the future and the new opportunities that her expertise will bring! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Wiley! ?? #IQC #Placemaking #HistoricPreservation #UrbanPlanning #CommunityDesign #Leadership #Equity #SustainableCommunities #PublicSpaces

Farewell & Best Wishes to Vanessa Morrison! We at IQC are incredibly grateful for Vanessa Morrison’s leadership and impact over the years. While we’ll miss her, we’re excited for her next chapter as CEO of Open Design Collective Vanessa’s leadership has reinforced our commitment to fostering inclusive and impactful community-driven initiatives, and we will carry forward the lessons she has shared. Her dedication to meaningful, community-centered work will continue to inspire us. Wishing her all the best in this next chapter! #IQC #OpenDesignCollective #CommunityEngagement #Placemaking #Leadership #UrbanDesign

Exciting Announcement from IQC! We are delighted to welcome Dr. Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. as the new Director of the Institute for Quality Communities (IQC)! ?? Dr. Wiley is a nationally recognized scholar and educator specializing in historic preservation, urban studies, and community-driven design. Her work centers on equity, placemaking, and the cultural significance of architecture and urban landscapes—a vision that perfectly aligns with IQC’s commitment to strengthening communities through thoughtful, inclusive design. With her leadership, IQC looks forward to expanding its impact in historic preservation, urban revitalization, and community engagement across Oklahoma and beyond. We are excited for the future and the new opportunities that her expertise will bring! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Wiley! ?? #IQC #Placemaking #HistoricPreservation #UrbanPlanning #CommunityDesign #Leadership #Equity #SustainableCommunities #PublicSpaces

?? We’re thrilled to kick off the Spring semester with exciting projects and partnerships! ?? We are proud to collaborate with the OKC Black Alumni Coalition, Inc Oklahoma Black Alumni Coalition (OBAC) on a meaningful project celebrating Oklahoma’s historic Black settlements while preparing for the 2028 Olympic watersport events at the Riversport/Boathouse District. This initiative highlights community story mapping, oral history collection, and the creation of a culturally reflective wayfinding plan for the historic Walnut Grove area. A heartfelt thank you to Shawntay Alexander, LCSW, Executive Director of OBAC, for her leadership and vision. We’re also honored to partner with the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County and BlackSpace Oklahoma, leveraging their expertise and resources in oral history collection and community engagement to enrich this impactful endeavor. We are also excited to partner with the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) and High Obesity Program OK (HOP OK)-?This year, we've also been working diligently on projects in Taft, Westville, and Sallisaw, focusing on creating safe, inclusive streets for all. As the spring semester kicks off in January, we’re excited to hit the ground running with site visits and community engagements—connecting with residents, exploring unique opportunities, and turning these transformative visions into reality! We look forward to meaningful contributions from our students, faculty, and partners. Here's to an inspiring and productive semester ahead!!? Picture Courtesy : RIVERSPORT Foundation and travelok

Wrapping Up an Exciting Semester at IQC !!! As the semester ends, we’re proud to reflect on impactful projects and collaborations that made this fall truly remarkable. We’d like to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) for the opportunity to collaborate on their Community and Economic Resilience Initiative (CERI) projects in Spencer and Piedmont. City of Piedmont- Downtown Piedmont Revitalization: Transforming six downtown blocks into a hub for active living and economic vitality. We joined Piedmont's Christmas Tree Lighting, engaging with the community to gain valuable insights into the town’s needs and aspirations. McCoy Park, Spencer, OK: Collaborating on reimagining this historic park as a vibrant space for events like farmers’ markets and Food Truck Fridays. Engaging with the steering committee was inspiring as they shared their vision to honor Spencer’s history while planning for its future. A huge thanks to our guest speakers: Jim Eldridge, CEcD:Your expertise in rural economic development and placemaking has inspired us to foster thriving communities. Justin Henry, AICP and Max Harris, AICP : Thank you for your guidance on Vision Zero and promoting safer, more inclusive streets. Ron Frantz: Thank you for your inspiring support and expertise, which have empowered us to create vibrant, inclusive spaces. Thank you to all our collaborators and communities!! We would like to conclude by expressing our deepest gratitude to Vanessa Morrison and Layne Ferguson for your invaluable support and insights, which have been instrumental in shaping our work and inspiring?as we continue building stronger, more connected communities.

Transforming McCoy Park in Spencer, OK!! The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) is excited to work on another impactful project—reimagining McCoy Park in Spencer, Oklahoma! This initiative, part of Association of Central Oklahoma Governments's Community and Economic Resilience Initiative (CERI), focusing on creating a unique identity for this central community space. McCoy Park, is deeply rooted in the town’s history. Currently surrounded by the City Hall, Senior Center, and emergency services, the park has the potential to serve as the heart of the community, bringing residents together through vibrant activities and events. With a focus on placemaking, collaboration, and partnership, this project aims to transform the park into a dynamic space for farmers’ markets, Food Truck Fridays, health fairs, and much more. Together, we’re creating a space that reflects Spencer’s rich history while embracing its bright future. We are also thrilled to have Layne Ferguson, a University of Oklahoma alumnus with his expertise in urban design, placemaking, and multi-modal street planning, guiding and supporting our team on the Spencer and Piedmont projects!!. Stay tuned for updates as we collaborate with the communities to bring their vision to life! #Placemaking #CommunityDevelopment #PublicSpaces #UrbanDesign #piedmontok #downtownpiedmont #McCoyPark #SpencerOK #IQC

Downtown Piedmont Revitalization! The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) team recently had the opportunity to visit City of Piedmont to meet with the Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee, gaining valuable insights into the city’s aspirations and challenges. This six-block downtown area, identified through the city’s updated comprehensive plan, offers a unique opportunity to address a downtown that encourage active living, connection, and local pride,this project will transform downtown Piedmont into a hub of activity and growth while celebrating the city’s cultural identity. Engaging directly with the community and interdisciplinary professionals to shape spaces that promote healthy lifestyles, economic vitality, and placemaking. This important work is supported by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments(ACOG) through their Community and Economic Resilience Initiative (CERI) Program, which helps towns like Piedmont thrive by fostering economic vitality and community identity. We’re honored to be part of this transformative journey. Stay tuned as we continue to work with the community to create a revitalized downtown Piedmont !! #CommunityDevelopment #DowntownRevitalization #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #HealthyCommunities #PiedmontOK #IQC

Celebrating Vanessa Morrison !!! We’re thrilled to celebrate Vanessa Morrison,interim director of the Institute for Quality Communities for being featured in Metropolis Magazine !! ? Congratulations, your leadership and dedication inspire us all! ?? #IQC #OU #OpenDesignCollective #CommunityEmpowerment #MetropolisMagazine

Insightful Conversations on Vision Zero ! ??? A heartfelt thank you to Justin Henry, AICP,Program Planner at City of Oklahoma City and Max Harris, AICP,Senior Planner at City of Oklahoma City for taking their time to speak with OU Institute for Quality Communities.?We are incredibly proud to recognize both of them as an RCPL alumni at Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design (PLAD).Their insights on Vision Zero, an initiative to eliminate deadly crashes and achieve zero fatalities on Oklahoma City's roadways were both enlightening and motivating. They shared knowledge on key contributors to car fatalities and serious injuries, including speed, visibility, and street design, stressing that addressing safety requires a holistic approach beyond merely lowering speed limits. It was also insightful to hear about the importance of leveraging data from agencies like the Highway Safety Office and referenced models such as BikeWalkOKC to inform better multimodal design. Additionally, they spoke on how development patterns, pedestrian infrastructure, and strategic community engagement play roles in safety. Thanks to federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Oklahoma City’s Vision Zero Plan aims to create a safe, inclusive, and equitable mobility system for all road users. We are grateful to Max and Justin for showing us how thoughtful urban planning can foster impactful change. Their dedication to building a safer Oklahoma City inspires us all! ??????? #VisionZero #UrbanPlanning #CommunitySafety #TransportationPlanning #PublicAdministration #OklahomaCity