The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) had an incredible site visit with the Oklahoma City Black Alumni Coalition (????????),Shawntay Alexander, LCSW,Executive Director, the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County Judith Matthews and RIVERSPORT Foundation as we continue working together to honor and preserve the ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????? It was truly inspiring to hear the voices of the community during our site visit! Their stories and passion reinforce the importance of preserving cultural heritage and shaping inclusive public spaces. We are extremely excited and looking forward to honoring many more voices as this collaboration continues to grow. Join us in this important conversation! ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????????? ??????????????! ?? Date: March 13, 2025 ? Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ?? Location: RIVERSPORT Devon Boathouse, OKC Let’s celebrate the history of Walnut Grove, share stories, and explore ways to uplift this collective legacy. Bring your photos, memories, and artifacts to contribute to this vital effort! More details at : www.okcbac.com Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. Sarah Little, PhD Philip Moll Sanjita Basnet Anahita N. Afrah Thasneem #IQC #OBAC #CommunityEngagement #Placemaking #HistoricPreservation #OklahomaCity #UrbanPlanning #InclusiveDesign
OU Institute for Quality Communities
建筑与规划
Norman，Oklahoma 420 位关注者
A community engagement outreach program in the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture.
关于我们
The Institute for Quality Communities is a community engagement program in the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. The program was founded in 2008 by former OU President David L. Boren and First Lady Molly Shi Boren. IQC partners with Oklahoma communities to address local challenges, and brings best practices to Oklahomans through the biennial Placemaking Conference. IQC manages the Environmental Design degree program for undergraduate students. IQC serves Oklahoma’s towns and cities while educating the next generation of leaders. The community is our classroom for interdisciplinary teams of students. We build partnerships with mayors, city managers, and civic organizations across Oklahoma to identify challenges in the built environment. Students learn by experience to gather community input, analyze existing conditions, and develop conceptual planning and design solutions. These partnerships enhance learning and help Oklahomans reshape their towns and cities in ways that improve health, economy, and quality of life. We have completed more than 50 community projects in 28 Oklahoma counties. These have resulted in formally adopted plans, successful grant applications, and implemented changes. IQC connects Oklahomans with stories and ideas that inspire them to take action. We host the Placemaking Conference, a biennial event featuring nationally-renowned experts in city design and development. The Placemaking Conference is about how we design and build towns and cities. Design of the built environment is of critical importance to challenges facing Oklahoma, with links to important outcomes in public health, fiscal solvency of local government, economic development, and talent retention. The Placemaking Conference has attracted a total of 3,000 visitors from 60 Oklahoma counties. Holding this conference is an essential component of our efforts to reach community advocates, civic leaders, and industry professionals.
- 网站
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https://iqc.ou.edu
OU Institute for Quality Communities的外部链接
- 所属行业
- 建筑与规划
- 规模
- 2-10 人
- 总部
- Norman，Oklahoma
- 类型
- 非营利机构
- 创立
- 2008
地点
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主要
获取路线
830 Van Vleet Oval E
Gould Hall, Suite 165
US，Oklahoma，Norman，73019
OU Institute for Quality Communities员工
动态
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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
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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
?? OU Gibbs is happy to announce ????. ?????????? ?????????? as the new director of the ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? following a national search. An award-winning scholar with over 15 years of experience in historic preservation, architecture, and community engagement, Dr. Wiley has made it her mission to amplify the history and design narratives of Black communities. Her work champions inclusive and thoughtful approaches to preservation policy and practice. ?? We’re excited to see Dr. Wiley's leadership shape the future of the IQC! ?? more: link.ou.edu/40mUw6J
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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
Today marks my official last day at the OU Institute for Quality Communities and my full-time appointment as CEO of Open Design Collective! I am completely honored to step into this role and grateful to our board of directors for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. A dream 10 years deferred. The origins of this work came to me in 2011 after working alongside dozens of women and children who were navigating through what seemed to be the impossible, rebuilding their lives after crisis. Learning from those women at such a young age exposed me to the complexities of our cities that I had never understood before and, as a result, permanently shifted me. I’m forever grateful to the women I got to meet and for the people I got to work with. Little did I know at the time what all of that was preparing me for. I’m a conduit for my elders who migrated to Oklahoma in the late 1800’s to find and build a way, led by women ahead of their time. Women who were not to be played with! But still loved out loud and didn’t let life harden them. Women who believed in showing up and going hard for their communities - lessons that continue to guide me everyday. I’m thankful to Deborah Richards who has become not only a partner in this work but one of my dearest friends turned family. I’m grateful for those who’ve helped demonstrate how impact is possible when local leaders are supported. I’m grateful to BlackSpace Urbanist Collective, a collective that has connected me to a national village of friends and peers who have sustained me. I’m grateful to my Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture colleagues and students, the OU Institute for Quality Communities for an amazing 4+ year run, and for educators like Dr. John Harris who supported me as a student and created space for my interests even when there wasn’t a space defined. Excited to continue to be on the Gibbs team in my new role as a Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design (PLAD) division! So much gratitude on this current timeline to all, especially to the neighbors that we get to work with each day! We have a lot of great work to do. Thank you ???? ???????
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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
?? OU Gibbs is happy to announce ????. ?????????? ?????????? as the new director of the ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? following a national search. An award-winning scholar with over 15 years of experience in historic preservation, architecture, and community engagement, Dr. Wiley has made it her mission to amplify the history and design narratives of Black communities. Her work champions inclusive and thoughtful approaches to preservation policy and practice. ?? We’re excited to see Dr. Wiley's leadership shape the future of the IQC! ?? more: link.ou.edu/40mUw6J
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?? 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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
?? Vanessa Morrison, interim director of the Institute for Quality Communities and faculty at OU Gibbs College, and Deborah Richards, assistant professor of architecture, were recently featured in Metropolis Magazine. Alongside their roles at Gibbs, Morrison and Richards co-founded Open Design Collective, a nonprofit design firm in OKC dedicated to empowering Black communities through architecture, urban planning, and cultural preservation. The Metropolis article spotlights their community-driven approach to design, focusing on reparative justice. ? ?????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????????! ? ?? Learn more about the duo's achievement: link.ou.edu/4f6KmNi
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