PlacemakingUS

As we enter the home stretch towards the #GlobalPlacemakingSummit in Toronto, Canada(June 8-11th), here is a nice summary of #Placemaking in Canada by our colleagues at the Institute of Place Management: "In Canada, as in many countries, the term “placemaking” has become widely used in recent years. An array of different definitions can be found that speak to the essential tenets of the practice – the enhancement of urban or rural spaces, and the creation of people-friendly public (or semi-public) places. The term has been used to describe aspects of the renewal of high streets, the transformation of parking lots into plazas, the enhancement of master-planned neighbourhoods, existing community facilities or ‘third spaces’, and an array of activities in between. The practice has been supported by a wide variety of actors, strategies and funding mechanisms." "On a national level, placemaking became more organized with the creation of Placemaking Canada (https://lnkd.in/eDSm24T6?) in 2015 – an early initiative paralleled by other national organizations including Place Collective UK (formerly #PlacemakingUK), #PlacemakingAotearoa, and PlacemakingUS (to name a few). Organisations such as Project for Public Spaces, Placemaking Europe and PlacemakingX help to provide a larger convening forum for international discussions and collaboration." The full article by Walter Jamieson FCIP FIPM and Andrew Pask: https://lnkd.in/esyJWeQT #PlacemakingCanada #PlaceManagement #PlacemakingNorthAmerica

Wow! Looking for this amazing placemaking anniversary gathering in NYC to not only reflect, but to push placemaking forward together! #placemaking

Join us as we celebrate 10 years of the Pratt Urban Placemaking and Management (UPM) program - a decade of advancing community-driven urban change! Event Highlights: ?? Guest presentations from PlacemakingX, PlacemakingUS, Project for Public Spaces, and other distinguished practitioners and scholars ???? Panel discussions on the future of cities and public space ??Field reports highlighting UPM program alumni ?? Exhibition showcasing a decade of UPM projects and impact Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and envision what’s next for placemaking and urban practice! ?? RSVP required: https://lnkd.in/eAwqNsMc ?? Scan the QR code on the banner to secure your spot! #prattupm10 #placemaking #urbandesign #cityplanning #publicspace #communityengagement #prattinstitute

Street Vendors and Public Markets Can Drive the Future of Thriving and Inclusive Cities My latest article for Social Life Project: https://lnkd.in/evpe5d8Z Public Spaces Need a Full Spectrum of Informal to Formal Retail Informal vending, formal markets and conventional storefronts are all needed to support an inclusive, innovative, and vibrant public realm and local economy. #Placemaking #LocalEconomies #PublicSpace #Cities #UrbanPlanning

The 2nd #GlobalPlacemakingSummit will take the placemaking movement to a new level! Much thanks to #PlacemakingX leaders coming from many corners of the globe and to an extraordinary local Placemaking Canada and #PlacemakingToronto organizing team. Program, FAQ, and registration info here: https://lnkd.in/e8ZAF5kq Much thanks to partners already on board, including: Urban Economy Forum, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Northcrest Developments, Canadian Urban Institute, STEPS Public Art, Evergreen Canada, 8 80 Cities, Spacing, Jane's Walk, STACKT, Social Life Project, Project for Public Spaces, and many more in the works... Let us know if your organization is also interested in partnering on the Summit.

#1000FACES of #Placemaking During the road to recovery tour PlacemakingUS met so many amazing placemakers. I have not been satisfied that we have properly shared who they are with you so I am beginning my campaign to identify daily The Placemaking Heros with One Thousand Faces #1000FACES #PlacemakingUS #2 in Pontiac Michigan #PHINCO #CommunityDesignCenter Learn more @ phinco.org A New Paradigm for Community Innovation: This amazing team led us to a whole series of other placemakers in the community on our excellent tour of Pontiac. “Who are they?” At the heart of Pontiac, Michigan, the Pontiac Holonomy Incubator Network Collaboratory (PHINCO) emerges as a beacon of transformative placemaking. Built on the principles of holonomy—understanding the intricate relationships between parts and wholes—PHINCO aims to create a dynamic ecosystem for social entrepreneurship and community collaboration. The term "holonomy" encapsulates the essence of the organization's mission: to foster a systemic understanding of wholeness through participatory design and innovative thinking. Founded by visionary designers Jim Ross and Monica Williams PHINCO employs a unique blend of digital visual co-design, systems thinking, and futures thinking to tackle complex challenges faced by communities. This transdisciplinary approach encourages collaborative research and creative insights, enabling stakeholders to develop evidence-based solutions tailored to their specific needs. By breaking down traditional silos, PHINCO creates an environment where diverse voices can contribute to innovative solutions. The organization is dedicated to designing open-source innovation spaces that serve as hubs for cities, educational institutions, businesses, and community organizations. These spaces not only facilitate creative collaboration but also act as laboratories for testing new ideas and methods that drive positive social change. Through events like Earth Day Detroit and Parking Day, PHINCO engages the community in hands-on activities that promote environmental stewardship and urban revitalization. By fostering a culture of innovation, PHINCO seeks to address pressing issues such as “brain drain” and regional connectivity, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for Pontiac residents.

Highways Block Social Connection. A New Study Shows Just How Much. New research shows that urban highways have weakened social ties in all of America’s 50 largest cities. https://lnkd.in/e_4dwKaA? Next City by Eliana Perozo PlacemakingUS

Tortillas & Togetherness: Our Community Comal Project?is Hot! PlacemakingUS?recently partnered with?Long Beach Fresh, a local food council in?Southern?California, on an exciting?AARP Community Challenge placemaking grant. Together, we collaborated with?Historic Rancho Los Cerritos, the first house built in Long Beach and the former ranch house for the region’s agricultural lands. Now a historic interpretation center and public park, Rancho Los Cerritos became the site of a remarkable placemaking project: the addition of a?traditional Pre-Hispanic comal. This installation serves as a cultural and educational tool to teach Mexican history and foster intergenerational connections through the ancient practice of?nixtamalizing corn?and transforming it into masa for tortillas. Our journey was enriched by the expertise of the?Hernandez family, whom we met during our?Placemaking Oaxaca visit?last year. Thanks to?Community Engagement funding, we brought the Hernandezes on board as teaching artists, enabling them to share their ancestral knowledge with over?100 participants?at the comal’s kickoff event. The oven itself was?hand-built by local crafters and volunteers, further embedding the spirit of community into this project. This initiative was a true?labor of love, weaving together?placemaking, history, culture, art, and food. It exemplifies the kind of?deep, community-driven projects?that PlacemakingUS is passionate about supporting. By?connecting local efforts with national and international ties, we help amplify the impact of placemaking initiatives. We would love to?collaborate?on more projects like this—whether through?funding applications, community engagement, or technical assistance. If you're working on a placemaking effort that fosters cultural connection, creativity, and shared experiences, let’s connect and make it happen together. AARP Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation Community Engagement Long Beach Fresh Port of Long Beach Arts Council for Long Beach #longbeach #placemaking

#NowHiring: Civic Engagement Director ????????????? Cities work best when they’re built with and for people. At the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, we help cities and leaders advance resident-driven innovation to solve big challenges. Now, we are looking for a leader to take our #CivicEngagement to the next level. Our next Director of Civic Engagement will lead programs that bring residents, community-based organizations, and city leaders together to design better services, policies, and public spaces. About the role – our next Director of Civic Engagement will: ?? Design and lead civic engagement programs that empower residents, including the Center’s impactful #LoveYourBlock grant program, which directly funds resident-led neighborhood revitalization projects in U.S. cities. ?? Work with cities worldwide to strengthen public trust and innovation. ?? Manage a team of experts and collaborate with top city leaders. ?? Based at Johns Hopkins University in #BaltimoreMD ?? Apply by March 18 for priority consideration Ready to help shape the future of civic engagement in #cities? Join us and apply today. ?? https://hubs.ly/Q03bwxFg0 #PublicInnovation #CommunityEngagement #Leadership #Hiring #HigherEdJobs #GovernmentInnovationJobs

NEW REPORT: The State of Public Space in 2025. In late 2024, Project for Public Spaces surveyed over 700 public space leaders from around the world about the biggest challenges and opportunities facing public space today. To mark our 50th anniversary, we're releasing the results. We've got some work to do. https://lnkd.in/exHys4ic Here are a few of the highlights: ?? ?? This community of public space leaders is incredibly diverse in terms of sector, industry, years of experience, and background. ?? Only 5% of respondents said that public space is currently meeting the needs of community. ?? The no. 1 issue? Our lack of investment in care and regular improvements has left many public spaces dysfunctional and in disrepair. ?? Outdated government systems stop a lot of placemaking projects before they even get started. ? The housing and mental health crises in America and beyond play out in public space, but placemakers have a role in addressing the root causes. ?? Check out the full report for more big takeaways and inspiring case studies about how to move forward: https://lnkd.in/exHys4ic In 2025, our community of public space leaders find ourselves in a more uncertain and scarce environment, but these priorities aren't going away. Let's get to work! Project for Public Spaces will be here, tracking progress on these issues, and working with public space practitioners and advocates to navigate what comes next together. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their insights with us, and the many people whose ideas we feature in the report as bright spots (in order of appearance): Elizabeth Sawin, Trust for Public Land, Reimagining the Civic Commons, Center for an Urban Future (cc John Surico), The Municipal Art Society of New York (cc Keri Butler), New Yorkers for Parks, Open Plans, Inc. (cc Jackson Chabot), Brookings Metro (cc Tracy Hadden Loh, Hanna Love), National Alliance to End Homelessness (cc Joy Moses), Fountain House, NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials), 34th Ave Open Streets Coalition, Diana Lind, Gehl - Making Cities for People, RWJF, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Eric Klinenberg, Building Bridges Across the River, Destination Crenshaw, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). (DM me if you spot anything that needs a fix or update!) #publicspace #placemaking #civicinfrastructure #socialinfrastructure #socialcapital #parks #streets #community #funding #grantmaking #housing #homelessness #mentalhealth #PPSturns50