Featured Speakers:

“For the first time in three generations, Charlotte is writing a new comprehensive, city-wide plan. At the same time, our city is struggling with rapid gentrification, a severe affordable housing shortage, and defining equitable development. Big challenges require bold solutions. Hear from two cities that took the bold step of eliminating single-family zoning. How bold is Charlotte willing to be?”

Learn how individuals, leaders and organizations can harness design and access resources to strengthen communities.

Planning to Win: Charlotte’s Vision. A presentation and question/answer session with Mitchell Silver, FAICP moderated by Joe O’Connor of WFAE. Silver, the New York City Parks Commissioner, was previously the Chief Planning & Development Officer for the City of Raleigh and the President of the American Planning Association. He is widely recognized for his leadership in the planning profession and his contributions to contemporary planning issues.

Rojas is an artist, urban planner, and community activist. He has developed an innovative public engagement and community-visioning workshop called Place It! that uses art-making as its medium. Rojas brings along a 3D model or gathers found objects and asks the workshop participants to invent a vision for their communities. Designing by manipulating objects allows neighbors to model their experiences in a place.

Jason Roberts is the founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, an originator of the Better Block Project, and co-founder of the Art Conspiracy and Bike Friendly Oak Cliff. His focus on revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods was recognized with a Champions of Change award from the White House in 2012. Jason’s consulting firm, Team Better Block, has been widely recognized, including being showcased at the United States Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.