Economic Development, Transportation, and More: Claim Your Spot for These Upcoming Free Webcasts

The towns and cities in the strongest position to weather the COVID-19 storm will be those communities who take a bottom-up approach to recovery and prosperity. From transportation and economic development, to public safety and local engagement—there’s no aspect of community life for which this isn’t true. Strong towns are those places built by and for the people who live there.

Over the next several weeks, we are going to be hosting free webcasts that will give you more of the knowledge and resources you need to get your city on the road to recovery. This includes webcasts on transpiration, economic revitalization, and incremental development. More are in the works. Make sure to get registered now, as these webcasts fill up quickly.

Tuesday, June 16th — Open for Whom? Streets as a Platform for Recovery

Time: 12 p.m. CDT
Featuring: Tamika Butler and Jason Degray of Toole Design

In this free webcast, Tamika Butler, Esq and Jason DeGray P.E., PTOE of Toole Design will discuss equitable, ethical, and empathetic approaches to “open streets” recovery initiatives.

This presentation will:

  • Table pre-pandemic agendas

  • Reflect on the nuance of how people rely on streets

  • Address the need to dismantle racial, economic, and environmental inequities for streets to be truly open

  • Identify the need for those who are most impacted by changes to the street to have the most power to shape those changes

  • Provide practical considerations for deploying open streets

Learn more about this free webcast here or register now:

A follow-up AMA with Tamika, Jason, and Strong Towns staff will be held Thursday, June 18th. Get more info.

Tuesday, June 23rd — Revitalizing Your Town from the Bottom Up

Time: 12 p.m. CDT
Featuring: Talicia Richardson (64.6 Downtown), Salvador Galdamez (York XL), and Martin Callahan (Batavia, IL City Council)

This panel discussion will bring together three community leaders from different sectors who are doing inspiring work to revitalize their small cities.

In this webcast, you will:

  • Learn how local leaders are approaching revitalization from the grassroots, nonprofit and government levels

  • See inspiring examples of downtown revitalization efforts

  • Learn new approaches to engaging neighbors, businesses, nonprofits and other groups to work together for economic prosperity

  • Hear how communities are creatively responding to the economic challenges created by the pandemic.

Learn more about this free webcast here or register now: 

A follow-up AMA with Talicia, Salvador, Martin, and Strong Towns staff will be held Thursday, June 25th. Get more info.

Tuesday, July 7th — Incremental Development: Your Community’s Tool for Local Prosperity

Time: 12 p.m. CDT
Featuring: Gracen Johnson of the Incremental Development Alliance

 Across the continent, small-scale developers are investing in local housing and businesses in order to build up the economic prosperity of their towns. They are rehabbing broken-down homes, revitalizing neglected downtown and reshaping the future of their communities.

In this webcast, the Incremental Development Alliance will share how you can become a developer too, or support developers in your town. They'll talk about why incremental development is such an important tool—particularly in response to the current pandemic and economic shutdown—and they'll introduce you to some developers doing great work all over the country.

Learn more about this free webcast here or register now: 

A follow-up AMA with Gracen and Strong Towns staff will be held Thursday, July 9th. Get more info.

P.S. One way to help create broader support for change in your city is by inviting neighbors, local government officials, and other local leaders to attend the webinar as well. Together, you can take collective action toward building a safer, stronger, more financially resilient community.

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