T4America Blog

How can the arts and design help neighbors envision the future?

Developing an inclusive vision for a community’s future is challenging work and it frequently suffers from not including enough voices. What role can artists and designers play in improving the visioning process? Join us for the first in a new series of webinars further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development.

Back in February, T4America launched The Scenic Route, our online interactive guide to creative placemaking in transportation with an online conversation designed to introduce the concept of creative placemaking to transportation planners, public works agencies and local elected officials who are on the front lines of advancing transportation projects.

To continue building on that work, we’re launching this new series of webinars further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development. Join us for the first of this series, as we discuss the practice of community visioning exercises, and how artists and designers can help improve those processes.  Join us on Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 4-5 p.m. EDT. 

About our speakers

James Rojas, PLACE IT!
James Rojas is an urban planner, community activist, and artist. He has developed an innovative public-engagement and community- visioning method that uses art-making as its medium. He has collaborated with municipalities, non-profits, community groups, educational institutions, and museums, to engage, educate, and empower the public on transportation, housing, open space, and health issues.

Renata Soto, Conexión Américas
Renata Soto is co-founder and Executive Director of Conexión Américas, a nonprofit organization based in Nashville and founded in 2002 to promote the social, economic and civic integration of Latino families. 

Ben Stone, Smart Growth America
Ben Stone is Director of Arts & Culture at Smart Growth America and its program Transportation for America. Ben leads the organization’s broad efforts to help communities across the country better integrate arts, culture, and creative placemaking into neighborhood revitalization, equitable development, and transportation planning efforts.