Leveraging the Power of Arts, Culture and Design for Community & Urban Development in America’s Cities

Monday, October 30, 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Organized by Michelle D. Johnson, Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation.

Moderated by Wendy Jackson, Managing Director – Detroit Program, The Kresge Foundation. Presented by Matthew Clarke, Director of Creative Placemaking, The Trust for Public Land; Ascala Sisk, Vice President, Community Initiatives, NeighborWorks America; and Nella Young, Senior Program Director, Initiatives, Enterprise Community Partners: National Design Initiatives, Boston.

Over the past several years, The Kresge Foundation has supported a range of national community development–related networks that are embedding arts, culture, and design into their respective programming and operations at various levels across the country. Through a variety of commendable initiatives, these national networks are striving to influence the community development–related systems and practices to create equitable opportunities for low-income people living in cities. Each panelist will discuss their organizational evolution to a focus on creative placemaking and present examples of their work, including highlights of positive changes as well as challenges at the neighborhood, national, and organizational levels.