Our online program is now available for you on our website [1] to interact with via Sched! Get ready for a dynamic event of over 50 breakout sessions, plenaries, mobile workshops and social events that will focus on our core themes of equity and inclusion, and innovation.

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Full Conference Program is now live!

Hooray! Our online program is now available for you on our website [4] to interact with via Sched! Get ready for a dynamic event of over 50 breakout sessions, plenaries, mobile workshops and social events that will focus on our core themes of equity and inclusion, and innovation. We’ve worked hard to put together a program that fully reflects these themes, not only in the sessions, but in the process of putting on the event itself and we think it shows!

It's now less than two months away until October 1-4. Still haven't registered for Placemaking Week [5]? Be sure to register before the late rate kicks in on August 30th! You don't want to miss out this year -- read on to learn why you should join us in Chattanooga.

Image courtesy of River City Company

Highlights for Tuesday, October 1

A range of compelling activities are taking place on Tuesday October 1st that have been developed to provide a strong framing for the following conference days. On this day, which we have called "Getting to know Chattanooga", we could not be more proud of the range of mobile workshops [4] that have been put together for you, that are sure to be some of the highlights of the week. Twelve mobile workshops were selected through a "Call for Ideas" process ran by our Local Host Committee, which truly speak to the heart and soul of placemaking in Chattanooga. If you are coming to Chattanooga to learn about what is happening locally, you don't want to miss out on Tuesday. Each mobile workshop has a capacity and is first come, first served so don’t wait too long to reserve your spot in Sched!

Mobile workshop highlights? Attend a community-engaged design session with Glass House Collective [6] on creating a strategy for neighborhood sustainability in under-resourced communities, or join Public Art Chattanooga [7] for a riverfront tour with a special focus on “The Passage”, a collaborative and inclusive public art project by Cherokee artists, Team Gadugi. Sign up to join a session organized by La Paz [8] featuring charrette-style workshops about three immigrant-focused community projects that are transitioning to new spaces, or take a tour with Chattanooga Organized for Action [9] which will highlight the rich history of social movements and activism that have left an indelible mark on the city.

To attend mobile workshops [4] you must select your preferred "limited capacity" option in our online program on Sched -- and, you can only sign up for workshops on Sched if you are registered for the conference.

After our mobile workshops we will feature a handful of breakout sessions, from learning how to build a community soccer field [10], to understanding how community led, community driven and community funded interventions can go far beyond just building a beautiful place [11]. During this breakout period we will even make two sessions open to the public!

The day will conclude with our Op [12]ening Reception and Mayor's Welcome [12] at the Hunter Museum, followed by what we are most looking forward to -- a storytelling activation [13] at sunset on Walnut Bridge (cue sunset photo below) where you will see and hear the complicated history of Chattanooga through a variety of performances.

If you have not booked your travel plans, we suggest that you arrive on Monday, Sept 30th, in order to make the most out of what Tuesday has to offer!

Spotlight on "Innovation"

It's no surprise that innovation is making an appearance throughout many areas of the conference content. Chattanooga is one of the foremost innovation districts in America - read more in our recent article about placemaking and innovation districts [14]. It's no coincidence we are hosting our event here.

Our participants will have access to the places and people behind this humming hub of entrepreneurial activity. So if you’re a placemaker who cares about innovation, inclusion, or the future of district management, come join us to discuss innovation districts together. You can even sign up to tour the district [15] as one of the mobile workshops being offered on Tuesday!

Getting to know Chattanooga

Still feeling unfamiliar with Chattanooga? Take a look at this video [16] to get a taste of what is known as "The Scenic City", and a hint of its outdoorsy and entrepreneurial spirit.
Not only can you find your inner mountain person on the outskirts of Chattanooga, but you can also climb the incredible outdoor climbing wall located downtown! And by wall, we mean the side of a parking garage—a structure that can often be deadly boring at street level! We're serious, take a look [17] at High Point Climbing Gym and be sure to visit while you're in town!
Chattanooga has a lightning-fast, publicly run broadband network that has attracted a lot of tech talent to the city. But as the city builds an economy around technology, one thing is becoming apparent: There’s a gaping divide between those who are tech-savvy and those who aren’t. Check out this podcast from Slate Placemakers [18].

Sponsorships

We want to thank our most recent sponsors, The National Association of Realtors [19], and Bridge Innovate [20], for their support of Placemaking Week this year!

Bridge Innovate will be offering their own session during Placemaking Week in their office. Sign up to explore a design thinking online platform [21] that enables teams to create community vibrancy strategies virtually - how innovative is that!

Interested in sponsoring Placemaking Week? Please reach out to us to learn more about the many ways you can support placemaking in the communities of our host city! Take a look at our sponsorship package here [22].

In the coming weeks we will provide you with all important information relating to Placemaking Week via this newsletter. For any general questions about the conference please review our Placemaking Week FAQs [23], or get in touch with us at: [email protected] [24]

We hope to see you in October!