Why You Should Attend

Equitable Development Advocate

Creating a livable and prosperous community is only half of the battle, it is also important to make sure that everyone in any given community can thrive. This year's conference has a strong focus on equity and community building. We have made a concerted effort to ensure that equity issues are infused into a large number of sessions throughout the conference. Sessions will feature some of the top equitable development experts who will showcase how communities can offer healthy environments, accessible education and transportation, quality jobs, and affordable housing to all segments of the population. The conference sessions will discuss:

  • How to ensure that equity is a central component of every decision-making process
  • Revitalizing communities in an equitable way
  • Advancing equity using action research, advocacy and place-making
  • Connecting social equity and transit planning
  • Building highly effective partnerships
  • Making investments towards equitable health access
  • Addressing equity and environmental justice issues in transportation decisions
  • Achieving food justice
  • Creating a variety of housing options for all segments of the population
  • How to plan for improvements without displacement
  • Health, justice and equity in highway, freight and infrastructure development
  • How to measure smart growth performance
  • Advancing equity through transit corridor planning
  • Achieving equitable and walkable schools
  • Revitalization, gentrification and equitable development: evaluating a decade of EPA’s programs
  • The status of smart growth funding

The New Partners for Smart Growth are taking on a new dimension. The conference is positioning stakeholders to collaborate on the deep and complex work of narrowing gaps between smart growth goals and policies and efforts to address issues affecting socially, economically and environmentally disadvantaged communities.

—Deeohn Ferris, President/CEO,
Sustainable Community Development Group