The 2023 Placemaking Conference took place on March 20, 2023, after a four year gap due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Over the course of 3 sessions throughout the day, 8 expert speakers presented on topics related to community development, creating belonging and equity, and city leadership. The speakers came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, ranging from designers and architects to planners and authors. Please enjoy videos from the conference below. Closed captions are available for all videos.
Shane Hampton, Director of OU Institute for Qualilty Communities (IQC) welcomes everyone to the conference. Dean Hans E. Butzer of OU’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and President Harroz Jr. of OU share opening remarks.
Purpose Driven Path to Design Equity
Kia Weatherspoon, President, Determined by Design
Bruce Goff Chair of Creative Architecture Lecture
Neighborhoods and Streets for Exchange and Connection
Mukul Malhotra, Principal and Director of Urban Design, MIG, Inc.
The Power of Cute: Lovable Incremental Community Development
Allison Quinlan, Principal of Flintlock Lab
Followed by a moderated discussion led by Vanessa Morrison, Associate Director of IQC.
The Daily Practice of Loving Where You Live: How to Create Joy in Imperfect Places
Melody Warnick, Author, This is Where You Belong and If You Could Live Anywhere
Our Greatest Source of Joy and Happiness are the Vibrant, Walkable Public Spaces Around Us
Arti Harchekar, Founding Principal, Joyful Urbanist
Followed by a moderated discussion led by Ronald H Frantz, Director of Small Town Studios at OU IQC.
Leadership in Place Management
Jane Jenkins, Principal, Jane Jenkins Resources
Big Ideas: Transforming Fort Worth's Central City
Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager, City of Fort Worth
National Trends for Cities and Mayors
Trinity Simons Wagner, Executive Director, Mayors’ Institute on City Design
Followed by a moderated discussion led by Shane Hampton, Director of OU IQC.
