Place Driving Equity

Investing in Public Space for Shared Prosperity

Place—the unique space where the physical environment meets the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects unique to human life—is one of the most important drivers of equity and prosperity in communities.

However, far too many neighborhoods in the United States have faced decades-long disinvestment, increased concentrated poverty, and ongoing, systemic racism, challenging the benefits that vibrant communities can bring.

Various studies have shown that investments in civic infrastructure—parks, trails, libraries, community centers, and other places that make up the public realm—are increasingly critical to creating shared prosperity. Through focused investment and intentional management, public space can deliver this prosperity in three key ways—reducing racism and building trust, delivering health equity, and advancing equitable wealth creation.

To make this case more clear, a workgroup of practitioners across the country have written a new publication called Place Driving Equity: An evidence-based action guide on the role of public space for shared prosperity.

Join Reimagining the Civic Commons for a webinar to celebrate the release of Place Driving Equity scheduled for Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. PST or 1 p.m. Eastern. Kyle Kutuchief, Knight Foundation’s Program Director in Akron, will present the publication’s findings and be joined by panelists—Dr. Eugenia (Gina) South, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Shamichael Hallman, Senior Library Manager of Cossitt Library in Memphis in a conversation with Lynn M. Ross from Spirit for Change Consulting. The panel will highlight the centrality of place as a crucial tool in overcoming inequity, building trust, and generating community-based opportunity and wealth.

Place Driving Equity serves as an action guide for communities, municipalities, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations, by featuring research, policy recommendations, and actions that can advance more equitable communities through investments in public space.

Reimagining the Civic Commons is a national initiative transforming public spaces to foster engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development in cities across the country.

For more information, register here.