McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture’s Post

City of Lawrenceville listens. It wants to be the best city it can be and part of that is knowing what the people want! Do you love the greenspaces? The art sculptures? Are you a fan of the event programs and summer schedules? Everything starts with an idea. Whether it’s a family fun activity or a business plan, it starts with a lightbulb-turning-on overhead idea! In a city that is full of creative minds like Lawrenceville, there’s a ton of people with plans for the place. Before you go streamlining with the process, you gotta check with all your local departments to make sure those big ideas can come to life! The city planning department and community development department make sure those ideas can be lead to fruition. A comprehensive plan allows for projects, making sure they have all the proper approvals and funding. From traffic rules to art commissions, there’s a lot of collaboration to make sure cities are not only livable, but are enjoyable. Community engagement is a big thing to make sure that happens. Think about what you want to see in your city. Your input matters! Learn how to get involved and let Lawrenceville know what you want to see happen. Join our guests, Helen Balch and Jasmine Billings as we discuss how Lawrenceville works to get the community engaged and make ideas come to life. https://lnkd.in/ezEVJRQ6

Did you know.... People who are socially connected to their communities tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than people who are less connected. To learn more about the importance of community engagement and how you can help in your own neighborhood, follow the link below from The Policy Circle.

Four Essential Qualities of Successful Spaces🏘️ In this insightful article by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), four key elements of great public spaces are analyzed for how they impact community development planning. According to PPS, thriving public spaces generally share the following four qualities: 🔗Access and Linkage
 🔗Comfort and Image
 🔗Uses and Activities
 🔗Sociability Click the link below to carefully examine each of these essential qualities of successful public spaces. This is a must-read for community and land developers looking to create vibrant and engaging environments. #CreativePlacemaking If you are planning a public space, let us partner with you to ensure that your community’s unique needs are met and your resources employed most efficiently. https://lnkd.in/e5hAKfC #placemaking #communitydevelopment #landdevelopment

It’s more than just construction….

"El cor de Bellprat" (Final degree project). In this context, the constant migration to the cities has left a profound mark on the community life, a proposal emerges: the restoration of the corral, a symbolic structure that has been abandoned for years, converting it into a community center. The vision for this new community center includes creating an environment that fosters interaction between the natural surroundings and indoor spaces, allowing for activities both outdoors and indoors. From meals and drinks in company to board games, private meetings, presentations and talks, cooking sessions, and beverage service, the center will offer a wide variety of options that reflect the interests and needs of Bellprat’s residents. This space is characterized by its multifunctionality, changing its organization according to the needs of each season or even the events being organized. Additionally, it is envisioned that on special occasions such as the town festival or the book fair, the space will be sufficiently versatile to host larger-scale activities, such as talks, communal dinners, the traditional paella, theater performances, among others, thereby strengthening the town’s social and cultural relationships. The aim of this initiative is to provide the inhabitants of Bellprat with a meeting point that fosters communication, interaction, and above all, a sense of belonging and community. Through the restoration of the corral and its conversion into a community center, the goal is to reactivate the tightly-knit community life that has defined Bellprat over the years.

I possess a deep love of, and appreciation for, all things creative, and I draw on this well often, both personally and professionally. As a result, my approach to community engagement means that I prefer to have a broad set of engagement mechanisms to use #notonesizefitsall - and that includes the arts! Arts and culture tools can be used to expand our collective engagement strategies, while simultaneously allowing us to appeal to a more broad, and diverse population, than traditional engagement tools can. So when it was time to reflect on Columbia Association's engagement efforts that have led to Columbia being a fantastic place to live, work and play, it was clear that none of the gains we've made could have occurred without our community connections. And that is what inspired us to launch the 2023 CA Community Quilting Project! If you weren't aware, a community quilt is a collaborative art piece where each block is created by a different member of the community. As you can imagine, planning, communicating, and executing this project means that we've been pretty busy. Over the past few months, we reached out to hundreds of Columbia, MD, and Howard County, MD, organizations and individuals - i.e., many of you, our amazing community partners - in order to commission a unique piece of art that will be included on this one of a kind, community quilt that visually represents our collective stories, and makes a powerful statement piece that could be enjoyed for years to come. We've driven everywhere to drop off pens, swatches, and provide guidance, so that this piece can truly come to life. Local artisan, Maria O'Haver, is the amazing soul that is going to literally weave our stories together. And so far, the response has been overwhelming - in the best way! Our partners tapped into their creativity in order to depict their organization in a way that was meaningful to them (in other words - THEY HAD FUN!). As you can see from the photo, no only did everyone nail the assignment, but it's clear we have some dynamite artists around here! Once completed, the quilt will be unveiled at a reception at the Columbia Association Art Center on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm. We hope you'll join your colleagues to come out and see it. Be sure to register for the free event, using the following link: https://lnkd.in/gQawr-ym Thanks to everyone for expressing interest in this initiative, and more importantly, working with CA in so many meaningful ways throughout the years. As Fyodor Dosteovsky once said, "Beauty will save the world." #IamCA #create #visualrepresentation #communityinaction #artasacommunitybuildingtool

Primestor Signs South LA Café as Retail Tenant in MXU: A Boost for Local Community Development Read the full article below..

Choosing your new community is almost as important as choosing your new home. From community engagement to walkability, consider these factors to find your "Dream Neighborhood!" #homebuyingtips #community #mnrealtor #movingday #movingtips

🌍 "Community isn’t just about proximity, it’s about heart and soul. According to McMillan & Chavis, a true sense of community is built on four pillars: 1️⃣ Membership: We all long for a place where we belong, a group that accepts us, and boundaries that provide emotional safety. 2️⃣ Influence: A community is a dance of give and take. We shape our community, and in turn, it shapes us. 3️⃣ Integration & Fulfillment of Needs: Being part of a community isn’t just about being together, it’s about growing together. Our participation should be rewarding and meet our needs. 4️⃣ Shared Emotional Connection: The glue that binds us together is the shared experiences, history, and common values. Let me ask, if you belong to a community that does not seem to want or appreciate your input, do you really belong to that community? Let’s strive to build communities that embody these elements, creating spaces where everyone feels at home. 🏡 #SenseOfCommunity #McMillanChavis"

🌆 Exploring the Impact of Housing Types on Civic Engagement: A New Perspective Our recent study delves into an often-overlooked aspect of urban living: the significant influence of housing types on civic engagement. The findings reveal a fascinating trend: residents of single-family homes exhibit higher levels of both attitudinal (CES mean: 38.31) and behavioral (CES mean: 20.36) civic engagement compared to those living in condominiums. This difference might stem from the heightened sense of control and involvement in one's immediate surroundings commonly associated with single-family home living. The implications of this study go beyond the scope of individual housing choices. It enriches our understanding of civic engagement and opens avenues for fostering more cohesive, active communities. Recognizing the role of housing types in shaping civic behavior is crucial for community development. These insights offer invaluable guidance for urban developers and community organizers. By tailoring civic engagement strategies to different residential environments, we can boost participation across various urban settings. This approach could lead to more vibrant, engaged, and responsive communities. The study encourages a more nuanced view of urban development, considering the diverse needs and preferences of residents based on their housing types. It is a step towards creating more inclusive, participative urban landscapes where every resident feels empowered to contribute to their community. 🔗 Dive deeper into these important insights here: https://buff.ly/471KUQb Stay tuned as we continue to uncover how housing influences civic engagement and explore strategies to enhance community participation across all housing types. #CivicEngagement #UrbanPlanning #HousingType #SocialBehavior #HousingImpact #ResidentialLiving