On this episode of CivicCast I chat with our upcoming CivicCon speaker, Coby Lefkowitz

Coby is the author of Building Optimism, which explores why American communities look the way they do, and offers a series of concrete reforms to make them more beautiful, desirable and affordable through dozens of project vignettes.

Trained as an Urban Planner at the University of Virginia, Coby's work explores the intersection of development and urban design to promote more walkable, dynamic and sustainable communities.

Coby will give a free CivicCon presentation on Monday, April 14 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Wesley Abbey Building of First United Methodist Church. You can register for that event at this link.

He will also lead a small group workshop the following morning, Tuesday, April 15 from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. at Maritime Place. You can email Eduardo Lara at elara@civicconversations.org to be added to that meeting.

Click this link to learn more about CivicCon.

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On this episode of CivicCast I chat with our upcoming CivicCon speaker, Rebekah Kik.

Rebekah graduated from Andrews University (2003) with a Masters of Architecture and the University of Notre Dame with a Post Graduate degree in Architecture & Urban Design (2007). She began her professional career working in architecture in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Rebekah was working as an urban designer prior to joining the city of Kalamazoo in 2014 as the City Planner. She is now the Deputy City Manager and continues to champion building a Kalamazoo for all by leading the city’s Strategic Vision – Imagine Kalamazoo 2035.

We talk about how even small zoning changes can have big impacts, how to encourage new development without gentrifying and how Rebekah's artistic background shapes her development work.

Just in time for Pensacola to re-write the city's land development code, Rebekah will give a free CivicCon presentation on Monday, February 24 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Wesley Abbey Building of First United Methodist Church. You can register for that event at this link.

She will also lead a small group workshop the following morning, Tuesday, February 25 from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at Maritime Place. You can email Eduardo Lara at elara@civicconversations.org to be added to that meeting.

Click this link to learn more about CivicCon and become a CivicCon member.

Click this link to learn more about our CivicCon Supporters.

On this episode I am joined by Scott Satterwhite, local author, professor, punk historian, and co-executive director and curator of the 309 Punk Project.

The 309 Punk Project recently won a CivicCon Award in the placemaking category, which recognizes the work of an individual or organization to create a great public space for anyone in the community to enjoy.

Scott shares the history of the 309 Punk House, misconceptions about punk culture, the importance of having inclusive spaces in our community and how the punk ethos works its way into his teaching.

Click this link to learn more and get involved with the 309 Punk Project.

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Click this link to learn more about our CivicCon Supporters.

UP THE PUNX!