The Power of Listening - Equitable and Ethical Placemaking with Desiree D. Powell

Summary:

This episode is part of our Celebrating Black History Month podcast series where students in the Sustainable Urban Planning program at George Washington University interview Black and African American planners and urbanists. In this episode, graduate student Arielle Lofton interviews Desiree “Dee” Powell about her experiences in the field and how to ethically and equitable engage Black and Brown communities in placemaking. They discuss the historic inequities in urban planning and the current issues and threats to communities of color, as well as personal experiences and strategies to advocate for equity and inclusion.  From food trucks and food deserts to public speaking and software programs, Dee gives powerful advice for emerging and established planners alike, emphasizing the importance of listening.

Highlights from the Conversation:

• Urban Design
• The Power of Listening versus Lecturing
• Creating Inclusive Places and Spaces
• The Importance of Asking Questions and Building Trust when Engaging Communities
• The Why Factor – Craft Your Passion
• Access to Transit
• Food Trucks and Food Deserts
• Ethical and Equitable Placemaking
• Representation versus Tokenism and Leveraging Your Voice

Guest Mini Bio:

• Desire Powell is an urban planner, urban designer, and place maker working for the city of Port Arthur, Texas.
  • She earned her Master of Community and Regional Planning from University of Texas at Arlington College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.
  • Check out her website and Linkedin to see her current and past projects.
  • Follow her on Twitter @drbtsplanning and on Instagram @ thedee_p
• Check out some of the projects Dee has worked on below:
  • Check out the MLK Food Project
    • Learn more about the Better Block Foundation here!
  • The We Over Me Project
    • The Paul Quinn College transformed a football field into an organic farm to address food insecurity for underserved communities.

Learn More!

• Read a Modern Cities editorial Dee wrote in 2020: Walking the Racial Equity Walk
• Check out this organization Dee mentioned: Do the Things That Matter.
  • A space activation non-profit in Houston, Texas.
  • Follow them on Facebook too!
• Her top recommended professional development skills for emerging planners are:
  • Public Speaking, ArcGIS, Sketchup, and Adobe or other graphic design software. 

Credits:

A special thanks to Desiree D. Powell. Voice, research, and interview credits to: Arielle Lofton and Alex Davis. Intro and Outro voice: Alex Davis. Produced by: Raven Nee.