MJ's Ennis Davis Selected to 2013 Vanguard Class

[Lunican]

Nice.

[urbaknight]

Good luck, I know you'll do us proud!

[Cheshire Cat]

Well Ennis, you know how I feel about this.  I am very proud of you!   

[floridatrop]

Congratulations.

[ProjectMaximus]

I'm the only representative from Florida and one of a few from the south, so hopefully I represent Jacksonville well.

I really don't think that'll be of any concern at all. Congrats!!

[Jaxson]

Congratulations to Ennis!  He is the man with the plan!!!

[dv8]

that's great.  thanks for all you do Ennis

[Jason]

Congrats Ennis!

[thelakelander]

I'm enjoying networking with planning professionals, community activist and organizers from across the country and Canada in Cleveland.  I'm having the opportunity to participate in Metro Jacksonville type discussions with people just as engaged in their communities as we are here.  Just got back to the hotel after a good late night talk with Alex Dodd of Smart Growth America about Detroit's financial issues and gentrification in DC.

Earlier tonight, was involved in an in-depth discussion over urban revitalization and poverty during dinner with Keome Rowe (Fort Worth Chief of Staff), Jessy Schingler (Coliving Cooperative in San Francisco), Westley Bayas (Director of Stand for Children in New Orleans) and Adam Rosa, AICP (Senior Associate with Camiros in Chicago). There are a few Vanguards from previous years here as well.  This afternoon, I meet Maya (didn't catch her last name but I will before I fly out), who works for the City of Baltimore.  We talked for a little while on best practices of public engagement in historically black neighborhoods.

Interesting enough, I fielded a few inquiries from several about the performance of Alvin Brown and Peter Rummel and our local ULI chapter. Also Patrick Sabol of the Brookings Institute came up and wanted my opinion on the Better Jacksonville Plan.  Cool to see that we are on people's radar.

Overall, these are some of the smartest people I've come across and many of the things they're involved with would greatly benefit Jacksonville.

One thing that's become pretty evident over our debates and dialogues over introductions, drinks and tours the past two days is that we are not doing the best job at seeking and encouraging public engagement for public projects.  I've seen too many studies where we have predetermined alternatives and solutions to issues before even listening to the residents in neighborhoods being directly impacted by our decisions. It will be interesting to see how some of our current studies turn out in comparison with some of the community planning projects my new friends are involved with in communities like Austin, New Orleans and Vancouver.

[thelakelander]

This afternoon, I meet Maya (didn't catch her last name but I will before I fly out), who works for the City of Baltimore.  We talked for a little while on best practices of public engagement in historically black neighborhoods.

Mara D’Angelo, Baltimore Housing....Vanguard 2012 class.

[tufsu1]

so glad you are enjoying it....and helpring promote Jax. to the rest of the class!

[thelakelander]

I'm back in town now with a ton of images and working on a few articles from the trip, including a detailed review of my experience and interesting subjects that could impact Jacksonville.  I'll try and have that review up this Wednesday and in the following days feature stories on the HealthLine BRT, downtown Cleveland and a few inner city neighborhoods like University Circle, Little Italy (Murray Hill), Ohio City and Detroit-Shoreway.  In the meantime, here are a few pics from the Vanguard Conference:


Group photo courtesy of Next City's Emaleigh Doley.


My unconference session's participants smiling for Metro Jacksonville in University Circle.


Vanguards take over the Red Line after a late night out.


Getting ready to go bike riding with Joe (CEO of Cincinnati's Findley Market), Efrem (San Diego's economic development guy and craft brewer), Rosa (St. Louis' Downtown Partnership), Paul (a transportation planner from the firm who came up with the Urbemis model we used for the mobility plan/fee) and a Patrick (researcher from the Brookings Institute).



Listening to the developer of 4th Street and Uptown at University Circle talk about their local TOD projects and vision while Alex Dodd, Online Communications manager for Smart Growth America tweets her fingers away. To my left, Detroit Future City's executive director Dan Kinkead and to Alex's right, City of Fort Worth's Chief of Staff, Keome Rowe. Photo taken by fellow Vanguarder, Quardean Lewis-Allen from NYC.


Taking a tour of Ohio City Farm. Created in 2010, it's one of the largest single site urban farms in the country.


Inside Tower City, Cleveland's version of the Jacksonville terminal.  The major difference is it's an operating intermodal hub with a casino, hotel and shopping mall included.


Do you think BRT has the ability to stimulate TOD? Find out on Thursday!

[tufsu1]

looks great Ennis!

[Noone]

Very nice Ennis. Thanks for the updates.

[ProjectMaximus]

Love the photos and the stories. can't wait to hear more.