UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Communities are sustainable and equitable when residents play a meaningful role in the deliberations, discussions, decision-making and implementation of projects or programs affecting them, according to Penn State Extension educators, who will host a webinar addressing community engagement, capacity building and equitable development.
The event will take place from noon to 1:15 p.m. April 17.
Presenting the webinar, “Norris Square Community Profile: A Process for Community Engagement, Capacity Building, and Equitable Development,” will be John Byrnes, senior extension educator based in Philadelphia, Cristy Halerz Schmidt, applied research educator in Penn State’s Center for Economic and Community Development, and Carly DeGirolamo, research assistant at Penn State.
Norris Square is a dynamic, primarily Latino community in Philadelphia. By working with youth and community leaders, Norris Square residents aim to lift up the voice of youth and maintain the deep community roots in Latin America, webinar organizers noted.
The Penn State project team co-created a “community profile” with residents and community stakeholders in Norris Square to elevate local perspectives and lived experiences; to strengthen community capacity for collaboration and advocacy; and to help facilitate participatory processes and meaningful dialogue across impacted residents, stakeholders and decision makers around local issues such as resource allocation, development, housing, land use and public policy.
Webinar presenters will discuss a model framework process that might be adopted, applied or adapted by practitioners and that planners can use to advance the quality of life for residents in their communities. The importance of community participation and capacity building — particularly in spaces where practitioners may be perceived as outsiders — is vital for the success of the community, organizers said.
This webinar will emphasize the importance of community engagement in maintaining and increasing a community’s level of trust for project staff, volunteers and students. The project is aimed at supporting community grant-making and fund-raising efforts by providing data to community members and partners to assist in deepening and strengthening community programs.
“Norris Square Community Profile: A Process for Community Engagement, Capacity Building, and Equitable Development” is the fourth webinar in the Penn State Extension Winter/Spring 2024 Land Use Webinar Series that runs monthly until May 15. The webinar series helps municipal elected and appointed officials, planners, landowners, farmers, and community organizations to be informed about land use issues and decisions in their communities.
Other dates and topics in the series include:
— Jan. 17 (recorded): A Case for Communities to Drop Parking Minimums.
— Feb. 21 (recorded): Harnessing Photosynthesis for a Carbon Negative Bioeconomy.
— March 20 (recorded): Defining Nature’s Worth from a Health & Economic Aspect.
— May 15: Green Infrastructure Planning for Healthier, Resilient Communities.
All webinars in the series are recorded for future viewing.
The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost is also $95 for all five sessions for professional engineers needing PDH credits. In addition, registered landscape architects can receive continuing education credits for a fee of $65.
For anyone interested in a particular topic from the series, access to individual session recordings is available for a fee of $15 per session. A scholarship option is available for anyone needing such assistance.
For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-832-2803 or at ptw3@psu.edu. To register for the webinars, visit https://extension.psu.edu/land-use-webinar.