Conscious Community Connectors

✨ Our first public workshop was a whole vibe! ✨ We set it up open house style so folks could drop in, hang out, and share their thoughts in whatever ways worked best for them. We had fun and interactive stations for all ages, a digital station where folks could map out ideas, and plenty of opportunities to connect directly with city staff and partners. It was amazing to see such a diverse mix of passionate people come out : we had longtime neighbors reconnecting after years, familiar faces sharing their connections, and new young faces bringing fresh ideas to the table. This is community in ACTION!

Hard work pays off!! Our first public meeting for this plan was a success and we saw so many different types of people come out and engage 🎉 Feeling very inspired about the potential for positive change as a result of this plan and to get even more engagement 💚

Phew! We’ve been BUSY! 😅 Over the past few weeks, we’ve spent countless hours connecting one-on-one with residents, service providers, business owners, teachers - you name it, we’ve been there 💃 ✅ We worked with high school seniors from Tampa Bay Tech’s Architecture program on a site visit for their capstone project on Sulphur Springs. ✅ We toured community facilities and interviewed local leaders and agencies. ✅ We canvassed alongside the Teens Leading Change group, putting up flyers and talking with residents at hot spots (like corner stores and parks). ✅ We worked with Resilient Cities Catalyst to do small business outreach on the commercial corridors and plazas. ✅ We did small focus groups or “Community Listening Circles” with kids, seniors, teens, the neighborhood association, and service providers. ✅ Most importantly, we’ve gone door to door and had the privilege to hear from so many residents about their hopes and ideas for the neighborhood. And we’re just getting started!🤸♀️🤸♀️ 📣 Today is our first public workshop 📣 one of many opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of Sulphur Springs. If you live or work in the area, visit tampa.gov/sulphursprings to learn more.

We’ve been out hitting the pavement 👣 every day in Sulphur Springs connecting with residents and business owners about the Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Action Plan with City of Tampa! From door knocking to putting up flyers at hotspots, it’s been a lot of fun getting to know more about the perspectives and visions people have for the neighborhood. If you live or work in Sulphur Springs, check out tampa.gov/sulphursprings for the survey and more information about this awesome project!

Cities have the challenge of finding ways to promote economic growth without pushing out historic small businesses that shape local culture. More and more, we’re seeing positive examples from planners, policymakers, and advocates across the country who are implementing innovative strategies for economic development while preserving community culture. Read more in this blog from our Director of Research, Michael A. Rodriguez, PhD ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eb996uJr

Calling all Riverview residents! The Community Plan, originally adopted in 2006, is ready for an update coinciding with THEA’s U.S. 301 corridor study and we want to hear from YOU! This major infrastructure project is an opportunity to assess the land use and mobility Community Plan strategies in relation to the U.S. Highway 301 corridor. Join us to discuss these updates! In-person meetings Saturday, March 22 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Riverview Public Library Tuesday, March 25 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Riverview Public Library Virtual Tuesday, April 1 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Register here: https://buff.ly/3Q2jKlV #RiverviewCommunityPlan #PublicHearingReady #PlanForTheFuture #CommunityFirst #CommunityVoices #ShapeYourCommunity #RiverviewFuture #PlanningMatters #CommunityPlanning #PlanRiverview #FutureFocused

Still buzzing from the experience at Placemaking JAX 🥰 What a truly magical and unforgettable experience! Huge shoutout to Kady Yellow for bringing together such an inspiring gathering of people who are ready to make a difference. It was an absolute honor to present alongside such esteemed guests like Fred Kent (Social Life Project), Nathan Storring (Project for Public Spaces) Ryan Smolar (PlacemakingUS) and Jeff Siegler ✨ Special shout out to Ms. Cookie (The owner of the Avenue Grill) and Honey Holzendorf whose wisdom, stories, and presence filled the room with the kind of energy and inspiration that reminded us exactly why this work matters. This kind of a space was truly powerful and special. It’s the proof of what happens when you do things right and I hope to see more of this EVERYWHERE!

I had such a great time chatting with Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2 about my work with Conscious Community Connectors and Tampa Connect Fashion Week 🥰 Thanks again for having me on and check it out! 🎧

Huge thank you to the Plan Hillsborough (Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission) for the scholarship for the CCC Team to attend the Gulf Coast Safe Streets Summit yesterday! Special shout out to Lisa Silva, PLA, AICP and Gena Torres for spearheading this event! It was great to hear from so many leaders and professionals across the region, all sharing a common vision: prioritizing safe streets. Hearing that alignment was inspiring, and we truly hope we see that commitment reflected in funding, project allocations, and actual implementation. Getting to chat with Gil Penalosa, learning from our inspirational leader Dr. Johnny KA Wong, PhD and catching up with incredible people doing the good work—like Varshini Renikunta and Davida Franklin made the day. Grateful to be in spaces like this, pushing for safer, more connected communities!

Come with us to our Resource Collaborative Meeting with special guest AMRoC FabLab and surprise special guest Tampa Bay Community Network! It was such a joy to get to know more about these amazing nonprofits and all the incredible work they do- check them out in person at the University Mall and sign yourself up for some of these free resources! If you work with a nonprofit or business in the Tampa area, reach out to us to be the next featured guest and connect to others doing great work in our community ✨