Equitable Cities LLC

🚦 Exciting News! 🚦 We’re thrilled to announce that Equitable Cities LLC, as a proud sub-consultant to CBB Transportation Engineers + Planners has been recognized as part of the APA “Outstanding Planning Practice Award” for the Gateway to Safer Roadways: St. Louis Regional Safety Action Plan! This prestigious award, presented at the APA Winter Workshop, is a testament to the incredible collaboration and dedication of the project team. Together with East-West Gateway Council of Governments, CBB, and fellow sub-consultants CDI and Excel Business Concepts, we’ve worked tirelessly to advance #equity, #safety and #connectivity across the St. Louis region. We’re deeply grateful for East-West Gateway’s leadership and for everyone who participated in the engagement efforts that made this plan possible. This award fuels our continued commitment to creating safer, more #equitable communities. Our colleague Xavier Lofton, MPH is shown in the picture accepting the award on behalf of Equitable Cities. He played a key role in developing equitable and inclusive safety strategies for the Plan. #AwardWinningWork #EquitableCities #UrbanPlanning #TransportationSafety #StLouis #CommunityEngagement

What does a thriving community look like? For us, it’s one where equity, sustainability, and accessibility go hand-in-hand. Through the HUD Thriving Communities Program, we work closely with local governments and communities to create strategies for equitable development, accessible housing, and mobility. See how we’re making an impact: https://lnkd.in/e5mFvBDA #ThrivingCommunities #EquityInAction #CommunityDevelopment

DHCD today announced the publication of a baseline report from its new Division of Just Communities. The report is the first formal publication of the new division, stating its mission and vision, detailing information on racial disparities in Maryland housing and neighborhood conditions, as well as the current and ongoing work of the Department to address inequities. To read the full press release and report, visit https://bit.ly/3Bbzf7j

Bicycling is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a pathway to equity, empowerment, and community. While at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, Charles T. Brown, MPA, CPD conducted research on the experiences of Black and Latino women in urban cycling. This project sheds light on the unique barriers these communities face, from access to infrastructure to cultural perceptions, while highlighting opportunities to promote inclusivity and representation in active transportation. Learn more about the findings and how we’re working to ensure cycling is accessible for all: https://lnkd.in/ed5uGfXd #ActiveTransportation #EquityInCycling #RepresentationMatters #UrbanPlanning #Research

Huge announcement! I am deeply honored to announce that I have been selected as the individual recipient of the 2024 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This prestigious award recognizes efforts to advance #healthequity and reduce disparities within communities. At Equitable Cities LLC, our mission has always been to promote physical activity and equitable urban planning through community engagement and evidence-based policies. This recognition underscores the importance of our work in creating safe, accessible spaces for all, particularly for populations facing barriers to active transportation and quality public spaces. Special thanks to whoever nominated me and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team at Equitable Cities, our partners, and the communities we serve. Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental in achieving this honor. Congratulations to the other awardees: the Black Equity Coalition (BEC) and the Center for MultiCultural Health. Your contributions are vital to the collective effort toward health equity. This award is a tribute to the legacy of Lark Galloway-Gilliam, whose work continues to inspire us in the pursuit of healthier, more equitable communities. #HealthEquity #UrbanPlanning #CommunityEngagement #REACHProgram #EquitableCities

Meet Isa Gaillard | We’re excited to welcome Isa as a Senior Transportation Planner at Equitable Cities! His extensive experience in urban planning, environmental justice, and sustainable transportation strengthens our mission to create equitable, accessible communities. Isa’s journey spans the University of Michigan, where he received the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and UC Berkeley, where he developed a framework for integrating environmental justice into city planning. He’s worked on impactful projects like TEEM and supported capacity-building initiatives at The Greenlining Institute. Welcome aboard, Isa! #EquitableCities #UrbanPlanning #EnvironmentalJustice #SustainableTransportation

We can't effectively move forward without remembering and learning from the past. Before the I-10 destroyed its majestic oak trees and displaced hundreds of Black businesses, Claiborne Ave was arguably the nation's greatest hub for Black entrepreneurs. This marker reminds people what once was there, and more importantly, as Keith Plessy from the Plessy and Ferguson Initiative says, "it bring back that spirit of a community that has a village concept where everybody cares about everybody." #nola #community #claiborneavenue Full article: https://lnkd.in/g_Ne3B5k

A recent article highlights the urgent need for equitable decarbonization strategies that prioritize sustainability, resilience, and justice. At Equitable Cities, we’re addressing these challenges head-on. Through projects like the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Program and the Virginia Walkability Action Institute, we integrate equity into urban planning and transportation, focusing on underserved communities. By developing Complete Streets plans and pedestrian and bicycle networks, we ensure that historically marginalized populations gain access to safer, healthier, and more sustainable environments. Our work aligns with the global push to center people in decarbonizing the built environment. We believe in designing systems that uplift all communities, addressing the urban services divide, and creating spaces that are both resilient and inclusive. Learn more about our initiatives and how we’re creating change: www.equitablecities.com 📖 Read the full article on building equity into climate action here: https://lnkd.in/gDUJ7mHS #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #ClimateJustice #EquitableCities #Decarbonization

The Equitable Cities team was honored to present at the 2024 Facing Race: A National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri—the largest multiracial, intergenerational racial justice conference in the nation. Our session, Working with Municipal Partners: Negotiating Equity into Community Projects, focused on addressing inequities that communities often face when collaborating with municipal agencies on local projects. Xavier Lofton, MPH, Nellie Graham, and Valeria Menendez shared our equity framework and engaged participants in a dynamic role-playing activity simulating real-world planning processes. The session empowered attendees to apply equity-focused strategies and understand diverse stakeholder perspectives. With over 45 participants, most from public agencies, we sparked meaningful conversations on transforming institutions and ensuring projects meet the needs of all communities. ➡️ What strategies have you found effective in negotiating equity into institutional projects? Race Forward #FacingRace

Transit ridership across the country is on the rise, from large urban cities to small rural towns. In Kentucky, ridership on the City of Danville’s Bluegrass Ride bus system has made impressive gains. Last October, the rural transit line provided nearly 3,500 rides, compared to fewer than 500 the previous year. Regular riders have emphasized the free service’s financial benefits as a main reason to #TakeTransit, especially amid rising car ownership costs. bit.ly/48YMchr