Welcome Dear Listeners…
…to the launch of a new season of the Story City Podcast: Vibrant Spaces, where we get to share with you our learnings and networks of innovative change makers leading the charge in revitalizing urban and city spaces, increasing vibrancy across the United States.
Join co-hosts, Emily Craven and Tim Souza weekly to learn, be inspired and ponder new ways we can utilize our cities to build a more connected, inspired and culturally thriving future for all.
We’re kick off this season with an interview with change-makers out of the City of Tampa, Florida who have been re-imagining how to help their city grow stronger into the future, especially in the wake of increasing population growth as people move in from out of state thanks to a burgeoning tech sector. How do they connect the citizens in the city to itself and her neighborhoods? How can they keep the rich culture, history and traditions of the city alive while welcoming the new growth?!
Highlighting initiatives like Tampa’s Soul Walk and waterfront development, this episode showcases how different departments collaborate for dynamic community building. Our guests today focus on community-led placemaking and cultural heritage, while emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and redevelopment. The podcast outlines Tampa’s unique funding via Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) that foster economic growth without displacing current residents. Ultimately, this episode celebrates the concerted efforts to create vibrant, inclusive spaces in urban environments.
Plug in those headphones and let’s take a look at the way the these city innovators are tackling this vibrancy challenge!
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Show Notes
Learn more about Story City and how we work with partners here.
PDF transcript of this Episode is here.
Important Links from this episode include: Soul Walk, Tampa Riverwalk
You can subscribe to the Podcast via our YouTube channel here, or via our main Podcast page here where you can also find our other episodes and seasons.
Want to be considered for an episode? Email Emily and Tim with information on your city and initiatives and tell us, what do you do innovatively in your city?
Our Guests on Today’s Pod:
Robin Nigh‘s award-winning work comes from over thirty five years of experience in placemaking and bringing art to the public realm. For the City of Tampa, Nigh oversees all aspects of planning and implementation of multiple art-related programs, including capital projects that require leveraging assets within the city, developing partnerships, working with the community and site stakeholders. Trained as an Art Historian, she has served on the Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network (or PAN) Council and has lectured and consulted about art in the public realm across the country. Her most recent initiative is Soulwalk an African American Culture and Heritage Trail through the Arts, for the City of Tampa.
Stephen Benson has worked in the transportation and land use fields since 2011 as a consultant, and at state and local agencies. Most recently, Stephen has led the reestablishment of the City Planning function at the City of Tampa, building a long-term policy agenda that advances many progressive community planning and design principles including zoning reform, missing middle housing, main streets, traditional neighborhood design, and highway conversion. Stephen is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
About your hosts:
Emily Craven – Founder & CEO Story City: Emily has worked with cities for well over a decade to reimagine public space via storytelling and upskilling of local creators in digital activations of cities. Regularly driving 30k+ people through targeted city areas via adventure and whimsy, Emily has won national awards, been profiled in multiple magazines, and worked with international organizations like the Institute for the Future of the Book to bring content from the screen to the streets in innovative ways.
Tim Souza – Head of Community Activation at Story City: Tim has held many roles and titles over the years with organizations ranging from Microsoft to Thomson Reuters to TEDx, specializing in the building networks of partners to create larger impact than would have been possible individually. With both a passion for and a degree in Peace, Justice, Entrepreneurship and Technology Tim excitedly now tackles the challenges faced by local creatives, cities, and businesses to build strong vibrant communities of creators who add layers of play to the physical world around them via Story City’s innovative model.
