The Provocateurs of Sustainable Change
What’s New with the Planners’ Revolution!
Saturday, April 14, 2012, Hot Block on Holman 2.0
“Hot Block on Holman 2.0” livens up Midtown Saturday, April 14, at the The Collective.
This year’s event, scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m., coincides with the all-day Art in the Park festival at Baldwin Park and Midtown Visions Art Tour.
The first “Hot Block on Holman,” introduced in April 2011, was a one-day living workshop designed to energize Midtown/Third Ward and to demonstrate how well-designed streets and roads can create safer, more accessible neighborhoods in which to live, play, work and shop.
This year’s event again features movies, food, drink, popcorn, music, Vegan Comfort food and craft vendors, original art and sidewalk tables and chairs and bike parking. Admission ranges from $5 to $15. Art viewing is free.
The movies, which all feature sustainability themes, are “Carmen Jones,” and “Medicine for Melancholy.” Discussions after the movies will be facilitated by Planners’ Revolution staff, the community development division of The Collective, and its partners Zakcq Lockrem of Citizens’ Transportation Coalition, and Jay Crossley of Houston Tomorrow.
Planners’ Revolution promotes sustainable changes in largely underserved communities within a regional context. We set out to empower, educate, and promote sustainable changes in communities that are in tune with their environment, history, culture, and values. This program conducts its work based on the following principles of sustainability: inclusion, cooperative economics, world-class design, and context sensitive design through art, nature, and functionality. When these principles are followed, the results yield maximum livability for current and future residents for generations to come.
Our mission is to facilitate superior livability in underserved communities through sustainable, resident-led planning and development. We seek to assist communities in making the most appropriate decisions about their future, so that positive change occurs based on the long-term vision for future generations, in lieu of typical “ad-hoc” solutions used to address “chronic” problems.
The following are objectives that Planners’ Revolution hopes to achieve. Each objective is based upon the preceding principles:
- Grooming of the next generation of planners in the infancy of their careers
- Bridging the generation gap in the planning profession and the community at large
- Providing community outreach and education activities on sustainability
- Facilitating the planning process (with emphasis on context sensitivity and sustainability within the region and design that is harmonious with in the natural and social environment)
Planners’ Revolution focuses mostly on sustainable community development and site planning within the regional context, however the organization will also work with in the following interconnected spatial areas:
- Site
- Neighborhood
- Municipal
- Metropolitan
- State
- Mega-region
- National
- International
Action items that are carried out by Planners’ Revolution to achieve its mission include community programs such as movie nights, field trips, programs at festivals, speaking engagements, etc.; development of a body of knowledge that can be used as a reference by the community at large. (which may include a blog, library, resource lists, etc.); plans, visioning; relationship development with complimentary entities and green enterprises and representation at planning functions.
REGIONAL PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Houston Galveston region is expected to be home to 4 million new residents in the next 30
years. Where will those residents live? How will this change affect quality of life? How will they
get around? The Houston Galveston Regional Plan for Sustainable Development is an
important chance to look forward and find ways to keep your community prosperous, healthy
and attractive for generations to come.
If you have ideas and opinions about how to assure the livability of the Houston-Galveston
region in the years to come, please join us at the following event:
Public Open House
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Third Ward Multi-Service Center
3611 Ennis Street
Houston, Texas
2:30 p. m. – 6:30 p.m.
(There will be a 15-minute presentation at 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.)
The 13-county Regional Plan for Sustainable Development will explore opportunities to
improve the region’s most important resources, including clean air and water, good jobs, safe
and attractive neighborhoods, affordable housing, transportation choices, and open spaces and
parks. This effort is being led by a partnership of 25 organizations, including Houston-Galveston
Area Council member governments, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and other
partners.
Please make plans to attend this important public meeting, which is co-sponsored by the
Houston-Galveston Area Council and 25 partner organizations, along with the Third Ward
Community Cloth Cooperative Housing and Environment Thread. Additional information
about this effort can be found at www.ourregion.org
PAST ACTIVITIES
September 16, a preview of “Hot Nights on Holman” with a pop-up vegan cafe and music during Nathaniel Donnett’s “What’s the New News?” exhibition. The “Hot Nights” series begins officially in October with the first of several “sustainable cinema” shows.
February 25, 2011, field trip to Funkytown with The Third Ward Community Cloth and ECOTONE! There is a lot to learn from the Urban Village Concept.
Partner Links:
Ecotone Sustainable Community Gardens
For more information about internships and partnerships contact 713-523-1616