Press release:
How to Welcome Community Participation in Planning and Design?
National Charrette Institute To Offer Training, Certification in Asheville, May 16-20
In addition to Harvard University and its headquarters in Portland, OR, the National Charrette Institute (NCI) has chosen Asheville for one of three upcoming trainings. The Institute expects participants from the Asheville area and from around the nation, May 16-20, 2016.
The City of Asheville’s Planning and Urban Design and Community and Economic Development Departments are supporting the training by offering a City venue, the U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street in Downtown Asheville. Attendees will receive certification in planning, facilitating and managing collaborative planning processes called “charrettes.”
Originating in art and architecture schools as a way to speed projects from idea stages to finished work, the charrette method has been adapted and refined for highly collaborative planning efforts — especially those that are challenging because of their complexity and potential controversy.
“This is an incredible training opportunity,” says Asheville project manager Sage Turner. “I hope to see participants from boards and commissions, neighborhood leaders, planners, developers, city staff, and elected officials. The community is ripe for well-organized engagement and it would be ideal if many area leaders can join together on this.”
The NCI is marketing the training opportunity internationally. Local organizers hope to fill as many seats as possible with planning and design professionals and with citizen leaders from Asheville and nearby communities. Fees for the training begin at $895, however some full and partial scholarships may be available thanks to contributions of local groups and individuals who see advantages in having a core group trained in organizing inclusive planning processes.
Read more about the NCI and its programs here: www.charretteinstitute.org.
And for more information about participating and supporting local participants in the Asheville training, contact volunteer coordinators:
Ben Brown
Principal, PlaceMakers, LLC
www.placemakers.com
ben@placemakers.com
828.508.5002Sage Turner
Finance & Project Manager
SageSTurner@gmail.com
828.216.9284
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