What Philanthropy Can Do to Restore Trust and Civic Life Guest author Jeff Raikes discusses why backing community voice and connection matters now more than ever.

Guest author Jeff Raikes discusses why backing community voice and connection matters now more than ever.

Guest Contributor, Jeff Raikes Reports: tinyurl.com/bdesksu9

#DemocracyDefense #CivicEngagement #PeoplePowered #CivicInfrastructure #TrustInInstitutions #PhilanthropyForDemocracy

Schools Need Belonging. Philanthropy Is Funding Something Else As toxic politics engulfs schools, Adam Strom writes, too many ed funders are retreating to the safer ground of technical solutions.

As toxic politics engulfs schools, Adam Strom writes, too many ed funders are retreating to the safer ground of technical solutions.

Guest Contributor, Adam Strom Reports: tinyurl.com/yeym5x6r

#EducationPhilanthropy #ImmigrantStudents #SchoolBelonging #CivicInfrastructure #DemocracyInEducation

Building the Next Generation of Urban Infrastructure   Founded in 1965, Gensler is a global architecture and design firm working across sectors including urban development, commercial real estate, and civic infrastructure. SBN Detroit sat down with Najahyia Chinchilla, senior associate and sustainability consultant, to discuss mass timber, embodied carbon, and what sustainable construction means for Southeast Michigan.   Q: Why is wood re-emerging right now as a serious option for large-scale, urban construction?  A: Mass timber blends strength, sustainability, and design quality in ways few materials can. Wood has been used for centuries, but today’s engineered timber products – CLT, glulam, DLT, and NLT – bring a new level of precision, consistency, and performance that aligns with modern building requirements, including strict quality control and predictable fire resistance.  Another driver is the industry’s increasing focus on reducing embodied carbon. Compared to steel and concrete structural systems, mass timber can significantly lower a project’s carbon footprint. At the same time, sustainably managed forests contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity, while modern processing methods reduce waste. Wood’s lighter weight also cuts fuel use and emissions during transportation, particularly when sourced regionally.  From a delivery standpoint, mass timber offers compelling schedule advantages. Prefabricated components, lighter assemblies, and the ability to sequence work in parallel can meaningfully shorten construction timelines, an increasingly important factor for clients who need projects delivered quickly and efficiently.  Q: Detroit and the Midwest have long been defined by steel, concrete, and manufacturing. How does mass timber challenge or complement that legacy?  A: Mass timber is highly complementary. Michigan was once the nation’s top lumber producer, giving the region a timber legacy that predates its steel and concrete era. At Gensler, we’re designing hybrid systems, such as Fifth + Tillery in Austin, that combine timber and steel to modernize existing structures.  For each project, we partner with clients, engineers, and contractors to select the right system based on performance, sustainability goals, schedule, and budget. As mass timber gains momentum for its lower embodied carbon, it is also prompting steel and concrete industries to innovate and compete.  Q: How do projects like the tall timber work featured at the MSU Tall Timber exhibit help shift conversations about what sustainable urban buildings can look like?  The MSU Tall Timber exhibit, at Chrysler House (open until March, 2026), is a great way to broaden the conversation across the design and construction industries, real-estate community, property owners and the public on what is possible. The exhibit includes Gensler’s Proto-Model X project for Sidewalk Labs and mass timber projects from across the state. The curation team is also doing a great job of hosting events and panels that give project teams a chance to talk about projects and lessons learned.  In legacy industrial cities, where we have a strong existing building inventory, we have a responsibility to preserve and repurpose our buildings. Nothing is more sustainable than reutilizing buildings and reducing waste, as seen with the Book Depository building in Corktown.   For new buildings, we also have a responsibility to build for the future and make the best choices that we can with the materials at our disposal. Mass Timber is a responsible option and should always be considered.  Q: Beyond sustainability, what design or human-scale qualities does mass timber introduce that more conventional materials often don’t?  A: Wood brings a natural warmth and biophilic quality that supports wellbeing – lowering stress, improving cognitive function, and creating spaces that feel welcoming and calm. Exposing the structure adds authenticity and makes the architecture legible, helping people feel more grounded in the space.  Q: What makes Michigan uniquely positioned to lead in mass timber and low-carbon construction?  At the MSU Michigan Mass Timber Update in December, I was able to see the strength of the Michigan mass timber community coming together. The institutional leadership from Michigan State University and their director, Sandra Lupien, is positioning Michigan’s mass timber capabilities on a global level.   Connections are being established across the market from – architects, structural engineers, MI EGLE, code officials, business and economic development associations, workforce training leaders to contractors and suppliers.   Q: How could mass timber and life cycle thinking influence redevelopment in cities like Detroit, where adaptive reuse and reinvestment are central to the urban story?  A: Detroit has led in adaptive reuse for over 25 years, proving that reinvesting in existing buildings delivers cultural, social, economic, and environmental value. Mass timber and lifecycle thinking are the next steps, offering lower carbon pathways as the city continues to grow.  To make informed decisions, architects and clients need a full understanding of a material’s life cycle, from extraction and manufacturing to reuse and end of life. This is why circular economy thinking is so critical to future development. At Gensler, our Gensler Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards help guide this process by providing clear, industry-aligned criteria that accelerate the adoption of lower carbon materials in collaboration with the Common Materials Framework.  Q: In a region shaped by reinvention, how do you see sustainable materials and measurement tools contributing to the next chapter of Detroit’s built environment?  A: Detroit and Michigan have always thrived on reinvention. That same spirit of creativity positions the region to lead in the next wave of sustainable development. Our climate challenges, paired with the natural and industrial resources already here, create an ideal environment for adopting materials and strategies that will help Michigan thrive through future change.  The growing investment in next-generation technologies is especially exciting. As industries across the state push toward innovation, there’s real potential for that momentum to drive broader adoption of low carbon materials, mass timber, and performance-based design tools. If we want to attract new residents, businesses, and industries, we need to shape buildings and public spaces that reflect where Detroit is going – healthy, efficient, resilient, and future focused.  Q: As sustainability expectations continue to rise, what do you think will separate projects that genuinely reduce impact from those that simply meet minimum standards?  Minimum standards are steadily improving as energy codes tighten and reduce allowable energy use, which means operational carbon is no longer the primary differentiator. What will set truly impactful projects apart is a commitment to addressing embodied carbon as well. Conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) early in design gives clients and teams a clear baseline and empowers them to make more informed material choices.  Projects that are serious about reducing their overall footprint will also look beyond efficiency to incorporate clean energy—whether by purchasing renewables from their utility or integrating onsite solutions. Michigan is particularly well-suited for ground source heat pumps, with stable underground temperatures that perform reliably through freezing winters and hot summers, and a strong network of engineers and installers who understand the technology.  In short, the leaders will be the teams that measure comprehensively, design holistically, and pair low carbon materials

Founded in 1965, #Gensler is a global architecture and design firm working across sectors including #urbandevelopment, #commercialrealestate, and #civicinfrastructure.

We sat down with Najahyia Chinchilla, senior associate and sustainability consultant to learn more.
sbn-detroit.org/buil...

The Invisible Editor: Reclaiming Reality in the Intention Economy Journalism must either step up as essential civic infrastructure in this new economy, or it will be downgraded to raw material for systems that do not share its public mission.

Dans cet article (en anglais), j’essaie de répondre à une question :

que devient le journalisme quand les LLM deviennent les nouveaux rédacteurs en chef invisibles de la vie civique ?

#FutureofJournalism #IntentionEconomy #CivicInfrastructure

www.averris.com/insights/The...

Council directs staff to report back on Plaza Theatre, civic center options and convention‑center feasibility; executive session sought on land negotiations Council asked staff to compile a written update on the Plaza Theatre renovation, explore whether the Plaza can serve as a civic center, and to report on convention center feasibility and any property negotiations. The mayor and multiple council members said the city needs a clear timeline and cost estimates before proceeding.

Laredo's city council is pushing for a revitalization of the Plaza Theatre and a new civic center, sparking crucial discussions about funding and facility needs!

Get the details!

#LaredoWebbCounty #TX #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CivicInfrastructure #LaredoCivicCenter #CommunityDevelopment

Free Consult - Allison K Ralph

👥 Book a free consult: calendly.com/allison-cohe...

🌐 Learn more: www.cohesionstrategy.com
#CivicInfrastructure #Bridging #Democracy

Inspirational quote: Like rivets on a suspension bridge, small actions anchor the weight of our intentions.

Like rivets on a suspension bridge, small actions anchor the weight of our intentions.

#CivicInfrastructure #IncrementalProgress #TangibleImpact

Sarasota City Commission Approves Talks With County on Ringling Surface Lot Development Commissioners vote to discuss potential criminal justice center at Ringling surface parking lot.

Sarasota's City Commission just approved discussions to potentially transform the historic Ringling Surface Parking Lot into a new Criminal Justice Center—what could this mean for the community?

Click to read more!

#FL #CitizenPortal #CivicInfrastructure #CommunityInput #SarasotaCriminalJustice

Empathy as Civic Infrastructure: Why Societies Can’t Thrive Without It Discover why empathy is more than kindness — it’s measurable civic infrastructure shaping governance, public health, innovation, and democracy. Learn the dat...

Empathy isn’t “soft.” It’s civic infrastructure—shaping trust, policy, health, and innovation. Ignore it, and societies fracture. Invest, and they thrive. 🌍✨
Read more: redefine.pt/2025/08/15/e...
#Empathy #CivicInfrastructure #SocialCohesion #Democracy #Governance #Society

The Engineered Silence of Public Media What the dismantling of public broadcasting reveals about the erosion of civic life, the privatization of information, and the quiet mechanics of control.

The collapse of public media isn’t just defunding—it’s a political project. As public broadcasting disappears, so does the space where people think together, act collectively, and stay informed.
#PublicMedia #Democracy #InformationJustice #FCC #CivicInfrastructure #ClimateCrisis

He Made Billions on Google and PayPal. Now, He’s Betting on News.

“I think news and information in any city is as vital as water, electricity and gas”
#localnews #civicinfrastructure
#infostructure
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/b...

What If Pennsylvania Created a Civic Media Fund? Inspired by California, here’s a proposal for Pennsylvania to support local journalism by funding it through a Civic Media Fund and public libraries.

California just launched a Civic Media Fund to support local journalism, with the State Library leading the way.

So I asked: why not Pennsylvania?

Here's a proposal to bring it home.
📖 www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-p...

#LocalNews #CivicInfrastructure

Architect presents renovation plans for historic Gazette Building as temporary courthouse Commission discusses detailed design for Gazette Building to serve as temporary court facility.

Tift County is set to breathe new life into its historic courthouse and Gazette Building with exciting renovations that blend functionality and preservation.

Learn more here!

#TiftCounty #GA #HistoricPreservation #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CivicInfrastructure #TiftCountyCourthouse

‘After all our hard work’: Federal fallout leads to suspension of interlibrary loan courier service • South Dakota Searchlight The State Library cannot renew its contract with the courier service due to “the uncertainty” surrounding federal funding.

This is an absolute shame. South Dakotans around the state worked hard to keep the State Library funded, and legislators listened. And now our services are gutted by the federal administration southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/04/15/s... #rural #libraries #sdleg #civicinfrastructure

Why Defunding NPR and PBS Is a Strategic Mistake The case for protecting—and strengthening—America’s public media infrastructure

open.substack.com/pub/michaelk... #PublicMedia #NPR #PBS #MediaPolicy #CivicInfrastructure
#DefundDebunked #NewsDeserts
#NonprofitMedia #MediaBiasMyth
#InformedDemocracy

“Civic infrastructure is the container that makes participation and relationship formation outside of home and work possible."
#civicinfrastructure #policy #government @erikapoethig.bsky.social @cityofdetroit.bsky.social @kresge.org @natlmainstreet.bsky.social
medium.com/reimagining-...

Policies for Regenerating Civic Infrastructure Leaders weigh in on the role of government in supporting infrastructure for more social connection

Read this article for insights from leaders with experience in local, state and federal government on the role of the public sector in supporting infrastructure for more social connection.
@erikapoethig.bsky.social #connection #civicinfrastructure #Percent4Place
medium.com/reimagining-...

Fantastic to see the fully transformed Lock 3 grace the cover of @downtownakron.bsky.social's recent quarterly report. Preliminary #s show visitorship during the winter months has more than doubled past seasons. @knightfoundation.org @kresgefdn.bsky.social #publicspace #civicinfrastructure #downtown

A Call to Action: Public space for the common good 5 insights from Philadelphia on how civic space strengthens democracy, trust and community

A Call to Action: Public space for the common good

5 insights from Philadelphia on how civic space can strengthen democracy, trust and community

medium.com/reimagining-...

#publicspace #commongood #civicinfrastructure #Philadelphia

View this photo essay capturing 10 U.S. cities innovating in public space.
medium.com/reimagining-...
@downtownakron.bsky.social @cityofsanjose.bsky.social @cityofdetroit.bsky.social @cityofcincinnati.bsky.social #publicspace #innovation #civicinfrastructure

No-- but the thousands of these conversations that happen every year in communities outside of the major cities allow for a bridging of civic information and community connection (as well as a chance to influence government for the better). I'll post #civicinfrastructure posts here when I can.

The book #powerbroker is here, let’s see if we will join in the podcast rhythm of the fabulous 99% invisible podcast #99pi

Anyone here interested in #UrbanDesign, #CityPlanning and #CivicInfrastructure joining as well?

99percentinvisible.org/episode/brea...