HACKENSACK CREATIVE PLACEMAKING& COMMUNITY COACHING Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

Executive Director

The National Center for Creative Placemaking

ABOUT US

• National Consortium for Creative Placemaking works to build better communities through arts, culture and creative approaches

• Have worked in 15+ communities in New Jersey and Louisiana

• Partner with many organizations to help communities

• Ex.Dir. Leonardo Vazquez is a community/economic development planner

• The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) improves community life through its work in education, public health, and civic engagement.

• Created ArtsBergen, a regional arts council

• Assoc. Dir. Danielle Delaurentis is graduate of Creative Placemaking Master Practitioner Certificate

WHAT WE ARE DOING

• Planning to enhance Hackensack through arts and culture

• Building a diverse Creative Team that will:• Represent the various communities in Hackensack• Create the plan• Guide implementation• Lead more improvements

BENEFITS OF ARTS AND CULTURE TO COMMUNITIES

Jobs, opportunities,

stores, investment

Fun, community

pride,

respect for

culture

Creativity, freedom, learning

CREATIVE PLACEMAKING:MAKING PLACES BETTER

THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE

Partnerships and shared leadership

HOW IT WILL HAPPEN

• NCCP provides background information and coaching

• Creative team will develop the plan (NCCP will prepare it for the public)

• Creative team and NCCP will engage the public

• Task forces will design and develop projects

ABOUT THE FINAL PLAN

• Deals with ‘big issues’ facing Hackensack

• Reflects the best ideas that Creative Team and taskforce members want to pursue

• Answers these questions:• How can Hackensack be a better place through arts and culture?• How can Hackensack be a better place for arts and culture?

WHAT THE CREATIVE TEAM WILL DO

• Hold 2-hour work sessions every 3-4 weeks between February and July.

• Explore the ‘big issues’; choose among tradeoffs

• Develop and steward the plan

• Engage the public

• Build leaders

WHAT THE TASK FORCES WILL DO

• Design and deliver projects

• Partner with people and organizations who can help

• Become the local experts on their subject

WHAT THE COACH DOES, AND DOESN’T

The coach• Supports and nurtures ideas

• Challenges team members to strengthen their ideas

• Builds a sustainable team of leaders

• Teaches team members how to be creative placemakers

• Connects team members to resources

• Helps them think about how to choose

The coach doesn’t

• Tell the team what ideas to put into the plan

• Tell the team what to prioritize

UNDERSTANDING HACKENSACK

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED SO FAR

CREATIVE ASSETS

LEARNING MORE

• What makes Hackensack distinct or special?

• What do you like best about living in, working in, or visiting Hackensack?

• What are the biggest issues affecting quality of life here?

• What are the biggest issues affecting economic opportunity?

• How is Hackensack as a place to be creative and to work in the arts? What are the benefits and challenges?