is democratic

Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and

only when, they are created by everybody-- Jane Jacobs

The civil rights movement taught us to listen, and to hear those whose voices had gone

unheard for generations. R/UDAT has taught us how to turn the aspirations of citizens, and their descriptions of urban value, into

action.-- David Lewis/Peter Batchelor

Behind all the current buzz about collaboration is a discipline. And with all due respect to the ancient arts of governing and

diplomacy, the more recent art of collaboration does represent something new -- maybe Copernican. If it contained a silicon

chip, we’d all be excited.-- John Gardner

1990s

1960s

Brief History of a Movement

1980s

Threats

Global urbanization

Rising Inequality

Climate Change

Crisis in Governance

• Just 19% of Americans say the government can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time. (10% say NEVER)

• Only 17% of Americans believe that big business can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time

Today’s National Context…disastrous

Moving Beyond “Engagement” • National League of Cities survey of U.S. Cities (2010) - 81 percent use public

engagement processes "often" (60 percent) or "sometimes" (21 percent)• American Planning Association (2012) – “More than 50 percent want to

personally be involved in community planning efforts, including more than half of Democrats, Republicans, and independents as well as majorities of urban, suburban, and rural respondents.”

• Center for Public Interest Design (2013) – 75% of AIA members think that architects should advocate for underrepresented groups, engage local stakeholders in decision-making, and conserve resources.

PR vs. P2: The Expectations Gap

What Government/Organizations Want

What the Public Wants

Feb 2014 Survey on IAP2 Spectrum

But, there is great work happening…

“Artificial” polarization

Detroit 1950s Population = 1.86 million2012 Population= 700,000

30,000 interactions

Austin population: 885,000. Population doubles every 20 years. Imagine Austin = 18,000 comments

Fremont Troll, Seattle

When urban democracy expands, cities flourish. The placemaking outcomes – and the impact on people –

are nothing short of remarkable.

Portland Pearl District R/UDAT (1983)

“Viewed from today, it is hard to believe the sense of risk that the first developers in the Northwest Triangle felt as they challenged a complete lack of interest in downtown living when the R/UDAT came to town in 1983. The R/UDAT team had demonstrated sound opportunity. Daring developers, good planning and a favorable economy turned opportunity to reality and ushered in metropolitan living in the Pearl District on a scale unimaginable in 1983.” –Paddy Tillett, FAIA

Austin R/UDAT (1991)

“When looking back on how far downtown Austin has come in the last 20 years, many newcomers to Austin would be surprised by the state of downtown in 1993. Few people resided in downtown and retail in the urban core was nearly non-existent. Needless to say, Austin was faced with a fairly dormant downtown…. From the plan came a number of recommendations that began the wheels of transformation to create the vibrant downtown we all know today.” – Charles Betts, Downtown Austin Magazine

Santa Fe Railyard R/UDAT (1997)

“It was an experiment in deep democracy. That is the beauty of it –a true community effort, we were all in it together. It was not created through a hierarchy of controlling leadership.” – Steve Robinson, Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation

Port Angeles, WA SDAT (2009)

“This opportunity for our community was a catalyst for action, implementation and improvement. A primary outcome has been that the process awakened community pride and inspired a “together we can” attitude.” – Nathan West, Community Development Director