Four Degrees to the Streets Four Degrees to the Streets

Season Four is almost here! In the meantime, we have a special interview to share. This July, Veronica O. Davis, PE, transportation expert and Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for Houston, Texas*, released her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. Nimo and Jas had the pleasure of speaking with Veronica Davis about her inspiration for the book, questions from our reading, and reflections on her career journey in fields that lack Black women representation.
Veronica is an accomplished transportation planner with almost 20 years of experience. She co-founded Black Women Bike and was recognized as a Champion of Change by the White House in 2012 for her professional accomplishments and advocacy.
We highly recommend Veronica's book Inclusive Transportation, if you want to learn more about how to improve transportation in your community. You can find it at https://islandpress.org. Additionally, be sure to follow Veronica on X at @VeronicaODavis to stay updated on her work and advocacy efforts. 
*Inclusive Transportation represents the author's opinions and does not necessarily represent those of the City of Houston.
Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!

Hello, and welcome back to the fourth season of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! We are truly grateful for your support since 2020, and we're excited to bring you something truly special this season. 
In today’s episode, what if we told you that technology might not be solely to blame for why kids don't play outside anymore? What if we said that the physical design of our roadways, parks, and neighborhoods could have a bigger impact on children's safety and access to outdoor play? Press play to hear:
Eye-opening statistics on Child Pedestrian safety and Park AccessExamples of best practices for planning with youth in mindWe'll also take a closer look at how educational systems impact student travel and safety
We believe that this is a conversation that needs to be had, and we invite you to join us. Listen to learn more about this crucial issue and help be part of the solutions that can make a real difference for children.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources:
Park access among school-age youth in the United States
For 30 Years, This Grown-Up’s Office Was the Playground - The New York Times
Understanding child-friendly urban design: A framework to measure Playful Learning Landscapes outcomes | Brookings
Learning Landscapes: Can urban planning and the learning sciences work together to help children? | Brookings
All Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent Statistics
American Academy of Pediatrics Lays Out Steps for Improving Child Pedestrian Safety
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | 2021 Data - Pedestrians
The Road to School | Urban Institute

In this episode of the Four Degrees to the Streets podcast, hosts Nimo and Jas interview Natasha Dowell, a Loan Officer at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in the Southeast US. Natasha has over a decade of public health experience and is passionate about bringing to life community development projects that advance health equity. Her public health experience covers a wide range including behavioral health, nutritional and physical fitness, maternal and child health, and foodborne outbreaks. Natasha brings her planning and public health training as a lender for a variety of projects, including charter schools and affordable housing developments.
Press play to hear:
Natasha’s background and career path as well as what community development means to her and why it is critical for Black people in the USThe intersection of public health and the planned + built environment that results in increased access or lack of opportunitiesThe lifecycle of a CDFI project and how an organization makes final decisions. She also shares her hot takes on the biggest problems facing cities and potential solutions

This episode provides valuable insights into community development and the role of CDFIs in urban planning. Natasha's experience and expertise make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in community development and urban planning. Feel free to visit the CDFI 101 Toolkit to learn more about the industry.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | What makes a long life?

Happy New Year! In this special joint episode, the Four Degrees to the Streets and Urban Planning is Not Boring podcasts come together to discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Hosts Nimo, Jas, Sam, and Nat use their expertise and experience living in TODs as a backdrop to give a coast-to-coast perspective on this complex subject. Press play to hear:
TOD defined as a mixed-use community that encourages people to live near transit services and decrease their dependence on driving and its key components and historyExamples of TOD programs including BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), NJ Transit, the City of Chicago's ETOD (equitable transit-oriented development) plan, and the Federal Transit Administration TOD Pilot ProgramConsiderations for the future of TOD 

Learn more about Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban planning, at urbanplanningisnotboring.squarespace.com and follow on social media @urbanplanningisnotboring.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources
Histories of Transit-Oriented Development: Perspectives on the Development of the TOD Concept
BART TOD 
Millbrae BART TOD
Elevated Chicago
ETOD | Equitable Transit-Oriented Development
Pennrose Gives Back to Veterans Through Housing
Dover officials open new 70-unit affordable family and veterans housing in downtown
FTA FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development
TOD Planning Study (2015-2021) Projects

How old were you when you discovered urban planning? Maybe it was listening to our podcast, attending a community meeting for a proposed development change, or a class you took in school. In today’s episode, Nimo and Jas interview Mr. Kevin Miles, a dynamic teacher and DEI facilitator based in Dallas, Texas. By using the Urban Land Institute’s UrbanPlan curriculum, press play to hear how he cultivated a five-year education path for 8th-12th grade students at Dallas Townview School of Business and Management.
Mr. Miles's lifelong mission is to establish a National Career and Technology Student Leadership Organization (CTSO) and a “feeder pattern” of skilled and diverse Student Leaders to positively impact the future of the built environment that includes the cultural needs of a place, rather than an outdated pipeline model.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Miles serves as the Director of External Relations for Townview School of Business and Management. He is also Chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Dallas Fort Worth Pathways to Inclusion (PTI) Committee and works closely with National ULI’s DEI team to help promote and develop PTI and BIPOC members.
Questions for Kevin Miles? Send him an email at epicc2030@gmail.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.
To volunteer or add UrbanPlan to your school, contact urbanplan@uli.org.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!

The Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour was more than ticket sales, metallic outfits, horses in outer space, and a showcase of a timeless album. In this special in-person episode, Nimo and Jas discuss the tour's impact on urban planning and local economies. The Renaissance World Tour influenced ten countries, with 56 shows in total. As the highest-grossing tour for any female artist and the highest ever of any artist per show, averaging $10.3 million per show. The New York Times estimated the tour generated $4.5 billion dollars for the US economy. As our listeners know, places and spaces don’t come together without resources. Press play to hear: 
A closer look at a few cities and their transportation plans for the concert, including Santa Clara, DC, and Houston, to accommodate the influx of visitorsThe importance of addressing urban design and providing safe and equitable transit options for all riders during eventsAn Urban Planning Renaissance: Recommendations for planners and policymakers based on the economic impact of Beyoncé's concerts on local economies and the direction of the field in 2024
You can watch this full episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe!  

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.
Or send us an email to connect with us!


Resources:
Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour Has 'Inconsistent' Hotel Impact From Market to Market
Hotel performance standouts during Beyonce’s world tour | STR 
Beyoncé's "Renaissance World Tour" nears Olympic success with its multibillion-dollar impact on the US economy 
Beyonce at Levi's Stadium: VTA, BART, Caltrain to have extra service - CBS San Francisco
Metrorail Ridership Summary | WMATA
Who Rides Public Transportation
Transit Score Methodology
The Beyoncé Bump
a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/african-american-women-in-the-u-s-economy/" rel="noopener...