This is The Black Urbanist Weekly, an email newsletter that highlights I, Kristen Jeffers’s, Black Queer Feminist Urbanist commentary on one key issue every week. This week I’m dipping into my vault of prior posts and newsletters to celebrate Black History Month. This week, I’m revisiting my May 26, 2014 post on why I love conferences + talking about why I’m building one of my own and how you can be part of its second iteration.  I’m also thankful for sponsorship for this newsletter from Greater Greater Washington and many of you who are Patreon supporters. 

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First, let’s revisit my post “Why I Love Conferences”, from May 26, 2014. I wrote this on the eve of going to the Buffalo iteration of the Congress for New Urbanism, during my first PAID keynote and workshop conference season. In lieu of sharing the whole thing this week, I am going to share the parts that still speak to me, then I’ll be back just below to talk about where I’m at now and of course, a few reminders/announcements before you go.

It is that time of year again when many of us who blog and write and speak gather at industry conferences. Or is it always that time of year?

Back in the day, maybe you went to your state American Planning Association (APA) conference or the big national one.  Architects had AIA or NOMA or maybe the Congress for New Urbanism.(CNU) Transportation folks did the  Transportation Review Board Annual Meeting , the National Bike Summit, Railvolution or something else similar. Anyway, you did your one conference, got your continuing education credits and came back to the nest (or bunker) and went at it another year.

Nowadays, [there’s more]between TEDx, Pecha Kucha, and Ignite in the tech/mainstream world and Transportation Camp and similar unconferences in our world, not to mention the South By Southwests, SparkCons and Middle of the Maps that just do a lot of everything.

And I can’t get enough of these gatherings, no matter where they are and what purpose they serve. I get a thrill from presenting my thoughts as a keynote. I love bringing together my friends to have a guided conversation. And of course, there are the social activities that come from these gatherings. This is networking at its finest.

Why do I love them so much? I think it’s one thing to write in isolation, with the occasional Facebook share, comment or email to a colleague that happens with an online or even printed article. Yet, for me, as an extroverted writer and speaker, the joy that comes from gathering with my fellow urbanists or marketers, or professional black women or young women with side gigs or just chillin’ with my best friends and family is healing. It’s why so many of us when we can or on a regular basis attend worship services or fellowship meetings or yoga classes. You grow and you change and you heal from being around like minds.

An additional piece I like about conferences and convening is that when done the right way, these events change lives outside the conference hall…

…conferences that don’t have a good mix of keynotes, breakouts, formal and informal networking sessions fail. Some of the best connections and most valuable business deals happen in the exhibit hall. Another failure comes when your content isn’t compelling. I know occasionally, one has to explain the mechanics of a situation, especially in a continuing education class. Yet, we remember most the vibrant teachers, the ones who have found the human touch in the most boring of subjects.

So, we’re back in 2022 and I wanted to spend a whole section discussing where my thoughts are now.

First of all, COVID-19 has changed how we gather, when we gather, and what steps we need to take to gather. 

Secondly, even if COVID disappears overnight — racial justice, equity, and inclusion; disability and illness accommodations, economic balance, and soundness for both attendees and people running these conferences need to be centered.

One of the reasons I’ve historically centered and encouraged major conferences in my work is due to the ability to meet a variety of people from all over the world in one centralized place. Plus, I was walking in the door in a body that’s marginalized and disadvantaged more often than not, from a hometown that’s only just beginning to regain some degree of mainstream recognition. Plus, being on the internet even back in 2014, was still an exception, versus the nucleus of how we keep up with each other, especially in the greater built environment/land-use/community and economic development sector.

I needed my Black(Queer) Feminist North-Carolinian body to be in those rooms because otherwise, I was just some girl playing on the internet in her teenhood bedroom and how could I possibly know what was needed for communities to shine and thrive.

Now, I know that I can create the spaces I needed AND I should create a space that centers my identities, because they do affect how I perceive the world AND they do have buying power, in addition to humanity that needs no introduction, justification, or underscoring.

Everything I said in 2014, at least what I’ve chosen to put here is true. What’s also true is that we need to leverage technology and every corner of our networks, to strengthen our humanity.

In October, I’ll be offering that hybrid conference I promised. If you’re interested in being a local host, reply back or comment.

And next week I’ll be revisiting my call for us to end civic inferiority complexes and the last week of this month, how crafting a Black Queer Feminist Urbanism has helped me shake off my own inferiority complex.

Before You Go

One of the reasons I’m able to take this month to shift my format and re-establish how I approach all of my work is because of support from my new system for advertisements. This week, the newsletter is sponsored again by Greater Greater Washington, which is hiring a Regional Policy Director.  Is that you? The Regional Policy Director will play a lead role in shaping how GGWash’s regional policy work evolves in the coming years. Focused primarily on housing issues in Maryland, they will develop the organization’s local and state policy agenda, build and strengthen relationships with local and regional stakeholders, organize diverse people who are interested in housing issues in the region to ensure their voices are heard, and run GGWash’s regional endorsements process.

This is a full-time, salaried position with compensation from $83,000 – $93,000 per year depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance contributions, dental insurance, life insurance, transit commuter benefits, 401(k) deferral, and paid leave. GGWash is an equal opportunity employer, and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Interested? Know someone who might be a good fit? Check their job post here and apply by Friday, February 18th. 

BikeWalkKC also still needs a community organizer who will focus on the Historic Northeast and East sides of Kansas City on the Missouri side, who relies on transit,biking and/or walking. Learn more and apply. 

Want to advertise your job, RFP, conference, achievement or something else? Let’s talk. Rates start at $75 a week for a four week commitment, but there are one, two, three week options available, plus opportunities to extend. Learn more about our new advertising program.

Finally, if we share identity intersections and you’re out here on the job hunt, thinking about starting a business or need a strategic plan for just getting through on this planet, hit me up. I offer this service on a sliding scale, starting at $75 per 1.5 hour session for students/recent grads and anyone else who needs a break in their budget and $250 per 1.5 hour session for those of you doing alright financially, but you need or want to switch things up. The word on the street is true about helping nudge some folks into some life-changing opportunities, I would love for that to be you too. Send me a direct email with the subject Strategy Session.

Until next time,

Kristen