The Vision is Yours 2026: Placemaking Placekeeping Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am EDT

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT

College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Staying at the College Park Marriott Hotel? Ride with NDC on our complimentary conference shuttle.
The shuttle will depart the hotel at 8:00 AM and arrive at Joe’s Movement Emporium in time to enjoy coffee, light breakfast, and registration before the morning plenary.

You'll find us with a blue welcome sign at our meeting point is located at 3501 Campus Drive.

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center 3501 University Blvd E, Hyattsville, MD 20783

Transportation & Walks

8:00am EDT

Welcome, Registration, & Networking

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Lobby

Start your day by checking in at Joe's Movement Emporium (Lobby), then join us across the street for the M-NCPPC Placemaking Activation.

Enjoy coffee and light bites while connecting with fellow attendees in a lively outdoor networking space designed to spark conversation and inspiration before we dive into the program.

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Lobby

Celebrations & Networking

9:00am EDT

Opening Plenary: Public Joy as Civic Infrastructure

Thursday April 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater

We begin the conference by grounding ourselves in why we gather: to strengthen communities through design, creativity, and collective action.

The morning will open with a screening of music videos featuring local musicians, created by filmmaker Antonio Hernandez, celebrating the creative energy of our region. Following the screening, we’ll share welcome remarks and hear from our agency partner, the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.

Keynote Speaker
Jay Pitter, author of Black Public Joy, public space practitioner, and urban planning professor will lead a thought-provoking talk on Public Joy: The Missing Infrastructure for Civic Life. Drawing from her work, Jay will explore how public joy functions as essential infrastructure and what it asks of today’s community design practice.

The session will conclude with a Q&A, followed by brief conference-wide announcements to prepare you for the day ahead.

This plenary is made possible through the generous support of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

This video reflects contemporary cultural expression from the region and includes some explicit language.

Speakers

Jennifer Goold

Executive Director, The Neighborhood Design Center

Jennifer Goold is Executive Director of the Neighborhood Design Center, where she leads cross-disciplinary teams advancing community-driven design, placemaking, and equitable development. Since 2012, she has guided NDC’s strategic growth, expanded its fee-for-service and technical... Read More →

Antonio Hernandez

Filmmaker

Visual and audio storyteller based in Hyattsville, MD

Jay Pitter

Founder, Jay Pitter Placemaking

JayPitter Keynote Presentation pdf

Thursday April 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Plenary Session

10:15am EDT

Resource Room

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:15am - 5:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 1

A space designed for attendees to take a breather, connect, and engage on their own terms. Pop in to check out sponsor displays, share resources asynchronously with fellow participants, or settle in at touch-down tables to catch up on emails or prep for sessions. Whether you’re looking to collaborate, recharge, or just have a quiet moment between events, the Resource Room is yours to use as you need.

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:15am - 5:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 1 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Celebrations & Networking

10:30am EDT

Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park: Reconnecting History and Community Through Design

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 2

Discover the transformation of Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park from a place of segregation to a 500-acre memorial park for mental wellness and renewal. Learn how community engagement and honest storytelling are shaping this space into a place of healing, reflection, and connection.

Click here to access the slide presentation in Google Drive.

Moderators

Brian Reetz

Principal, Design Collective

Brian leads the firm’s Landscape Architecture studio and offers over 25 years of experience in award-winning design for diverse project types. He serves as the design lead for all of Design Collective’s Landscape Architecture projects, overseeing all phases of design and our subconsultants... Read More →

Speakers

Erica Matthews

Deputy Director, Anne Arundel County Recreation & Parks

Cecily Bedwell

Principal, Design Collective

A Certified Planner and LEED design professional with a focus on urban design, planning, and public outreach, Cecily Bedwell has over 30 years of professional experience. As Principal of the firm’s Urban Design Studio, she oversees and manages complex planning projects involvin... Read More →

Faye Belt

Crownsville Hospital Advocate & Retired Nurse, Crownsville

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 2 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Panel

10:30am EDT

Play, Participation, and Place: Gamifying Co-Design for Healthier, More Connected Communities

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 3

Play, Participation, and Place is an interactive session that walks through a gamified co-design process used to engage communities in shaping more connected public spaces. Participants will explore real pilot examples, learn how play-based tools surface local priorities and tradeoffs, and collaboratively design a collective space in real time. The session emphasizes hands-on participation and shared learning across planning and placemaking contexts.

Speakers

Hayley Oleksiak

Co-Founder, OpenSpace Sandbox

1 Thursday 1030 AM Play Participation Place pdf

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 3 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Learning Lab

10:30am EDT

Stories Are Infrastructure: How Narrative, Movement, and Memory Build Place

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater

This panel brings together community organizers, storytellers, wellness leaders, and data practitioners to explore how narrative functions as essential infrastructure in placemaking and placekeeping. Through examples like Wellness Walks, community engagement, and data storytelling, panelists will show how movement, memory, and lived experience shape belonging, influence policy, and sustain long-term community care.

Follow this link to access the session slides on Canva.

Speakers

LaQuida Chancey

Executive Director/Founder, Smalltimore Homes

Tenille Patterson

Consultant, Good Change

Tabitha Wolod

Brand and Marketing Strategist, IEI Agency

Xavion Freedom

Freedom Strategist

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Panel

12:00pm EDT

Transportation & Guided Walks to Mix't Food Hall

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Parking Lot

Join NDC staff for a brief, 10-minute guided walk to Mix’t Food Hall, or hop aboard the Mount Rainier Nature Center van for a quick ride instead.

The guided walks will highlight neighborhood wisdom, local projects, and community-led initiatives along the route, offering a chance to experience local placemaking in action.

Walk Departure Location:
Walks will gather and depart from the M-NCPPC Placemaking Container in the parking lot across the street from Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Van Pickup Location:
For guests who would prefer transportation, The Mount Rainier Nature Center van will pick up at the bus stop on the corner of Bunker Hill Road and 34th Street (to the left when exiting the main doors of Joe’s Movement Emporium). The van will run on a continuous loop until all guests have been accommodated. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to ensure an on-time departure.

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Parking Lot 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, to the right of the building

Transportation & Walks

12:30pm EDT

The Creative Connections Exchange

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

miXt Food Hall

Join us from 12:00–2:30 PM for the Creation Connections Exchange, hosted across three neighboring spaces: Brentwood Art Exchange, Mixt Food Hall, and Portico Gallery. Designed with connection in mind, this interactive lunch experience invites you to meet fellow attendees and engage in meaningful conversation.

After the morning breakout sessions, we’ll walk together to Mixt Food Hall to begin. The experience unfolds in three phases: first, enjoy lunch provided by Mixt; next, participate in a round of curated conversations hosted by regional placemaking leaders; and finally, after a brief “musical chairs” transition, join a second round of conversations with a new group.

Check your badge holder to find your assigned tables for each round. Organizers will guide transitions and announce timing throughout to keep things moving smoothly. You can find us in NDC t shirts!

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This session is made possible in part through the generous hospitality of Mix’t Food Hall, our host and lunch partner.

Speakers

Thomas Gardner

Director, Master of Arts in Social Design, Maryland Institute College of Art

Thomas Gardner is a designer and educator. His teaching and research explore design methodologies and tactical technologies, with a particular focus on pedagogy, fabrication, community engagement and emerging practices. He is the co-founder of HousingOperative, a design-build agency... Read More →

Ben Stone

Founder and Principal, Stone Strategies LLC

Heidi Thomas

Principal, EnviroCollab

With 20+ years in the field of landscape architecture and placemaking, Heidi and her team at EnviroCollab - a women-owned landscape architecture, urban planning, and social design cooperative focused on projects centering social equity, environmental justice, and cultural sustainability... Read More →

Bryan Franklin

Deputy Director, LISC DC

Marcus Robinson

Assistant Program Officer, LISC DC

Maurcus serves as Assistant Program Officer with LISC DC, helping with regional expansion efforts related to Prince George’s County’s Blue Line Corridor and other community development initiatives.

John Paradiso

Portico Gallery

Steve Brigham

Principal, Public Engagement Associates

Steve Brigham has been a leader in the public engagement field over the past twenty-five years, first as COO and then as President of AmericaSpeaks, and now as one of three principals at Public Engagement Associates. In that time, he has led or managed more than 200 public and stakeholder engagement projects in project design, public meeting... Read More →

Sierra Smith

Assistant Director, Brentwood Arts Exchange

Sierra Smith is a Cultural Arts Strategist with experience advancing large-scale public art initiatives across the DMV. Her work centers public art as a tool for place-keeping, civic dialogue, and collective belonging, grounded in community engagement and responsible stewardship of... Read More →

Erin Liffiton

Director of Community Art and Service, Art with a Heart

As the Director of Community Art and Service at Art with a Heart I work with lots of volunteers and community members to co-create meaningful public art like a mural at John’s Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

April Danielle Lewis

Artist, Independent Artist

Courtney Spearman

DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities

Louise Griffin

Public Artist & Architect, GriffinMade

Michelle Darden Lee

Executive Director, Gateway CDC

Samuel Shoge

Partner, Rivers & Roads

Tim Warner

Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
miXt Food Hall 3809 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722, USA

Celebrations & Networking

2:15pm EDT

Transportation & Guided Walks to Joe's Movement Emporium

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT

miXt Food Hall

Following lunch at Mix’t Food Hall, guests may return to Joe’s Movement Emporium via guided walk or by riding the Mount Rainier Nature Center van.

Walking Route
NDC staff will lead brief, 10-minute guided walks back to the venue. Walks will depart from outside Mix’t Food Hall and follow the same route back.

Transportation
The Mount Rainier Nature Center van will also provide return transportation and will run on a continuous loop until all guests have been accommodated.

Please plan to depart promptly to ensure a timely return for the afternoon program.

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT
miXt Food Hall 3809 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722, USA

Transportation & Walks

2:15pm EDT

Placemaking & Neighborhood Revitalization: Prince George's County Planning Resources Drop-In

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:15pm - 5:30pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Parking Lot

Drop in to learn about the exciting ways Prince George's County Planning Department has been supporting Placemaking and Neighborhood Revitalization efforts across the county. Participants can learn more about our programs and resources, like the Equipment Library, Planning Assistance for Municipalities & Communities program, and Sustainable Communities program.

Speakers

Eduard Krakhmalnikov

Placemaking Planner III, The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission Placemaking sEction

Adam Dodgshon

Planning Supervisor, The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission Placemaking Section

Adam has been supervisor of the Placemaking Section since May 2019. He has 30 years' experience as a planner, at first in England and now here in the US. Adam loves working with his team and the community to make the county a happier place.

Sam McCrory

Placemaking Planner II, The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission Placemaking Section

David Moore

Placemaking Planner III, The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission Placemaking Section

Rachel Murphy

Placemaking Planner, The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission Placemaking sEction

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:15pm - 5:30pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Parking Lot 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, to the right of the building

Breakout Session, Drop-in Activity

2:45pm EDT

From Walk Audits to Calls to Action: Youth-Led Transportation Stories

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 2

This session will discuss youth led initiatives promoting active transportation as well as community engagement. This session will highlight the work of youth taking part in the Washington Area Bicyclist's Association's Vision Zero Youth Leadership Institute, a collaboration with the Maryland Highway Safety Office and University of Maryland's National Center for Smart Growth. This paid internship opportunity provides high school students living in Prince George's County the chance to make an impact through capstone projects and educate other youth on vulnerable road users in their communities.

Please note that following the presentation, participants will take part in a short half mile walk to assess nearby public spaces and their importance to youth via an asset map activity.

Moderators

Joseph Hamd

Youth Development Manager, Washington Area Bicyclists Association

Speakers

Daniella Akinyemi

Washington Area Bicyclists Association

Shahrzad Ateffi

Student, University of Maryland

From walk audits to transportation pdf

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 2 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Panel

2:45pm EDT

Micro-Momentum: A Hands-On Toolkit for Launching Community-Led Projects with Limited Resources

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 3

This interactive Learning Lab introduces Micro-Momentum, a practical framework for launching community projects by starting small, centering local assets, and building clear next steps. Participants will work hands-on with a launch canvas and prompts to design a realistic first move for a project they care about—leaving with tools they can immediately put into action, even with limited funding or capacity.

Click here to access the session slides on Canva.

Moderators

LaQuida Chancey

Executive Director/Founder, Smalltimore Homes

Speakers

Amber Jones

Consultant, E.A.S.E. + Namberjo Consulting

Amber (she/her/hers) has over 14 years of professional experience working in the non-profit, finance, and real estate sectors, interwoven with over 20 years of experience organizing to advance equity, justice, empathy, and unity. Before founding Namberjo Consulting in 2023 and co-founding... Read More →

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 3 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Learning Lab

2:45pm EDT

The Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail - The story of Creating, Activating and Extending this trail to reconnect communities

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater

The Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail traverses a remnant of the former streetcar “Number 82” line that ran from the Treasury Building in Washington, DC to Laurel, Maryland. It was a central part of the small-town experience for the region of commuters, shoppers, and residents of Prince George's County just outside of the Capitol. Today, the trail connects College Park, Riverdale Park, and Hyattsville directly to the Anacostia River Trail network, a premier regional system of bicycle and pedestrian trails. Join trail planners, Gateway Arts District members, community leaders and more for a lively panel focused on the work of extending the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail into Gateway Arts District: how the trail came to be, the latest extension in Hyattsville, the value in linking Route 1 Corridor downtowns and commercial areas and where, physically and conceptually, the community wants this to go.

Moderators

Valerie Woodall

Associate Director, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area

Speakers

Chelsea Ritter-Soronen

Owner and Principal Artist, Ground Shift Studio

Jeff Ulysse

Director of Community Business and Economic Dev, Office of Community and Economic Development, City of Hyattsville

Kalli Krumpos

Advocacy Director, Washington Area Bicyclists Association

Rhode Island Ave Trolley Trail NDC Conference 2026 pdf

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Joe's Movement Emporium - Main Theater 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712, USA

Breakout Session, Panel

4:15pm EDT

Academic Practice in Placemaking

Thursday April 23, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm EDT

Joe's Movement Emporium - Studio 2

The University of Maryland Landscape Architecture students have been working with community organizations, local residents, government agencies and other important stakeholders to create public spaces that are sustainable, comfortable, inclusive and reflect diverse local needs. In this session, students will present how a community park and a school play and learning space can be transformed into regenerative and inclusive hubs.

Speakers