NashvilleNext Speaker Series

The Speaker Series happened early in the NashvilleNext process as nationally recognized experts on planning and urban issues stimulated community discussion. The speakers spoke to hundreds of Nashvillians about national trends and how they relate to Nashville. Their comments built on topics explored in the Background Reports. Explore the links below to view presentations as well as added thoughts and commentary.

Each NashvilleNext Speakers' Series event includes a performance or presentation by local artists, in cooperation with the Metro Nashville Arts Commission.

Development Patterns: "Nashville Trends, Preferences, and Opportunities"

Arthur C. Nelson, PhD, FAICP

• Development Patterns event video
• Development Patterns Powerpoint slides
• Nashville Trends, Preferences, and Opportunities report

Revenue: "The Math of Smart Growth: Why We Can't Afford to Keep Building the Same Way"

Joe Minicozzi, principal, Urban3

• Revenue event video
• Revenue Powerpoint slides
• Brief Interview with Joe Minicozzi

Regionalism: "Regional Partnerships to Achieve Local Viability"

Amy Liu, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

• Regionalism event video
• Brief Interview with Amy Liu
• Audience Comments

Infrastructure and Smart Growth: "The High Cost of America's Inefficient Development Patterns"

William Fulton, AICP, Smart Growth America

• Infrastructure and Smart Growth event video
• Audience comments
• Brief Interview with William Fulton

Livability and Healthy Communities: "Retrofitting Suburbia"

Ellen Dunham-Jones, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design

• Livability and Healthy Communities event video
• 3 Minutes with Ellen Dunham-Jones
• Audience Comments
• Retrofitting Suburbia Report
• The Housing + Transportation Affordability Index
• Build a Better Block

Environment: "Sustainable Urbanism and Community Livability"

Doug Farr, President/CEO, Farr Associates

• Environment event video
• Audience Comments

Prosperity: "Modern Cities as Engines of Economic Development and Social Progress"

Dr. Henry Cisneros, Chairman, CityView

• Prosperity presentation video
• Audience members' comments
• Conversation in Spanish with NashvilleNext community connector Marcela Gomez:

Demographics, Equity, and Inclusion: "Changing Faces of America: The Opportunities and Challenges of 21st-Century Demographics"

Dr. Mitchell Silver, American Planning Association

• Demographics, Equity, & Inclusion presentation video
• Audience members' comments

Mayor's Challenge and Plan Kickoff Event: "Opportunities for Cities to Lead Tomorrow's World"

Gov. Parris Glendening, Smart Growth America Leadership Institute

• Plan Kickoff presentation video
• Kickoff audience members' comments