Insights into my journey with a bit of advice

Born and raised in Michigan, auto-centricity and sprawl were integral to the state’s identity, profoundly influencing my generation. Your 16th birthday was a right of passage. Friends’ identities were linked to their sprawling neighborhoods. As a child, I nicknamed my grandmothers with this centricity—my grandma with the white car and my grandma across the street (a busy one too). 

Sometimes, I reflect on where I came from and how I became involved in CNU, and now Emerging New Urbanists (ENU). I’d like to think it was when I wanted to become an architect in high school, but it actually started while I was in graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago at a Students for New Urbanism Illinois event. What I heard made me confront my suburban upbringing and proved a turning point. 

From then on in graduate school, I now had the direction to study the built environment—whether that was studying development patterns in Chicago, conducting nationwide research on busses, trains, and planes with the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, or experiencing Bus Rapid Transit and learning about sustainability in Curitiba, Brazil. It led me to intern with CNU, where I was exposed to a community of practitioners and opened the door to my involvement in the New Urbanism movement.

Yet, through my engagement over the years, I recognized that it was a difficult space for the Emerging Leader to thrive in. During the Pandemic with several friends and colleagues, we started the Emerging Leader Task Force that was the foundation for the Emerging New Urbanists (ENU). ENU is now growing every day to empower and create a community for emerging leaders to become involved. 

It has been quite a dynamic journey, that has been full of learning and surprising directions. Ten years ago, I never thought I’d be where I am now— integrally engaged with CNU and as a Senior Project Manager with Pace Suburban Bus. For those who are seeking to take a similar journey, here are three pieces of advice that I can offer.

1) Always be willing to start a conversation

One of the first people I met at a CNU event was Larry Gould. While in line for lunch at the CNU Transportation Summit, he engaged me in a conversation. He wanted to find out why I was there and what I was aspiring to do. As a graduate student who was just volunteering as a notetaker at the event, it meant a lot to me that someone like him was willing to spark a conversation and take an interest in my journey. It has stuck with me to always be present for a conversation and to build relationships that foster growth. 

2) Focus on what you enjoy 

I have always enjoyed networking and building communities of people. While interning at CNU, I expressed this and was tasked with supporting the CNU Chapters. One of my favorite experiences was helping support the growth of CNU Midwest: laying out the framework for them in building their Chapter, having one-on-one conversations with the leaders on the intricacies of starting a 501(c)3, and even brainstorming their first events. It’s been exciting to watch their journey and see their influence in this year’s upcoming Congress, CNU 32 in Cincinnati.

3) Support and elevate others 

Every so often, you see people who are following a similar path and it’s important to support and elevate them the best you can. One such person was ENU leader, Matthew Schaefer, who expressed his willingness to take on the challenge of rebuilding and reconnecting New Urbanists in Atlanta. With my previous knowledge and connections there, I helped support Matt to build a new way forward for CNU Atlanta. Now he’s built a great leadership team and, with them, has convened several events for other like-minded Atlantans—Matt is an outstanding Chapter leader if I’ve ever seen one.

If there’s anything I can leave you with, is that it’s essential to reflect on the past, understand your role, and offer advice along the way—whether that’s opening up and having a dialogue with someone who you don’t know, diving deep into what is fun for you, or encouraging others along the way. 

In all that you do, I hope you work to build a better place, whether in the built environment or building communities of people.

Note: This article first appeared in the ENU Newsletter, a newsletter written by Emerging New Urbanist members about topics and debates within the movement. Subscribe to the newsletter.