Hosted by the American Institute of Architects New York and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the annual FitCity conference champions the role of Active Design in building strong and sustainable communities. Since 2006, FitCity has served as a platform for exchanging ideas, informing strategies, and advancing a community of practice to promote health through the design of the built environment.
This year, FitCity lands in Queens, New York’s largest and most diverse borough, a fitting backdrop to explore how designers, policymakers, public health professionals, community advocates, and funders work hand-in-hand with local residents to create healthy neighborhoods informed and guided by strong community engagement.
Panel discussions, keynote presentations, and workshops will highlight architectural best practices for designing inclusive spaces that reflect and celebrate a diversity of people and uses, engagement strategies to connect people and places around long-term planning and stewardship, as well as the latest research linking public space, cultural assets, social connectivity, and neighborhood health.
Community-Driven Art: Empowering Citizens to Shape their Spaces
• Tamara Greenfield, Director, Building Health Communities, NYC Office of the Mayor (Moderator)
• Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
• Beatriz Gil, Co-Founder, Hibridos Collective
• Aaron Schraeter, Creative Outreach Coordinator, New York City Housing Authority
• Vanessa Smith, Project Manager, Mural Arts Project, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Closing Keynote: Designing a Seamless Public Realm
• Mitchell Silver, FAICP, Commissioner, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Closing Remarks
• Benjamin Prosky, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, Center for Architecture and AIANY
