Taking a wider view of communities could help keep schools open despite falling enrollment.
In this wide-ranging interview with Shelterforce's Editor-in-Chief Miriam Axel-Lute, Akira Drake Rodriguez, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design, discusses how school closures affect neighborhood stability and how communities are organizing to change school facilities planning processes.
Drawing from her research in Philadelphia, Rodriguez explores how school closures can lead to different outcomes in different neighborhoods — from gentrification to population decline. She examines alternatives to closing underutilized schools, such as co-location with community services, and describes how Philadelphia communities are working to make school facilities planning more participatory and equitable.
The interview highlights the deep connections between educational justice and housing justice, offering insights for planners and community developers about supporting local schools and preserving vital public infrastructure. Rodriguez argues for viewing schools as critical community anchors that provide more than just educational services.
Read the full interview at the source article in Shelterforce.
FULL STORY: A Better Way to Plan School Facilities
Rebuilding Together: How One Baltimore Program Advanced Education and Community Development
When Baltimore got funding for a round of school renovations, the state directed it to design schools that would also advance neighborhood revitalization — and it learned some lessons about why that's not always so simple.
Expanding the Mission: Community Groups Serving Schools
Some community development organizations have added education to their traditional focus on housing and economic development, looking for ways to support families and children by partnering with local school districts. How is it working?
The Role of Schools in Fostering Vibrant and Inclusive Communities
Discover how schools play a crucial role in community development by fostering inclusivity, enhancing local engagement, and serving as hubs for social and cultural activities.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service