Connected Communities
As we navigated the crowded streets of downtown Austin, leaving SXSW and family Spring Break memories, my five-year old called over my shoulder, “Mama, can I tell you something?”
“Yes, baby” I respond.
“Mama, I’m so excited see your building!” her voice raising with anticipation, as my heart swelled to meet it.
I remember how simple talking about my own parent’s jobs were when I was her age – how tangible and knowable it was to me – teacher and a doctor, and I felt my own childlike enthusiasm rising at the idea of showing her this.
“Is there going to be a park here!?” she asked looking at a pile of dirt and gravel drive.
I shook my head laughing, how did she know?! I remember hearing from children at our listening booth at the community health fair years earlier in the parking lot of Waco Family Medicine, standing just feet away from where we now stood. Maybe it took a child’s eyes to see what was there all along wanting to be, a green space of connection, play, and possibility. A place to welcome everyone.
“Oh, my goodness, you’re right!” I responded gleefully, snapping a picture of her staring at the building, and embracing the sun on her face in the spring breeze (picture below).
My daughter in front of Waco Family Medicine, a building I helped to design with HKS Inc. and team.
Green space has repeatedly been shown to help heal, reduce anxiety, and blood pressure, and yet it’s often the first thing to get cut from budgets as we plan for the future. But the health organizations that invest in it, people like Parkland here in Dallas, understand the power of nature and place to bring dignity and peace – and they make way for its possibility.
At this year’s SXSW, I reflected on our presentation four years ago, about the power of connecting IRL (in real life) as the antidote to loneliness, and now, I felt that power here in this place, as I look forward to a Fall when the clinic will open, embracing patients across the county.
This is one of the things that allowed the density of New York City to be feasible, green public parks. Parks like the ones that we celebrated last week at the Downtown Dallas, Inc. awards ceremony for Robert W. Decherd here in my backyard. As I watched the amazing video of great icons - across media, like Sharon Grigsby, and real estate, like Peter Brodsky - I saw the time, energy, and investment it takes to create connected communities. I also saw the difference that small actions and committed people together can make over time. And I recommitted myself to the important work of doing just that, in my backyard, and across the place and time.
This experience reminded me of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Each of these events, efforts, and places were created together, by teams, families, and communities rallying around the cause.
And speaking of the power of places of connection, I recently joined future AIA president, Evelyn Lee, on her podcast, Practice Disrupted, and we spoke about the importance of integrating mental health, inclusion, and social connection as we design for healthy, equitable communities, like the one in Waco.
“I hope that in architecture, we recognize that because we are creating spaces for people outside of the norm, we need to embody those people in the profession. When you think about who is drawn to architecture, there are heavy feelers, sensors, and people with heightened perception. We need all of the variety to bring in those perspectives and that value.”
What are you doing today to connect with others? (Send a loving text, invite someone on a walk, or simply offer the greatest gift of your presence!)
Sending you warmth and love this spring day!