Placemaking Storytelling: The Village Heart is Everywhere – Wednesday, March 16th, 1pm

Though the inexorable cultural action project of humanity may have been thrown off course in the last several centuries, the true village of our hearts remains alive, expressed every day through our actions and choices. Come to hear west coast stories of creative courage and determination, where hearts burst with love-rage, laws are challenged and remade, when children and politicians become leaders at last, stories that will leave you proud to be a person. Share stories as we renew our commitment to the common cause of resilient human community. The village heart is not gone, it is everywhere.

About Mark Lakeman

Mark Lakeman is the co-founder of the non-profit placemaking organization The City Repair Project, and principal of the community architecture and planning firm Communitecture. Mr. Lakeman is also an urban place-maker and permaculture designer, community design facilitator, and an inspiring catalyst in his very active commitment to the emergence of sustainable cultural landscapes everywhere. Every design project he is involved with furthers the development of a beneficial vision for human and ecological communities. Whether this involves urban design and placemaking, ecological building, encourages community interaction, or assists those who typically do not have access to design services, Mark’s leadership has benefited communities across the North American continent. These include cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and Ottawa where City Repair Projects are underway.

Stories of Mr. Lakeman’s projects have been told widely, including in such publications as Dwell, Architecture Magazine, New Village Journal, Yes magazine, The Utne Reader, Permaculture Activist and many more. With City Repair, in 2003 Mark was awarded the National Lewis Mumford Award by the international organization Architects & Planners for Social Responsibility for his work with Dignity Village, one of the United States’ first self-developed, permanent communities by and for previously homeless people.