The Private Side of Public Work | Exploring How to Make Cities Happier, Government More Innovative, & Science More Accessible

What does a bitter refreshing drink from Barbados have in common with the field of urban planning? The answer is Tamika Gauvin and a vision for social justice.  She is part planner and part founder for Looen Teas. But trust me when I say that those parts add up to more than the whole.

Rhode Island is a hot bed of creativity. DESIGNxRI fuels that creativity through and drives economic development in the process of Rhode Island. This requires persistent collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sector. Today’s Profit Side Challenge: Communicating Value

What do you think of when you hear the words “food hall?” Does it bring up memories of college dorm food? Or do you imagine an inspiring array of local cuisine, edgy entrepreneurship, and innovative urban planning? Today we are going to talk about the latter (though you are free to reminisce about college days after the show). And I dig into the private and personal side of food hall design and development with my guest Nicolia Robinson from Cooper Carry.

Homelessness is one of those problems that can feel hopelessly intractable at times. Those of us that live in cities see it on a daily basis, but feel at a loss for what to do beyond spare change. Site Lab Urban Studio Guneet Anand and Eri Suzuki of Site Lab Studio were inspired to offer good design, rather than just spare change, when they crossed paths with Lavae Mae.

Continuing the conversation on online citizen engagement, but this time with a twist. Karin Brandt of CoUrbanize has a soft spot in her heart for the folks that everyone loves to hate at public meetings – real estate developers. She has developed a platform for bringing broad audiences of community members together with developers to envision successful projects. In today's Profit Side Challenge I talk about how to make competition irrelevant by developing a blue ocean strategy.

What does citizen engagement look like in your city? Is it yelling at in a public meeting when most of the sane people are at home having dinner? Why does it seem like only the angriest people show up? Matt Crozier makes public participation more palatable, more accessible, and more enjoyable for the average person. If you're thinking that means more angry responses, you may be surprised to hear what happens when you take engagement online.

This episode is all about forward motion – 7 ways to jumpstart profitability and impact. 1. Grasp the relationship between profit and impact 2. Identify your money demons and get rid of your head junk 3. Don’t mix business and pleasure 4. Set up a solid accounting system and don’t let the pretty software fool you 5. Get help when you need it 6. Read and implement Profit First 7. Set up an impact account

I continue digging into the money myths that undermine our profitability and impact. I also define the concepts of true impact and true profit and explore the difference between daydreaming and doing. 

I was raised on the idea that the world is divided into two camps: those who do good, and those who make money.  This idea causes great harm. Why do we, as a society, ask people that dedicate their lives to doing some of the most noble work, to do it at a severe discount? How can you be expected to make an impact in the world when you are struggling to support yourself and your family?

There is an important role for unsanctioned city-building.  Pillow fights, illegal signs, anti-establishment restaurants -- Peter Kageyama argues that the silly, nonsensical, and weird are what make cities not only livable, but lovable. He even advocates for a little rule-breaking to get the job done. Peter is the author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places and the follow up, Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places.