Are you a Nashvillian looking to advocate for positive change in your neighborhood?

You don’t have to do it alone.

Civic Design 101

Civic Design 101 is the first step in a collaborative neighborhood ambassador program presented by the Civic Design Center.

Each cohort gets an accelerated crash course on essential urban design principles and the Design Center’s advocacy methods. Participants will then brainstorm solutions to the challenges that have arisen from rapid growth and develop an experimental project to practice shifting ideas to action.

Each session will include interactive lectures by staff and special guests, mini-tours, demonstrations, and fun group work. While there will be optional online continuing education, the in-person format promotes a rich exchange of ideas between advocates and professionals engaged in the redevelopment of Nashville's urban fabric.

Why “Civic” Design?

By definition, “civic” refers to how people are related to their local communities and spaces. Civic duty usually refers to elections where people choose who represents them. In this same vein, civic design refers to how people can shape the places that represent them.

“It is invigorating to see people from across the city and from different walks of life care about Nashville the way I do. It encourages me to stay on my journey at helping to make Nashville better.”

-Alex Abels, Renraw

“I want to be the change I want to see in my community.”

-Poet Williams, Osage-Fisk

Testimonials

“As someone involved in real estate and development, Civic Design 101 has been a great way to better understand Nashville’s planning framework and the role thoughtful design plays in shaping successful neighborhoods. The program does a great job connecting community voices with the planning process.”

-Garrett Stiles, Germantown

“The Civic Design 101 course was such a wonderful community building experience and an amazing opportunity to connect with a diverse range of Nashville residents!”

-Millie Kennedy, Green Hills

“Civic Design 101 helped me hone in on practical approaches and achievable milestones on the way to making a better and more functional community.”

-Holly Aslinger, South Nashville

Becoming an Ambassador…

Means being a dedicated civic advocate

All future Civic Design 101 participants that complete the full program and commit to a 2-year volunteer ambassador role will be displayed on our People page with their names and neighborhoods so that they can be identified as hyperlocal allies for fellow advocates. Our expectation is that ambassadors will regularly attend their district’s council meetings and participate in their own neighborhood association if one exists. Being in an ambassador role is a continued leadership opportunity that would be not only be valuable on a resume, but valuable to the neighborhood that you represent.