Finding Common Ground to Strengthen our Nation and Neighborhoods

E.J. Dionne, Jr., Washington Post syndicated columnist, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Georgetown University Professor speaks about how finding common ground among those with differing views remains our only hope – whether it’s for smarter growth or the nation’s recovery from Covid-19. The Fall River, MA native shares his perspective on the state of our national politics and his evolving thinking about which groups with different views most need to focus on their shared goals and aspirations. The New York Times bestselling author discusses his recently published book, Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country and relates it to the type of methodical consensus building that has worked so well in producing the many community benefits of smart growth. This is especially important for our post-industrial cities such as Fall River, Woonsocket, Pawtucket and so many others which are in various stages of reinventing themselves as stronger, more vibrant and opportunity-rich places.

Creating an Inclusive Recovery that Works for Everyone

Scot Spencer provides an informed perspective on reducing poverty, promoting public health and confronting climate change based both on his decades of experience at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and his longstanding chairmanship of Smart Growth America. He explores what policymakers and practitioners can do to improve the likelihood that people, businesses, and communities – both urban and rural – are set up for long-term success in a post-covid marketplace. He also discusses the status of Smart Growth America’s federal recommendations (see here) for economic and community recovery from Covid-19.