Lexi Barry

It's an honor getting to serve as part of the planning team for the annual Nerd Culture Ministry Summit (NCMS). Today we're excited to announce that this year's summit will be hosted at Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs, Nov 12-14. Registration is open! If you're interesting in attending, sponsoring, or just learning more, I'd love to chat. https://lnkd.in/gMYKgb7E The Problem: -- Only 49% of Millennials identify as Christian, compared to 76% of Baby Boomers (Pew Research) -meanwhile- 41% of Americans self-identified as "gamers" in 2019, with gaming being most popular among younger adults under 45 (Entertainment Software Association) -- The global Christian population is expected to decline as a share of world population from 31.1% in 2020 to 29.7% by 2050 (Pew Research) -meanwhile- The global gaming market revenue is projected to grow from $176 billion in 2021 to over $300 billion by 2027, driven by rising popularity across age groups (Newzoo) The Opportunity: -- Rebuild Relational Bridges:  We can build relationships with people involved in gaming/nerd culture, on the common ground of genuine shared interests. These lay a foundation on which we can speak truth into one another’s lives, and earn the right to share the gospel. -- Reach the Unreached:  Many gamers and nerds will never step foot through the doors of a church. Whether because of  - Mental or physical disabilities - Physical location (other country, remote/rural region, etc.) - or Pain they’ve experienced from Christians. So, like Jesus at the well, we will go to them, rather than expecting them to come to us. -- Activate Eager Disciples: Statistically we know that there are people in virtually every church who are card-carrying nerds whose hearts would be set on fire at the opportunity to use their passion for nerddom and gaming to serve the Kingdom of God. -- Lead Culture through Art and Storytelling To quote my friend Chris Skaggs "IF (Video Games are the Ascendant format in the Entertainment sector) { IF (Interactive entertainment will lead the Arts & Entertainment sphere for the next 100 years) { IF (The church has anything to offer this adolescent industry) {  * How then shall we live?  * What does the world need from Christians game developers?  * How do we plan for the next century?" So, at NCMS, we'll be hosting keynotes, workshops, and tabletime to discuss subjects such as: - What gaming can teach us about meaningful digital discipleship and building relationships online. - Gaming as a tool for local ministries to reach the unreached. - Churches partnering with your friendly local game shops. - Innovative digital and physical church planting opportunities. - Building meaningful relationships on common ground. - Theology of play. - Collegiate gaming ministries and esports opportunities. - Networking with Christians in video game development. https://lnkd.in/g-AaTr9X

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ULI San Francisco and the City of San José identified underutilized land owned by faith-based orgs & nonprofit as a key to tackling the housing and homelessness crisis. By leveraging these lands and supportive policies, we can increase the availability of deeply affordable housing. https://shorturl.at/jJkwO cc: Matt Mahan Rosalynn Hughey G. Penny Nixon Natalie Sandoval Joy Woo, FSMPS, CPSM, LEED AP Lola Motley Kelly Annis Elizabeth Van Horn SVHOME LISC Bay Area David Baker Architects Alexis Mosier Urban Land Institute #ulihousing #affordablehousing #homelessness #realestate

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Important deep dive into what can actually be accomplished with IZ.

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Takeaway 3️⃣ is one of the reasons I am so proud to be part of the Build Change team. Our model combines deep #engineering expertise with putting homeowners - especially women - in the lead on decisions about retrofitting or rebuilding their homes. This people-centered approach is not only empowering, it makes #resilience sustainable long term.

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Health and housing are inextricably linked to one another. Over the past year, HKS has leveraged research to evaluate how this link defines communities and how we can work towards mitigating challenges of prevalent disease and homelessness. Learn more about what our teams of researchers in Denver, Detroit and beyond have been exploring to enhance health outcomes and resilience through design. #health #housing #architecture #design

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At a time of rapid change, when urban growth and ecological health can feel like they’re at odds, I find myself looking to visionary leaders who show us how the two can comfortably co-exist. I’m particularly inspired by Kate Orff an urban architect who has reimagined city design in ways that serve both people and the planet, putting climate adaptation and social connection at the heart of urban planning. Her philosophy is that cities don’t stand separate from nature but are an integral part of it, and we need to design and build cityscapes with every root and branch of these living systems in mind. With growing climate volatility, she points out that it’s time to expand our view of urban planning beyond a “design for us” mindset – where the built environment is geared towards human consumption – and create more sustainable shared spaces where every part of the ecosystem can thrive. With projects like New York’s Living Breakwaters, Kate’s team at SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC has shown how regenerative design can rebuild coastlines to reduce the impact of extreme weather events on low-lying communities, while at the same time providing diverse habitats for a range of marine species. It’s a perfect example of how public spaces can be designed smartly and ethically to bring communities closer to their natural environment and tackle some of our biggest urban challenges — from climate change to social inequality. The most resilient cities of the future will be designed with this type of transformative green infrastructure as their beating heart. As city leaders, we need to be thinking about how we can support more innovative and regenerative urban design that makes our communities stronger and more vibrant. #UrbanVisionaries #UrbanDesign #Sustainability #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities 🗺 Bonnie Shaw Kat Panjari Kath Brackett

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Announcing PlacemakingUS's "Public Realm Roundtable!" A national and international gathering of #publicspace and #placemaking leaders in NYC June 13-16. 🗽 The Public Realm Roundtable is a national gathering of government and supporting organizations who build, maintain and enliven public space. New York City’s Mayor Adams, business districts and the Alliance for Public Space Leadership​ have come together to forge a new position in government, the Director of the Public Realm. This revolutionary new role could become a best practice that the top cities across America should want to pursue. A gathering of those responsible for the public realm including parks departments, property management bureaus, public works managers, and government-adjacent players like BIDs, “Friends of” organizations and conservancies will convene in New York City this June to have a series of thematic roundtable discussions to share good practices, innovations and discuss pain points in our collaborative and emergent work to create praise-worthy public realms. Key Topics of Discussion 🤔 Catalyzing and Keeping Cross-Department Synergies to Complete Vast Transformation 🤔 Maintenance and Enlivening of Spaces with Partners through Permits, MOUs, and License Agreements​ 🤔 Equity and Anti-gentrification Tactics 🤔 The Next Frontier: Reforming Already-Existing Public Spaces for Better Use: 🤔 When Streets, Sidewalks, Parking Spaces, Buffers and Margins become new centers of Public Gathering ​ 🤔 Making the Case: Connecting the Realm to its Outcomes like Health, Economy, Climate, Sociability and other positives outcomes to attract partners and ease permissions https://lnkd.in/enN6e8mt The event is in collaboration with Ya-Ting Liu and her NYC Office of the Public Realm, Pratt Urban Placemaking and Management, NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, Social Life Project, PlacemakingX, Street Plans and many more. Further details for sign-up coming soon! Global #PlacemakingX leaders participating so far include Daniela Chacon Arias, Guillermo Bernal, Ramon Marrades, Lex de Jong 莱克斯, Tim Tompkins, Madeleine Spencer, Ryan Smolar, Ethan Kent, Mike Lydon, David Burney, Fred Kent and others... #NYCPublicSpace #PlacemakingUS #PlacemakingNYC #PlaceGovernance

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🌱 Engaging Communities Through Thoughtful Urban Design 🌱 At Onyx Equity Partners, we’re committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive housing solutions. It’s with great pride that we share a thought-provoking case study by Suleima Mednick Coles, who interned with us through her Coro Northern California placement and brought invaluable insights during her time here. Her case study, "Adapting to the Times: Engaging Neighborhood Communities with Their Environmental Landscapes," explores how creative urban design can bridge the gap between housing needs and community engagement. By prioritizing green spaces, biophilic design, and renewable energy, developers and policymakers can create environments that foster well-being, sustainability, and connection. 📖 In the study, Suleima highlights: 1. The role of outdoor communal spaces in combating loneliness and promoting health. 2. Innovative features like permeable pathways, community gardens, and renewable energy systems. 3. Examples of transformative projects, such as Isla Intersections in LA and the Mission's all-electric multifamily housing development in San Francisco. We’re thrilled to share her work as a testament to the power of collaboration between communities, designers, and developers. 💡 Read the full case study below: Let’s work together to create housing that builds stronger, greener, and more connected communities! #UrbanDesign #Sustainability #CommunityEngagement #OnyxEquityPartners #AffordableHousing

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As cities continue to evolve our mixed-use and entertainment districts - especially in anticipation of exciting events like the World Cup and the Olympics - the economic and social value generated from public art cannot be overlooked. "By integrating public art into these spaces," says CEO Martha McGee, "developers and cities are investing not just in aesthetics but in community, culture, and long-term economic success." Read her latest Colorado Real Estate Journal article here: https://lnkd.in/gywk-cxg

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Partners for Places grant program open The Funders Network (TFN), in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), is thrilled to announce the opening of the latest round of the Partners for Places grant program. The Partners for Places matching grant program supports equitable sustainability projects and helps build partnerships between local government leaders, frontline community groups and place-based funders in the U.S. and Canada. These matching awards provide partnership investments between $45,000 and $100,000 for one-year projects, or between $75,000 and $150,000 for two-year projects, with one or more local foundations required to provide at least a 50% matching grant. The deadline to submit proposals is February 28, 2025.

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An insightful writeup from Jennifer Raitt that highlights how urban planning can be a powerful tool in addressing housing inequality. By integrating fair housing principles, planners can help break down systemic barriers and promote more inclusive, equitable communities. #Equity #AffordableHousing #InclusiveCities

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How can we unlock the production of more middle-income housing in California? Terner's new analysis, building on our work modeling the math behind housing development, identifies how layering policy changes could bridge the affordability gap. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggBXGm3Y Our new analysis uses prototypes for multifamily rental housing affordable to assess the viability of creating middle-income housing in three California cities. Under current conditions,, our modeling suggests such projects would be financially infeasible to build, but identifies layered policy changes that could make a difference. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggBXGm3Y The next installment of our Making It Pencil work to demystify the math behind housing development delves into what it will take to build housing affordable to middle-income housing in three California cities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggBXGm3Y

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This article, and Shane's comments on it, are a very interesting synopsis of the current stalemate in LA over where more housing can/should be built in the City. Regardless of where you land on the issue, it's important to be aware of what's being discussed at the highest levels of City government. Thanks, Shane.

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James Rojas and John Kamp on the power of flowers in urban design: "With the ongoing discussion on what to do with American downtowns in the post-pandemic era of high office vacancy rates and low amounts of pedestrian life, most of the focus has been on what to do with the buildings. But when we think about where we truly love walking, we likely think of places that have a softness to them. They’re visually rich in detail and, more often than not, full of not just greenery, but flowers." https://lnkd.in/eUAK4PyF

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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed new legislation that waives the design review process for certain new development projects in key downtown neighborhoods. This move is part of Harrell's Downtown Activation Plan, which aims to increase economic activity, reduce project timelines, and lower costs, ultimately revitalizing Seattle's urban core by encouraging faster, more cost-effective development. The three-year waiver will allow developers to bypass certain aesthetic-focused reviews, but all projects must still meet Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections requirements related to land use, building codes, health, and safety. The exemption helps clear away procedural hurdles that can increase both costs and delays, which developers and city leaders say contribute to rising rents, housing shortages, and overall reduced development feasibility. Supporters of the legislation argue that the waiver is timely, given Seattle’s urgent need for both housing and economic growth in the downtown area. The Downtown Activation Plan includes additional measures aimed at transforming the downtown area into a more resident-friendly and business-friendly zone. The business community has voiced strong support for the new policy, highlighting the benefits of cutting through procedural red tape. The plan seeks to meet Seattle’s economic and housing needs while creating an environment where more residents and businesses can enjoy a revitalized downtown. What are your thoughts on this new legislation and its potential impact on Seattle's downtown area? Do you believe it will succeed in revitalizing the urban core and addressing the housing crisis?

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In this City Limits Op-Ed MAP's Founding Principal Magnus Magnusson AIA outlines the journey of the Melrose Commons Master Plan (celebrating it's 30th anniversary), community-centered planning and design, and how this approach is still relevant as we look to solve our affordable housing crisis. https://lnkd.in/egK5Mmj2

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What does it take to turn early setbacks into a career that redefines an entire industry? Meet Christian Giordano, president and co-owner of Mancini Duffy. From reimagining design with VR and AI to leading major projects, Christian’s leadership and creativity are transforming architecture. In this episode, we discuss his inspiring journey, his approach to innovation, and how he’s reshaping the future of design. Tune in and learn from one of the industry’s top leaders. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eQN2k8vC #Podcast #Leadership #Innovation #Architecture #SuccessStory #Technology #VR #AI#ArchitecturalDesign #ManciniDuffy #RealEstate #CRE #BusinessInsights #MythOfTheOvernightSuccess #TheJonSchultzPodcast #NewEpisode

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