More than 70 inspirational speakers will join us to share their expertise and showcase impactful examples of connecting communities to public space.

Our agenda features keynote and breakout sessions with distinguished speakers from across North America. Additional speakers will be announced in the weeks leading up to the symposium.

  • Robin Abad Ocubillo

    Co-Founder,
    Global LGBTQI Placemaker Storytelling Project

  • Ilana Altman

    Co-Executive Director,
    The Bentway Conservancy

  • Orlando Bailey

    Executive Director,
    Outlier Media

  • Piero Barandiarán

    Projects Director,
    Huerto Roma Verde/ La Cuadra AC

  • Tarrah Beaudoin

    Coordinator,
    Darlington Ecological Corridor

  • Kari Bonaro

    Director of Administration & Community Engagement,
    Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy

  • Megan Brosterman

    Chief Operating Officer,
    Gotham Park

  • David Carey

    Co-Executive Director,
    The Bentway Conservancy

  • Lizzy Caston

    Principal and Senior Strategist,
    Circle Round Consulting

  • Joseph Chamoun

    Project Officer,
    Darlington Ecological Corridor

  • Rebecca Chan

    Executive Director,
    The Rail Park 

  • Rukiya Colvin

    Project Manager,
    Sidewalk Detroit

  • Harriet Crittenden LaMair

    CEO,
    High Line Canal Conservancy

  • Matthew Cullen

    Chairperson,
    Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

  • Allison Currier

    Community Engagement Manager,
    High Line

  • Danielle Daguio

    Engagement Manager,
    Keep Growing Detroit

  • Margo Dalal

    Consultant,
    Built By Many

  • Art Davis

    Chief Operating Officer & CFO,
    Memphis River Parks Partnership

  • Brad Dick

    Chief Operating Officer,
    City of Detroit

  • Max Dickson

    Senior Planner & Designer,
    OLIN

  • Amelia "Fiera" Duran

    Executive Director,
    Garage Cultural

  • Zahra Ebrahim

    Co-Founder,
    Monumental Projects

  • Meagan Elliott

    President & CEO,
    Belle Isle Conservancy

  • Ted Elmore

    President,
    Richmond Bridge Park Foundation

  • Karen Farber

    Vice President of External Affairs,
    Buffalo Bayou Partnership

  • Rachel Frierson

    Vice President of Operations and Programming,
    Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

  • Luna Fu

    Community Engagement Coordinator,
    High Line

  • Kamryn Gardner

    Community Engagement Specialist,
    Green Living Science

  • Jennifer Giroux

    Chief Strategist and Impact Innovator,
    Giroux Impact

  • Oren Goldenberg

    Cultural Janitor,
    Dreamtroit

  • Jennifer Goold

    Executive Director,
    Neighborhood Design Center

  • Debra Gore

    President and CEO,
    The Greenlining Institute

  • Anika Goss

    President & CEO,
    Detroit Future City

  • Nu Goteh

    Founder & Principal,
    Room for Magic

  • Lauren Hood

    Founder, Chief Visionary,
    & Assistant Professor,
    Institute For AfroUrbanism; Taubman College at the University of Michigan

  • Leah Houston

    Executive Director,
    MABELLEarts

  • Asima Jansveld

    Chief Program and Engagement Officer,
    High Line

  • Suzanna Jones

    Chief Programs and Impact Officer,
    High Line Canal Conservancy

  • Dujuan Kennedy

    Deputy Executive Director of Programs,
    FORCE Detroit

  • Cornetta Lane-Smith

    Director of Community Engagement,
    Michigan Central

  • Christopher Locke

    Co-Founder/CEO - Board Member,
    Designing in Color - CicLAvia 

  • Ru Shann Long

    Community Activist,
    Greenway Heritage Conservancy

  • Madeline Macdonald

    High Line Network Coordinator,
    High Line

  • Gabriella Malavé

    Programs Manager,
    Administration & Special Projects,
    High Line

  • Addison Mauck

    Public Spaces Manager,
    Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

  • LaTrice McClendon

    Director/Detroit,
    Knight Foundation

  • Leona Medley

    Executive Director,
    Joe Louis Greenway Partnership

  • Claire Mooney

    VP, Park Projects & Conservation,
    Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

  • Ryan Myers-Johnson

    Ryan Myers-Johnson

    Executive Director,
    Sidewalk Detroit

  • Matthew Naimi

    Garbage Man & Cultural Janitor,
    Dreamtroit

  • Mariam Noland

    Retired President,
    Community Foundation for SE Michigan

  • Marc Pasco

    Director of Communications,
    Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

  • T. Christopher Peoples

    Director of Equity + Economic Impact,
    Great Rivers Greenway District

  • Vaughn Perry

    Director of Equity and Sustainability,
    Douglass Community Land Trust

  • Jeanette Pierce

    President,
    City Institute

  • Joseph Rashid

    Executive Director,
    E. Warren Development Corp

  • Wesley Reibeling

    Program Manager of Toronto
    Networks and Partnerships,
    Park People

  • Jordan Remington

    Programs Manager &
    Curator of Indigenous Programs,
    Friends of Waterfront Park

  • Gerard Rodriguez

    Indigenous Land Justice and Design Advisor,
    PLACE

  • Jermaine Ruffin

    Senior Vice President,
    Invest Detroit

  • Anton Seals

    Lead Steward,
    Grow Greater Englewood

  • Josh Sirefman

    Chief Executive Officer,
    Michigan Central

  • Jessica Smith Lennan

    Deputy Director,
    11th Street Bridge Park

  • Preeti Sodhi

    Senior Director of Community
    & Government Relations,

    High Line

  • Ryan Sullivan

    Interim CEO,
    Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

  • Natosha Tallman

    Director of Programs,
    Northend Christian CDC

  • Eldon Tam

    Chief Operating Officer,
    Friends of Waterfront Park

  • Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall

    Lead Executive Officer,
    Dori Tunstall, Inc.

  • Lisa Turnbull

    Associate Director,
    Toronto and Region Conservation Authority - The Meadoway

  • Alan van Capelle

    Executive Director,
    High Line

  • Jossue Velasquez

    Program Manager, High Line Network,
    High Line

  • Daniel Washington

    Founder & Executive Director,
    NW Goldberg Cares

  • Justin Wong

    Teaching Artist,
    High Line

See Highlights from our Previous Symposium