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7 LU / 7 HSW

Hosted by the American Institute of Architects New York
and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the annual FitCity conference champions the role of Active Design in building strong and sustainable communities. Since 2006, 
FitCity has served as a platform for exchanging ideas, informing strategies, and advancing a community of practice to promote health through the design of the built environment.

This year, FitCity lands in Queens, New York’s largest and most diverse borough, a fitting backdrop to explore how designers, policymakers, public health professionals, community advocates, and funders work hand-in-hand with local residents to create healthy neighborhoods informed and guided by strong community engagement.

Panel discussions, keynote presentations, and workshops will highlight architectural best practices for designing inclusive spaces that reflect and celebrate a diversity of people and uses, engagement strategies to connect people and places around long-term planning and stewardship, as well as the latest research linking public space, cultural assets, social connectivity, and neighborhood health.

Program Schedule:
9:30-10:00 am

Registration and Breakfast

10:00-10:15 am
Welcome and Introduction
• Yianice Hernandez, Director, Active Living, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

10:15-11:00 am
Opening Keynote – Agency as Activist: Race to Justice 
• Dr. Mary T. Bassett, MD MPH, Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 

11:00-11:15 am
Coffee Break

11:15 am-12:30 pm
Morning Panel – Civic Life Matters: Exploring Community Anchors in Queens 
• Nupur Chaudhury, MUP, MPH, Program Officer, New York State Health Foundation (Moderator)
• Thomas Balsley, FASLA, Principal, SWA/Balsley 
• Deborah Marton, Executive Director, New York Restoration Project
• Kim McNeil-Capers, Director of Community Engagement, Queens Library 
• Prerana Reddy, Director of Public Events, Queens Museum

12:30-2:00 pm
Networking Lunch 
•NYC Planning Pop-Up Gallery: Urban Design Principles for Planning New York City
Museum of the Moving Image Open Exhibitions

2:00-3:30pm
Afternoon Sessions: Two Concurrent Modules

Community-Driven Art: Empowering Citizens to Shape their Spaces 
• Tamara Greenfield, Director, Building Health Communities, NYC Office of the Mayor (Moderator)
• Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
• Beatriz Gil, Co-Founder, Hibridos Collective
• Aaron Schraeter, Creative Outreach Coordinator, New York City Housing Authority 
• Vanessa Smith, Project Manager, Mural Arts Project, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Design for Healthy Living Training 
• Margaret Castillo, FAIA, LEED AP, Chief Architect, NYC Department of Design and Construction
• Suzanne Nienaber, AICP, Partnerships Director, Center for Active Design

3:45-4:30 pm
Closing Keynote: Designing a Seamless Public Realm 
• Mitchell Silver, FAICP, Commissioner, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

4:30-4:45 pm
Closing Remarks
• Benjamin Prosky, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, Center for Architecture and AIANY
 

Event Website

Each session will provide 3.5 LU|HSW. Participants MUST sign in for both sessions to receive all 7 LUs|HSW.

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