Happy New Year! In this special joint episode, the Four Degrees to the Streets and Urban Planning is Not Boring podcasts come together to discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Hosts Nimo, Jas, Sam, and Nat use their expertise and experience living in TODs as a backdrop to give a coast-to-coast perspective on this complex subject. Press play to hear:TOD defined as a mixed-use community that encourages people to live near transit services and decrease their dependence on driving and its key components and historyExamples of TOD programs including BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), NJ Transit, the City of Chicago's ETOD (equitable transit-oriented development) plan, and the Federal Transit Administration TOD Pilot ProgramConsiderations for the future of TOD Learn more about Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban planning, at urbanplanningisnotboring.squarespace.com and follow on social media @urbanplanningisnotboring.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!ResourcesHistories of Transit-Oriented Development: Perspectives on the Development of the TOD ConceptBART TOD Millbrae BART TODElevated ChicagoETOD | Equitable Transit-Oriented DevelopmentPennrose Gives Back to Veterans Through HousingDover officials open new 70-unit affordable family and veterans housing in downtownFTA FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented DevelopmentTOD Planning Study (2015-2021) Projects

In this episode of the Four Degrees to the Streets podcast, hosts Nimo and Jas interview Natasha Dowell, a Loan Officer at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in the Southeast US. Natasha has over a decade of public health experience and is passionate about bringing to life community development projects that advance health equity. Her public health experience covers a wide range including behavioral health, nutritional and physical fitness, maternal and child health, and foodborne outbreaks. Natasha brings her planning and public health training as a lender for a variety of projects, including charter schools and affordable housing developments.Press play to hear:Natasha’s background and career path as well as what community development means to her and why it is critical for Black people in the USThe intersection of public health and the planned + built environment that results in increased access or lack of opportunitiesThe lifecycle of a CDFI project and how an organization makes final decisions. She also shares her hot takes on the biggest problems facing cities and potential solutionsThis episode provides valuable insights into community development and the role of CDFIs in urban planning. Natasha's experience and expertise make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in community development and urban planning. Feel free to visit the CDFI 101 Toolkit to learn more about the industry.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!ResourcesRobert Wood Johnson Foundation | What makes a long life?

Hello, and welcome back to the fourth season of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! We are truly grateful for your support since 2020, and we're excited to bring you something truly special this season. In today’s episode, what if we told you that technology might not be solely to blame for why kids don't play outside anymore? What if we said that the physical design of our roadways, parks, and neighborhoods could have a bigger impact on children's safety and access to outdoor play? Press play to hear:Eye-opening statistics on Child Pedestrian safety and Park AccessExamples of best practices for planning with youth in mindWe'll also take a closer look at how educational systems impact student travel and safetyWe believe that this is a conversation that needs to be had, and we invite you to join us. Listen to learn more about this crucial issue and help be part of the solutions that can make a real difference for children.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!Resources:Park access among school-age youth in the United StatesFor 30 Years, This Grown-Up’s Office Was the Playground - The New York TimesUnderstanding child-friendly urban design: A framework to measure Playful Learning Landscapes outcomes | BrookingsLearning Landscapes: Can urban planning and the learning sciences work together to help children? | BrookingsAll Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent StatisticsAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Lays Out Steps for Improving Child Pedestrian SafetyNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration | 2021 Data - PedestriansThe Road to School | Urban Institute

Season Four is almost here! In the meantime, we have a special interview to share. This July, Veronica O. Davis, PE, transportation expert and Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for Houston, Texas*, released her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. Nimo and Jas had the pleasure of speaking with Veronica Davis about her inspiration for the book, questions from our reading, and reflections on her career journey in fields that lack Black women representation.Veronica is an accomplished transportation planner with almost 20 years of experience. She co-founded Black Women Bike and was recognized as a Champion of Change by the White House in 2012 for her professional accomplishments and advocacy.We highly recommend Veronica's book Inclusive Transportation, if you want to learn more about how to improve transportation in your community. You can find it at https://islandpress.org. Additionally, be sure to follow Veronica on X at @VeronicaODavis to stay updated on her work and advocacy efforts. *Inclusive Transportation represents the author's opinions and does not necessarily represent those of the City of Houston.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!

Boy, we had a time this season! And just like that, we’re on our last episode of season three. We got to catch up with Nina Idemudia, AICP, before she presented several sessions at the American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference that took place April 1-4, 2023. Nina inspired Nimo and Jas in their planning careers long before this episode. She currently serves as the Chicago Recovery Plan Director for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. She started her career as a planner for the City of Los Angeles with a purpose and passion for how the built environment impacts communities. In addition to multiple awards from APA, Nina was recently elected the first Black President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. She is also a board member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Earlier this month, we met with a special guest and Professional Planner, Byron Nicholas, to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, regional planning, and the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP). We discussed MPOs and USDOT funding. However, we want to dive deeper to give an overview of federal transportation authorizations and why they matter in BIL and environmental planning. BIL is the most recent federal transportation authorization and the largest in history, so it’s only right that we hit you with another one.

One of President Biden's top priorities was to build better infrastructure. To start, he signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on November 15, 2021, that allocated funding to over 350 distinct programs across more than a dozen federal departments and agencies. One may wonder how this historic $1.2 trillion investment in roads and bridges, broadband, rail and transit, clean energy, and water will look when it appears at their doorstep. We sat down with Byron Nicholas, PP, AICP, based in New Jersey. An expert in multi-modal planning, policy, funding, and design at the regional and municipal levels to understand how the federal government is using funding programs to rectify issues that have harmed communities of color by creating barriers to neighborhood connectivity, mobility, and access.

Thank you to all of our listeners for a powerful Black History Month focused on health and wellness. We’ve enjoyed sharing health-related content and meaningful conversations with guests. This episode is no different. We’re joined by Alicia “ACE” Easter, certified yoga and meditation instructor and master Reiki practitioner. ACE also hosts the JOY FOR LIFE Podcast that covers self-discovery, loss, motherhood, mindfulness, body acceptance, and the extraordinary power of yoga.

Happy Black History Month! Places and spaces that are accessible for people to be physically active directly impact health, wellness, and quality of life, as discussed in our last episode, where we used the Atlanta Beltline as a case study. This week, the hosts are joined by the founders of Free Flo Fit, Shontia Walton and Adaeze Medani, a non-profit organization making health and fitness more affordable, inclusive, and accessible for the minority community. Based in Seattle, WA, Shontia and Adaeze share their expertise on fitness and physical fitness challenges in public spaces for Black residents.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” To kick off our health and wellness theme for Black History Month, Nimo & Jas use the Atlanta Beltline Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a case study. The primary goals of the Beltline include more parks, trails, transit, and redevelopment. Lack of access to these can lead to adverse health outcomes like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other physical, mental, and social health challenges. How is the Beltline impacting health and economic equity in the Atlanta area, and what does that say about how Black residents access public spaces that promote a healthy lifestyle? And the policies and practices that mold these experiences.