I was truly honored to present at the 18th Federal Congress on the National Urban Development Policy at the University City of Rostock, Germany, earlier this month. I delivered a 15-minute TED-talk-style presentation on the transformative work happening in Seattle and our region. bit.ly/46DRsq1

So proud of my son Milo who officially starts his first day of college at Western Washington University today. Love you, Milo- you will do well…!

I presented the Citywide Collaborative Impact award to Barry Johnson at the Arte Noir Gala last night at Seattle Center. Vivian Phillips & Jazmyn Scott were amazing. They have accomplished in three years what it has taken other not-for-profits decades to build. The award ceremony was lovely.

Germany Day5: Morning walking tour of central Berlin, getting to know the city’s history, including post-war reconstruction, and post-1990 development after the Berlin Wall came down. Ended the day with a beautiful riverboat tour and discussion of German history, governance, and culture.

Germany-Day4: A quiet day of transition. Tour of university campus in Rostock, closing session at the conference, and then two hour train back to Berlin and low key evening at the hotel.

Germany Day3: First full day of the German Federal Congress on Urban Development Policy. I was one of the keynote speakers and shared with an audience of 1000 Germans reflections on the Seattle Waterfront transformation, transit oriented development, and equitable development.

Germany-Day2: Made the trip to Rostock, two hours north of Berlin by train. Met up with another GIZ host Tina Silbernagl and traveled to the opening reception of the German Federal Congress on Urban Development Policy with Philipp, Tina, & 2 new colleagues from the South African federal government.

Germany-Day1: I arrived in Berlin today after 13 hours of travel. I had an evening walk along the Spree riverfront, took photos of the Reichstag Building, and got to watch an incredible ‘People and Parliament’ film and light show. I am here all week & am very much looking forward to the days ahead.

Boston Day4: Visited the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on our last day before returning home. The resulting urban green landscape from this $8 billion dollar highway lid project (the ‘Big Dig’) is pretty impressive. Check out- bit.ly/4lTpJqX

Boston Day3: Day in Provincetown!

Boston Day2: A day outside in the sun- at City Point Beach, then Boston Public Garden, and after than a retro arcade eventing of food and fun at Versus…!

Boston Day1: Friday was our first day in Boston to drop Kate’s daughter Rennie off at Boston University for her freshman year. I have been to Cambridge for years for the Lincoln Institute’s Big City Planning Director’s Institute, but I have not taken the time to actually be a proper tourist here…!

Excited to celebrate Waterfront Park Grand Opening with Friends of Waterfront Park, the Office of Waterfront, Civic Projects & Sound Transit, Seattle Center, and City of Seattle! The day-long celebration will feature live music, local performers, food, art, and community on Sept. 6! bit.ly/4530PyA

A powerful room of local changemakers came together for the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Guild’s first annual Trailblazing Black Women in Washington State brunch. Thank you for including us and we can't wait for next year! www.whereweconverge.com/post/honorin...

Because of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ about 17 million people will lose their healthcare. This will put an undue burden on our hospitals. Additionally, the federal government plans to cut the percentage of Medicaid costs it covers. States and patients will be required to fund the gap. bit.ly/452CCZs

PCC market is reopening in downtown Seattle July 15th. Come check it out. It is gratifying that PCC has maintained its commitment to Seattle and has reestablished their downtown location. Will be a great asset for anyone living or working downtown bit.ly/3TEr3Ch

I was really honored to be able to chair the CNU Charter awards this year. When you review the awardees, you will see the path toward our collective future.

It is not the responsibility of the underserved to educate the 80% of the nation not well educated about the issues that we hold dear, but if you are willing to accept the hardship, these are the difficult conversations that we need to have to educate others and get to a better place. bit.ly/4491dMX

It is not often that we find examples where planning practices in the US are informed and molded by tribal practices and indigenous culture. We need more projects like this one.

We know through our own Seattle ADUniverse program the power of pre-approved plans to remove barriers and increase housing production (bit.ly/3HoYFB2). Check out the Midwest Pre-Approved Building Program link below being recognized by CNU- it is an inspirational Charter Award…!

Placemaking, storytelling, and allowing us to hold onto our history and be a witness. Projects like this one are so important…

Loved being able to chair the CNU Charter Award jury this year and can't wait to hang out with and celebrate the winners at the CNU awards in June in Providence, Rhode Island! www.cnu.org/cnu33 #powerofdesignthinking

So glad for this and so many progressive pieces of legislation passed by the State Legislature and the Governor this session to support housing production across the state, address our housing crisis, & make investments that will in the long term ensure housing affordability for the next generation.

I am so grateful for the mentorship I received as a young architect and a growing professional. And now I pay it forward. The future that we want to see is squarely rooted in the support that we provide the younger generation.

I am so grateful for the mentorship I received as a young architect and a growing professional. And now I pay it forward. The future that we want to see is squarely rooted in the support that we provide the younger generation.

On ‘Practice Disrupted’, I talk with AIA President Evelyn Lee about how architecture can be focused on the well-being of community and tied to serving the public. We discussed what it means to lead with integrity, intention, and care for community. Thank you, Evelyn. bit.ly/3RQKB5w

Looking forward to speaking as a part of this series and really honored to be asked!

Day 7: Last bike tour of our Copenhagen trip. Visited affordable housing sites, a new library, lunch at Behov. Toured a housing campus which doubles as an outdoor mural gallery. Had our last workshop at Bettina’s CoUrban office. Ate final dinner at Kulturhuset Islands Brygg before saying goodbye.

Day 6: Were inspired by the placemaking work of Realdania preservation & development company. Walked to parking lot turned public plaza/playground/marketplace. Took the train to Koge. Visited transit investments & first phase of a new housing development. Finished with dinner at ‘The Burger Joint’.

Day 5: Biking tour of the waterfront. Visited the Opera House. Walked the last remaining industrial shell in Copenhagen- the Refshaleoen. Ate lunch at the Reffen street food village, visited more social housing and community parks in the afternoon and ended the day with a communal dinner at Absalon.

Day 4: Took train ride to visit the birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson, Odense. Walked ped/bike/rail environment where freeway used to divide the neighborhood. Took bus to Fremtidens Vollsmose. ‘Parallel society’ IE segregation. Urban ghetto. Plans for a 10 year redevelopment of the neighborhood.

Day3: Arhusgade. No residential off street parking. Silos turned into office space. Housing and a Maritime school on the waterfront. ‘Copenhill’- a powerplant with a ski hill and trails on top. Copenhagen Operahouse, cultural district along the waterfront. Amazing placemaking.

I have gone international! So excited to be featured on @cgtn.bsky.social with Full Frame host Mike Walter. We had a great urban design conversation about affordable housing, transportation, & livable communities for all families. #fullframe #OneSeattle #powerofdesignthinking youtu.be/Bj86WIMyZtQ

Copenhagen Day2: Took the train to Malmo, Sweden to visit the BO01 housing development, including the Turning Torso building by Santiago Calatrava. After arriving back in Copenhagen, got orientation for our CoUrban curriculum while dining at the floating restaurant and sauna ‘Winter Island’.

Day1: After 24 hours of travel, arrived in Copenhagen yesterday. From the airport, to the 7-11, to the multiple public transit options, to the scale of the streets & the architecture, to our seven course dinner last night at Restaurant Lun, my wife says it best: ‘They do everything better in Europe’

I am worried about a reduction in our tax base which directly translates to a reduction in our ability to serve the general public that we care about that need us. bit.ly/3Y6R7sg

Excited to be included on this year’s list! seattlemag.com/seattle-cult...

Grateful for love, fun, friendship, and SNOW! Really lovely weekend with friends and my wonderful wife Kate Dean over Presidents’ Day Weekend- cross country skiing in Methow Valley three days in a row!

As a country, we are wealthy, unhappy, misinformed, cynical, polarized, angry about the country’s condition, but can’t seem to agree on basic facts. Check out stateofnation.org and check out the NYT article on the state of our nations economy and quality of life- nyti.ms/4horn2a

So proud of my wife, Kate Dean, who just finished her first week as deputy policy director at DNR, after eight years of leadership as Jefferson County Commissioner. These are pictures of us at the Governor’s Ball on the eve of her first day on 1/15- party for the incoming administration. Luv u, hun.

On this MLK Day, in the face of change, let us focus on love, diversity, & perseverance, and continue our efforts for justice, equality, and community. I believe in the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the need to embrace hope and collective action for a better future. bit.ly/3E3Q2ul

Mayor Bruce Harrell announced $22 million for 42 projects thru our EDI program this week, the largest funding round since its 2016 launch! EDI supports BIPOC organizations to acquire property and promote generational wealth while fostering cultural preservation and inclusive growth. bit.ly/4g2I0z3

I am so proud to be in this edition of Seattle Magazine as one of 25 of ‘The Most Influential: People in the community doing extraordinary things’. Grab a copy of the mag to read about people across Seattle making a difference through their vision, their commitment, & their life work. bit.ly/4j8uTz6

Good podcast on the opportunities and challenges that we are trying to address with the Mayor’s One Seattle Plan. Listen to the 1/6/25 Seattle Channel Council coverage where we introduce the process we will engage with Seattle City Council over the next nine months. one.npr.org/i/1264353763...