Public Monuments: Shaping More Equitable and Inclusive Cities

Monuments are not neutral. Historically, the commemorative landscape has taken shape informally, largely exempt from public input and processes. Those who possessed political sway and financial resources were the ones who shaped who and what is commemorated in our cities and towns. As a result, the stories represented in our public spaces do not reflect the full spectrum of histories and experiences of our communities. As the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville in 2017 so tragically underscored, the stories, myths, and symbols embedded in our commemorative landscape have an enduring effect on our communities. Planners are uniquely positioned to address these challenges thanks to their ability to support a holistic vision for the public realm. This conversation will bring together planners, policy experts, and funders to explore how cross-sector, municipally led efforts can activate the unique, catalytic power of local planning processes to support the development of new commemorative projects and public spaces for generations to come. Participants will share their experiences developing and implementing innovative strategies to address (and redress) inequities in the commemorative landscape, including multi-agency municipal collaborations, inclusive community engagement processes, and storytelling that offers a more complete story of our communities, past and present.

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