"The Smart Growth Manual"

"The Smart Growth Manual" by Andrew Duany and Jeff Speck
[This is the first book I was given. Amazing ideas about the implementation of people friendly spaces in an urban sprawl. www.smartgrowth.org/engine/events.php]

My first day at The Drachman Institute- a group from the U of A whose goal is to create a greener Tucson and to give people incentives to go outside. Basically, they create green plans with communities (such as walkways around schools, railways to parks, bike boulevards) that take into consideration the communities assets. Assets can mean street lighting, water ways, grocery stores, crime rates, public schools, etc. The communities vary from schools, churches, and neighborhoods.
Check out Pima County's Geographic Maps Website (click on Main Map Guide Map). Find your neighborhood and check out your assets!
They work with the people of the communities (of all ages!) to create a better balance of urban and green space. So wonderful!

I will be learning Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. [Of course they make all of their community layouts using the computer.]

I will be attending my first community meeting tomorrow at Wakefield Elementary.
Next Monday I will go to Tully Elementary and Brichta.
I am hoping to work with kids (depending on the level of involvement the school is willing to allow).

Also, this is one of the cites the Drachman Institute is working on:
The six mile El Paso and Southwestern Greenway



That's all for now!

ZV