OCS Conference Funding Submission
Event Photo:
Last day of the conference!
Watercolor demonstration with master illustrator David Csont
Creative Solutions to the Housing Crisis: This was one of my favorite presentations of the conference, illustrating the passion work of two small developers trying to “do good while making money.”
Name: Maggie Davies
Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING
Specialization: MUP-City and Community Planning
Conference Host Organization/Institution: Congress for the New Urbanism
Conference/Competition Name: Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) 33
Conference Term: Summer Conference Start Date: 2025-06-10 Conference End Date: 2025-06-14
What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
I left the conference with learning and reflections on actionable steps to build and improve urban systems – from repairing harms caused by urban renewal, to art-first economic plans, to adaptive reuse of historic buildings, the connective uses of festivals, how Gulf coastal communities approach repair and rebuilding after storms, how to adapt housing to changing demographics (80% of new households in the next 10 years will be singles and childless couples), how to address housing stability alongside supply, why the most-photographed street in America is 18’ wide, and much more. I also learned that planners like to party!
How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
I was able to connect with professionals in planning and urban design fields, learned more about the field of urbanism, gained practical knowledge about housing, community development, and the arts that will inform my future work, and made career connections in places like New York, Oregon, and Buffalo, where I have an interest in working in the future. I also gained career ideas and connected with people sharing advice for emerging planners. Finally, I met several young people interested in Wagner’s MUP program to whom I was able to promote the program.
What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
I am in the process of reaching out to a small developer who I met at the conference about a job/mentorship opportunity. I also plan to reach out to several other professionals I met to build my network, join the Emerging New Urbanists network, connect further with the leader of the CNU New York chapter, and attend future local networking events. I’m also going to post on LinkedIn about my experiences at the conference to create another engagement opportunity with my professional network. Finally, I am planning to pursue housing and real estate finance classes at Wagner next year!
What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
Bring business cards!
Bring a small notebook to jot down notes from interesting workshops and any information you want to save from people you meet.
Take advantage of the social events throughout the weekend. People are there to network so you won’t be the only one! If you are an introvert like me – don’t worry! Follow your intuition – attend the events you’re most interested in, and find opportunities to introduce yourself to people sitting next to you.
Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Government, Health, Housing, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, Leadership, Nonprofits, Social Innovation, Transportation