OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

Meeting of the Minds Conference

Name: Mikeala Sparks

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization: MUP-International Development Planning

Conference Host Organization/Institution: Meeting of the Minds

Conference/Competition Name: Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2020-02-19 Conference End Date: 2020-02-21

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
Meeting of the Minds (MOTM) focuses on the intersection of technology, transportation and sustainable solutions and their challenges for the future of cities. Equity and resiliency have been at the core of my personal interest and a theme running through the majority of my classes at Wagner. My favorite part of the conference was the field trip I attended titled, ‘Urban Heat, Green Infrastructure and Health Outcomes,’ led by local community members and academics of Phoenix.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
I am excited to engage further with the idea of public space, public health, and equitable, resilient development for communities in my career and I think having talked not only with academics and non-profit professionals, but also with private companies, think tanks, and global foundations opened my eyes to what careers could look like there in just a few months.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
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What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
If you are headed to a conference, make sure to bring your Wagner printed business cards!

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities