Four Degrees to the Streets

The Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour was more than ticket sales, metallic outfits, horses in outer space, and a showcase of a timeless album. In this special in-person episode, Nimo and Jas discuss the tour's impact on urban planning and local economies. The Renaissance World Tour influenced ten countries, with 56 shows in total. As the highest-grossing tour for any female artist and the highest ever of any artist per show, averaging $10.3 million per show. The New York Times estimated the tour generated $4.5 billion dollars for the US economy. As our listeners know, places and spaces don’t come together without resources. Press play to hear: 

• A closer look at a few cities and their transportation plans for the concert, including Santa Clara, DC, and Houston, to accommodate the influx of visitors
• The importance of addressing urban design and providing safe and equitable transit options for all riders during events
• An Urban Planning Renaissance: Recommendations for planners and policymakers based on the economic impact of Beyoncé's concerts on local economies and the direction of the field in 2024

You can watch this full episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe!  

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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Resources:

Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour Has 'Inconsistent' Hotel Impact From Market to Market

Hotel performance standouts during Beyonce’s world tour | STR 

Beyoncé's "Renaissance World Tour" nears Olympic success with its multibillion-dollar impact on the US economy 

Beyonce at Levi's Stadium: VTA, BART, Caltrain to have extra service - CBS San Francisco

Metrorail Ridership Summary | WMATA

Who Rides Public Transportation

Transit Score Methodology

The Beyoncé Bump

African American Women in the U.S. Economy 

Who is driving Black business growth? Insights from the latest data on Black-owned businesses | Brookings

Black Women Entrepreneurs: Growth and Headwinds | J.P. Morgan

AI and Cities

U.S. DOT Equity Action Plan - January 2022

How old were you when you discovered urban planning? Maybe it was listening to our podcast, attending a community meeting for a proposed development change, or a class you took in school. In today’s episode, Nimo and Jas interview Mr. Kevin Miles, a dynamic teacher and DEI facilitator based in Dallas, Texas. By using the Urban Land Institute’s UrbanPlan curriculum, press play to hear how he cultivated a five-year education path for 8th-12th grade students at Dallas Townview School of Business and Management.

Mr. Miles's lifelong mission is to establish a National Career and Technology Student Leadership Organization (CTSO) and a “feeder pattern” of skilled and diverse Student Leaders to positively impact the future of the built environment that includes the cultural needs of a place, rather than an outdated pipeline model.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Miles serves as the Director of External Relations for Townview School of Business and Management. He is also Chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Dallas Fort Worth Pathways to Inclusion (PTI) Committee and works closely with National ULI’s DEI team to help promote and develop PTI and BIPOC members.

Questions for Kevin Miles? Send him an email at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn.

To volunteer or add UrbanPlan to your school, contact [email protected].

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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Happy New Year! In this special joint episode, the Four Degrees to the Streets and Urban Planning is Not Boring podcasts come together to discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Hosts Nimo, Jas, Sam, and Nat use their expertise and experience living in TODs as a backdrop to give a coast-to-coast perspective on this complex subject. Press play to hear:

• TOD defined as a mixed-use community that encourages people to live near transit services and decrease their dependence on driving and its key components and history
• Examples of TOD programs including BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), NJ Transit, the City of Chicago's ETOD (equitable transit-oriented development) plan, and the Federal Transit Administration TOD Pilot Program
• Considerations for the future of TOD 

Learn more about Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban planning, at urbanplanningisnotboring.squarespace.com and follow on social media @urbanplanningisnotboring.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources

Histories of Transit-Oriented Development: Perspectives on the Development of the TOD Concept

BART TOD 

Millbrae BART TOD

Elevated Chicago

ETOD | Equitable Transit-Oriented Development

Pennrose Gives Back to Veterans Through Housing

Dover officials open new 70-unit affordable family and veterans housing in downtown

FTA FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development

TOD Planning Study (2015-2021) Projects

In this episode of the Four Degrees to the Streets podcast, hosts Nimo and Jas interview Natasha Dowell, a Loan Officer at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in the Southeast US. Natasha has over a decade of public health experience and is passionate about bringing to life community development projects that advance health equity. Her public health experience covers a wide range including behavioral health, nutritional and physical fitness, maternal and child health, and foodborne outbreaks. Natasha brings her planning and public health training as a lender for a variety of projects, including charter schools and affordable housing developments.

Press play to hear:

• Natasha’s background and career path as well as what community development means to her and why it is critical for Black people in the US
• The intersection of public health and the planned + built environment that results in increased access or lack of opportunities
• The lifecycle of a CDFI project and how an organization makes final decisions. She also shares her hot takes on the biggest problems facing cities and potential solutions

This episode provides valuable insights into community development and the role of CDFIs in urban planning. Natasha's experience and expertise make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in community development and urban planning. Feel free to visit the CDFI 101 Toolkit to learn more about the industry.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | What makes a long life?

Hello, and welcome back to the fourth season of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! We are truly grateful for your support since 2020, and we're excited to bring you something truly special this season. 

In today’s episode, what if we told you that technology might not be solely to blame for why kids don't play outside anymore? What if we said that the physical design of our roadways, parks, and neighborhoods could have a bigger impact on children's safety and access to outdoor play? Press play to hear:

• Eye-opening statistics on Child Pedestrian safety and Park Access
• Examples of best practices for planning with youth in mind
• We'll also take a closer look at how educational systems impact student travel and safety

We believe that this is a conversation that needs to be had, and we invite you to join us. Listen to learn more about this crucial issue and help be part of the solutions that can make a real difference for children.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources:

Park access among school-age youth in the United States

For 30 Years, This Grown-Up’s Office Was the Playground - The New York Times

Understanding child-friendly urban design: A framework to measure Playful Learning Landscapes outcomes | Brookings

Learning Landscapes: Can urban planning and the learning sciences work together to help children? | Brookings

All Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent Statistics

American Academy of Pediatrics Lays Out Steps for Improving Child Pedestrian Safety

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | 2021 Data - Pedestrians

The Road to School | Urban Institute

Season Four is almost here! In the meantime, we have a special interview to share. This July, Veronica O. Davis, PE, transportation expert and Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for Houston, Texas*, released her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. Nimo and Jas had the pleasure of speaking with Veronica Davis about her inspiration for the book, questions from our reading, and reflections on her career journey in fields that lack Black women representation.

Veronica is an accomplished transportation planner with almost 20 years of experience. She co-founded Black Women Bike and was recognized as a Champion of Change by the White House in 2012 for her professional accomplishments and advocacy.

We highly recommend Veronica's book Inclusive Transportation, if you want to learn more about how to improve transportation in your community. You can find it at https://islandpress.org. Additionally, be sure to follow Veronica on X at @VeronicaODavis to stay updated on her work and advocacy efforts. 

*Inclusive Transportation represents the author's opinions and does not necessarily represent those of the City of Houston.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

Boy, we had a time this season! And just like that, we’re on our last episode of season three. We got to catch up with Nina Idemudia, AICP, before she presented several sessions at the American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference that took place April 1-4, 2023. Nina inspired Nimo and Jas in their planning careers long before this episode. She currently serves as the Chicago Recovery Plan Director for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. She started her career as a planner for the City of Los Angeles with a purpose and passion for how the built environment impacts communities. In addition to multiple awards from APA, Nina was recently elected the first Black President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. She is also a board member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Press play to hear: 

• Reflections on Nina’s career journey and education experience, and local planning differences by region 
• Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Recovery and resilience planning
• Planning “hot takes” in 45 seconds or less

You can learn from the Chicago Recovery Plan Team at the virtual APA conference on April 27, presenting on using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for equitable outcomes. Follow Nina on IG @aplannerwithapurpose.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

Earlier this month, we met with a special guest and Professional Planner, Byron Nicholas, to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, regional planning, and the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP). We discussed MPOs and USDOT funding. However, we want to dive deeper to give an overview of federal transportation authorizations and why they matter in BIL and environmental planning. BIL is the most recent federal transportation authorization and the largest in history, so it’s only right that we hit you with another one. Press play to hear: 

• An extra raspy Jas (she was losing her voice!)
• History and impact of federal transportation authorizations over the last 20 years
• How MPOs work with partner agencies to consider the environmental impacts of transportation projects and long-range plans and how BIL adds to this effort
• Highlights and hot takes of several first-round RCP awardees

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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Or send us an email to connect with us!

RESOURCES

Federal Transportation Authorizations | FHWA 

Environmental Mitigation in Transportation Planning | FHWA

Environmental Justice Considerations in Regional Planning

The Stitch

Federal funding to reconnect Claiborne approved — but a fraction of what city, state sought | WWNO

Biden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Awards from Program to Reconnect Communities 

Reconnecting Communities FY22 Award Fact Sheets

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Maps Dashboard | D2D

Transportation For America The infrastructure law is not climate legislation, but states could make it green

MAP-21 vs. FAST Act Comparison Chart

One of President Biden's top priorities was to build better infrastructure. To start, he signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on November 15, 2021, that allocated funding to over 350 distinct programs across more than a dozen federal departments and agencies. One may wonder how this historic $1.2 trillion investment in roads and bridges, broadband, rail and transit, clean energy, and water will look when it appears at their doorstep. We sat down with Byron Nicholas, PP, AICP, based in New Jersey. An expert in multi-modal planning, policy, funding, and design at the regional and municipal levels to understand how the federal government is using funding programs to rectify issues that have harmed communities of color by creating barriers to neighborhood connectivity, mobility, and access. Press play to hear: 

• An overview of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the role of regional transportation planning
• An analysis of USDOT’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP) to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation facilities like highways or rail lines to improve quality of life 
• Reflections on BIL after the first year of investments 

Connect with Byron on social media at @blackandurban or blackandurban.com, an accessible platform for planners and forward thinkers to showcase ideas.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

RESOURCES

Guidebook to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

What Is Regional Planning? | Planetizen Planopedia

National Association of Regional Councils

Biden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Awards from Program to Reconnect Communities 

Reconnecting Communities FY22 Award Fact Sheets

Lord Cultural Resources

Bronx One Policy Group

What It Looks Like to Reconnect Black Communities Torn Apart by Highways

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Maps Dashboard | D2D

Thank you to all of our listeners for a powerful Black History Month focused on health and wellness. We’ve enjoyed sharing health-related content and meaningful conversations with guests. This episode is no different. We’re joined by Alicia “ACE” Easter, certified yoga and meditation instructor and master Reiki practitioner. ACE also hosts the JOY FOR LIFE Podcast that covers self-discovery, loss, motherhood, mindfulness, body acceptance, and the extraordinary power of yoga. Press play to hear: 

• The inspiration for ACE YOGA LA and how ACE embodies her truth and joy as Owner/Founder of ACE Enterprises LLC, a holistic wellness brand
• What it means to bring your authentic self to the yoga industry that is not traditionally welcoming or accessible to Black communities
• The impacts of stress and trauma on the mind and body and how increased allostatic load reduces the quality of life for Black people in the United State

!! Listeners receive a discount on all ACE YOGA LA products when you use the CODE: FOURDEGREES10 at checkout. 

!! Follow ACE on social media @aceyogala. If you’re in the Los Angeles Area, book a class with ACE at White Heat Yoga or Kinship Yoga.

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @the4degreespod.



Or send us an email to connect with us!