Doctoral Student, Laura McTighe wrote:

“Front porches are interstitial spaces, between home and street, between public and private. Black women have been building community and sharing truths there for generations.”

Latino Urbanist, James Rojas wrote:

“The front porch is where Latinos become civic-minded and bond with their neighbors.” He continues…“

In many cases the front porch is the most prominently spatial element of the home because it is located on the front façade and usually in the center of it. As such front porches have a strong social connection between private and public space.” In researching, we find that the porch has many functions and specific cultural relevance for different groups. In this dialogue, we hope to continue the national dialogue occurring around issues of race relations by focusing our attention for a moment on the topic of “Race and Place” while looking at the place of the porch to draw out its multiplicity of meanings for different groups. With McTighe spirit in understanding the porch as sacred space we would like to follow the tradition she has described in saying: “…. these porch-talks, porch-sits, and porch-poses are systematic strategies–for repairing and resurrecting the city, for imagining and plotting new futures, for realizing more workable human geographies.” McTighe,Laura. (July 2016) Front Porch Strategy: Sacred Space and Demonic Grounds, Religion in American History Rojas,James. (September 2014) Front Porch Placemaking: The Latino Connection to the Street.     

Join a diverse panel of voices shaping the dialogue around urbanism, place and space for a national porch-to-porch talk on "Race and Place."[hosted live on June 4th, 2020] 

 - Jay Pitter, award winning placemaker and author of a forthcoming book Where We Live, Toronto, Canada.

 - Sheila R. Foster, Scott K. GInsburg Professor of Law and Policy at Georgetown working in property, land use, environmental justice.

 - Amber McZeal, a writer, vocalist, sacred scholar, liberation arts practitioner and cultural change agent in Oakland, CA.

- Fay Darmawi, a film festival producer, community development banker and urban planner in San Francisco, CA 

- James Rojas, Latino Urban Planner, Community Activist and artist and founder of Place It! In Oakland, CA.

- Carmen Mays, Founder of Elevators expanding equity within univested legacy neighborhoods from Birmingham, Alabama.

 - Steven Jones, Multi-hyphenate marketing executive, producer and content creator for people of color in Hollywood. Studio, City CA.

 - Madeleine Spencer [moderator], Co-Director Placemaking US, depth-psychology scholar, activist, education, arts and business leader.

Hosted in partnership with PlacemakingUS and PlacemakingX