the Neighborhood Design Center

words that say "call for proposals"

What Makes Your Project Thrive?

Share Your Difference-Making Strategy!

At this year’s The Vision is Yours Placemaking & Placekeeping Conference, we’re shining a spotlight on the strategies that spark momentum, sustain energy, and bring lasting impact to communities.

We’re looking for dynamic voices and creative ideas to share what works — and what others can learn from. All speakers will receive complimentary registration to the 2-day conference.

What We’re Looking For

We invite proposals that dig into strategies for:

    • Launching: Getting a project off the ground with intention

    • Resourcing: Building partnerships and unlocking support

    • Storytelling: Showing results and shifting narratives

    • Maintaining & Programming: Keeping the energy going for long-term success

We’re especially interested in projects that touch on what makes communities thrive — from food access and local foodways, to creative expression, play, safety, greening, gathering spaces, mobility, and more.

Session Formats

    • Learning Labs (90 min): Hands-on, interactive sessions (up to 40 participants) sharing a tool, resource, or strategy.

    • Panels (90 min): Conversations that bring together multiple fields, perspectives, or project types — always with time for audience Q&A.

    • Mobile Workshops (90–120 min): On-the-ground site visits paired with discussion or participatory activities (15–25 participants). Must be within reasonable driving distance of Mount Rainier.

Who Should Apply

If you’re a community organizer, planner, designer, artist, funder, youth leader, developer, nonprofit partner — or anyone making change through innovative, place-based work — we want to hear from you. Speaker notifications expected January 2026.

Application Form

Application Previews: 

Learning Lab Application ➔

Panel Application ➔

Mobile Workshop Application ➔

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