MEDC Talk to Me Series: Your Place Matters [Webinar]
On September 16, 2024, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation hosted a webinar about Placemaking in Action: Turning Spaces Into Places. Learn from Michigan placemakers about their unique community projects.
On September 16, 2024, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) hosted a webinar about Placemaking in Action: Turning Spaces Into Places.
Connect with MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) team as they highlight their crowdfunding program and showcase four successful projects across the State. The webinar highlights the importance of placemaking in a community to build a sense of pride, to inspire community investment, and further community vibrancy.
Placemaking is a powerful tool for enhancing social spaces, fostering cohesion, and promoting collaboration within communities. By creating inviting and functional public spaces, placemaking encourages social interaction, which in turn builds a strong sense of community pride. Placemaking not only beautifies and enriches physical spaces but also strengthens the social fabric, driving sustainable growth and development in the community. Topics of discussion will includes;
- Dog Parks
- Pickleball Courts
- Alleyway Projects
- Universal Accessible Playing field
Speakers
Mahala Clayton
Mahala Clayton is the Michigan Director for Patronicity and manages the Public Spaces Community Places program on behalf of Patronicity. Mahala works one-on-one with project creators to ensure they understand program parameters, what tools we offer and how to use them, and what strategies make a successful campaign. Mahala earned her Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science from MSU, which guides her view of communities as interdependent ecosystems and informs her work daily. In her free time is an amateur hiker, yogi, farmer, and cook.
Marcie Post
Marcie Post began her career in parks and recreation in the cities of Clare and Livonia, Michigan, before joining the City of Midland in 2008. She was promoted to assistant director of public services in 2021, where she now oversees management and operations of Midland Parks and Recreation’s programs, facilities, and amenities, as well as additional management duties in Public Services. Her most recent accomplishment is the creation and implementation of Midland’s Miracle field, a soft-surface baseball diamond for athletes who have a disability.
Marcie holds a bachelor's degree in community leisure services administration/commercial recreation and facilities management and a master's degree in parks and recreation administration, both from Central Michigan University. She is a Certified Public Manager, Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), and Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO). She also serves in leadership roles on boards for the Northwood University’s Sport Management Program, the Accreditation Team for the Certified Public Manager Program at SVSU, Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks), the Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Arnold Center, the Midland Amateur Sports Capital Committee, and the Midland Soccer Club.
Marcie lives in Midland with her husband, Jon, and two sons, Wesley and Callen. In her spare time, she enjoys running, camping, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ann Gentry
Anne Gentry has been the Executive Director of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) since 2017, an organization whose mission it is to build a vibrant Downtown Alpena for all. In her role, she leads various projects and initiatives related to Downtown Alpena’s revitalization, including historic preservation, grant-writing, promotional events and festivals, economic development, parking management, beautification initiatives, and placemaking projects such as the DDA’s Fresh Waves mural project. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Comparative Literature with a focus on Italian and English literature and has studied in Bologna, Italy and Adelaide, South Australia. She currently serves on the Michigan Downtown Association Board of Directors and is the Board President for Thunder Bay Theatre and Target Alpena.
Terry L. Dickinson
Dickinson began his career in art in 1974 painting over 50 history-related murals in the Bay City, MI area to commemorate the Nation’s Bicentennial. He has continued his public art presence in Frankenmuth, Saginaw, Flint, Grayling, Ludington, Petoskey, Michigan Tech University, and other communities and numerous private homes and businesses.
In 2010, he accepted the responsibility of Executive Director of the AuSable Artisan Village gallery and cultural center in downtown Grayling, Michigan. After ten years of guiding the arts organization, Dickinson retired from AAV to focus his attention on developing his reputation as a studio artist. His work has been accepted in regional, national, and international shows and has garnered him several best of show awards, most recently, the 2022 Juror’s Choice award best 2-D in the Northwest Michigan Regional Fine Art Exhibition held at Dennos Museum in Traverse City.
Moderators
Pablo Majano, MEDC
Stephanie Peña, MEDC
Katie Higgs, MEDC
