Landscape Architect Kyle Brown to Present 'Advocacy for Community Regeneration' Lecture

Courtesy of Kyle Brown

This tree planting is part of Clean & Green Pomona, an environmental action group that aims to clean up and green up the southeastern industrial zone and adjacent neighborhoods of Pomona, California.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kyle Brown will present a lecture at 1 p.m. Friday, April 20, in Ken and Linda Sue Shollmier Hall, Room 250 of Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus, as part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design Lecture series.

Brown, ASLA, is a professor of landscape architecture and an adjunct faculty member at the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

In his lecture, titled "Advocacy for Community Regeneration" Brown will discuss how many communities are struggling with environmental, social and economic challenges that inhibit broad support for values such as justice, respect for nature, artistic expression or environmental sustainability. These communities often feel "stuck" due to isolation, fear, cynicism and helplessness, and these conditions may be serious barriers to introducing pro-environmental or pro-social change. Yet these types of changes embody many of the interests of students, faculty and practitioners. 

His lecture will examine ways in which planners and designers can play a role in changing conditions within communities through advocacy. Drawing upon his work with various community organizations in southern California, Brown will argue that planners and designers play an important role in regenerating communities — not only through their expertise in landscape change, but also potentially through their role as advocates for community transformation and empowerment. 

Brown previously served as director of the Lyle Center for 13 years and was interim dean for the College of Environmental Design. He is known for his research on community regeneration, climate change action, and participatory planning and design. He serves on the Planning Commission in the City of Pomona and is active in the local environmental action group Clean & Green Pomona.

This is the Sustainability Lecture, sponsored by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.

The school is pursuing continuing education credits for this lecture through the American Institute of Architects.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free, with limited seating.

For more information, contact 479-575-4704 or fayjones.uark.edu.