The Role of Community Engagement & Capacity Building in Shaping Public Spaces

Public spaces reflect the values, needs, and identities of the communities they serve. But how can we ensure those communities have a meaningful voice in shaping them? This session explores the vital role of community engagement and capacity building in public space planning and design. Through case studies—including the River East Design Center’s Back to Basics Mobile Cart (a capacity building initiative) and the 11th Street Bridge Park’s Community Preservation Plan (influenced by a robust community engagement process) — we’ll explore how these approaches have shaped public space outcomes, elevated community voices, and influenced project success.

Speaker:
Anna McCorvey
Washington, D.C.
Anna McCorvey is an architect and community planner whose early awareness of housing inequities sparked a lifelong commitment to design equity. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University and a Master of City Planning from UC Berkeley, with a focus on housing and community development. Anna has worked on affordable housing, schools, and community facilities across D.C., particularly in underserved neighborhoods. In 2018, she founded the River East Design Center (REDC), a nonprofit that empowers residents to engage in architecture and planning decisions in their communities. She now serves as Senior Equitable Development Manager for the 11th Street Bridge Park, leading anti-displacement efforts and programs supporting residents and local businesses. A frequent speaker on equitable design and representation in the profession, Anna was named a 2021 Public Interest Design Fellow and received the 2023 Wieb Award for Architecture in the Public Interest.

This panel discussion was part of the Olmsted Network's 2025 Annual Conference— Defending Common Ground: An Olmsted Parks Intensive, which was developed for our park partners across the country.