California Walks is seeking presenters and panelists to speak and share their work at their biennial Pedestrians Count! (PedsCount!) Summit on October 18-19, 2018 at San Jose State University Student Union in Downtown San Jose. The Summit brings together 200+ practitioners and community advocates representing diverse fields such as walking, traffic safety, design, public health, planning, land-use, education, equity, transit and sustainable transportation to explore innovations, share best practices and cutting-edge research, and prioritize collective actions to create more walkable communities where more people can safely walk every day.
The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, June 22, 2018 at 5 PM.
The Programming Committee will accept or decline your proposal by Friday, June 29, 2018
There are three types of proposals: individual presentations, panel participation, and mobile workshops and tours. This year's themes and questions revolve around the complexity of walk-friendly neighborhoods, housing, and accessible and equity. What is the past, present and future of housing and transportation in California? How did we get here? How can we build better interdisciplinary coalitions? And what role do technology and social justice have in the future of planning communities?
Theme 1 – History of California Cities: Every generation inherits the conflicts, vulnerabilities, and resiliencies of the last. Without understanding that history—from colonialism to redlining, to suburbanization and urban renewal, what chance do we have to create processes and solutions that include the needs and voices of everyone?
Theme 2 – Here and Now: With limited and often restricted resources, how can we prioritize building holistic movements that seek collective, aligned impact to advance a more just built environment? How can advocates for walking & rolling, social justice, and sustainable development align our goals and strategies more effectively?
Theme 3 – Future Proof: new and emerging technologies—from autonomous vehicles (AVs) to on-demand ride-hail services and electric-assist bikes and scooters—are changing the way we move and plan for movement at a breakneck pace and transforming neighborhoods in the process. Instead of asking whether technology is good or bad, let’s ask: what mobility challenges are we prioritizing and how can communities, cities, and innovators work towards a tech culture that puts health, safety, and inclusion first?
Timeline:
- June 29—Confirm acceptance and all speakers; provide full contact information, a professional biography (about 100 words), and a photo (head shot)
- Month of July—All session speakers participate in a planning meeting with assigned session moderator
- August 17—Deadline for Speaker Registration
- September 14—Deadline to Submit Handouts and Final Version of Presentation
You also agree to register for the PedsCount! Summit in advance: Speakers receive a discounted registration rate of $150 for both days or $125 for 1 day.
Additionally, partial and full scholarships will be made available.
For more information about the summit and proposal form, visit California Walks website.