The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
Registration ends on March 12 at 11:59pm ET.
A group rate is also avialable. See pricing information below.
This training is offered in partnership with Connect the Dots.
Both sessions will take place over Zoom.
Are you curious about how to connect public voices to decision-making processes?
This mini-course is designed for practitioners currently working on or interested in leading community engagement as part of their projects in urban planning, transit planning, redevelopment, and more. Over two sessions, we will provide participants with the foundational theory, tools, and case studies to build an inclusive and equitable outreach and engagement strategy. Special attention will be given to topics such as building trust, accessibility, and human-centered design.
Each session will last two hours, consisting of presentations, introduction to tools, breakout discussions, and Q&A.
Supplemental resources will be available for participants to review via an online learning platform.
Marisa Denker, CEO and Founder, Connect the Dots. As the Founder and CEO of Connect the Dots, a WBE/DBE firm specializing in strategic stakeholder and public engagement, Marisa serves clients based in sectors such as urban planning, transportation, and community development. A Fulbright scholar with an MA in Design from Technological University Dublin and a Knight Foundation award recipient, she also teaches Participatory Cities at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her BA in Urban Studies & English.
Stephanie Fuentes, Project Manager, Connect the Dots. Stephanie has 10+ years of experience in working with the public, with a B.A. in Fine Arts. As Project Manager, she specializes in leading projects from strategy to implementation with creative problem solving and an eye for design.
Sylvia García-García, Managing Principal, Connect the Dots. Sylvia leads the team with 18+ years of experience in cross-sector collaboration around social impact and community development. Her commitment to social impact extends to her role as a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches about the power of community participation in urban spaces. As Managing Principal, she specializes in Strategic Planning and People Management, while also serving as Principal in Charge of key projects; her forte is around welcoming and culturally accessible spaces and interactions.
Elena Madison, Director of Projects, Project for Public Spaces - Facilitator. Elena works on all the aspects of making a place at Project for Public Spaces, from visioning with the community and developing concepts to programming, implementation, management, and governance. In her current role, she leads our placemaking program in project work, developing our social impact-supported grants initiatives and managing collaboration with grantees and funders while helping to shape organizational direction.
Despite rising costs and economic challenges that persist globally, at Project for Public Spaces, we are maintaining our pricing for this signature training. We remain committed to accessibility for those in our industry who could not otherwise afford professional development. We offer early and group rates, as well as scholarships.
Regular Rate $250
Regular Group Rate $200 per person for a group of 3+
Scholarships (see below)
We're committed to access. For individuals who cannot cover the cost of registration, we offer a “Pay What You Can” opportunity, allowing applicants to propose what they can afford to pay for the training. We have a limited number of scholarships available, and will grant scholarships to those who demonstrate financial need and the benefits of taking the training for their professional growth.
Submit an application here. The deadline to submit is: February 12, 2026 by 11:59pm ET.
Please note we only have a limited amount of scholarship funding and our process will follow a pay-what-you-can model where you will propose what you are able to pay to attend this training. This amount will not factor into your application review.
This scholarship application process will prioritize candidates from low- and middle-income countries, as well as people living in vulnerable situations (including, but not limited to, people impacted by racial, ethnic, national, religious, or linguistic discrimination; immigrants and refugees; women; and LGBTQI+ people).
Application Deadline: February 12, 2026 by 11:59pm ET
Notifications: Week of February 16, 2026
If credit card payment is not an option, please email events@pps.org to request to pay by invoice (via check or wire transfer). Once your payment is received, we will send instructions on how to register for the training.
If you have any questions about this training or registration, please contact us at events@pps.org.
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