Reclaiming the Commons: Uniting for Our Shared Future with Mark Lakeman

From food and water to media and education, how can we reclaim the commons in our communities? This event will feature a keynote address from City Repair Project founder Mark Lakeman, a free vegetarian dinner, and World Cafe style conversation about possibilities for public placemaking and reclaiming the commons in Santa Cruz. After discussing how we can become more connected with the places and people around us, we'll venture off-campus by bike, Bike Party-style, on a two-wheeled adventure through our town.

Mark Lakeman is the co-founder of the non-profit placemaking organization The City Repair Project and principal of the community architecture and planning firm Communitecture. Lakeman is also an urban place-maker and permaculture designer, community design facilitator, and an inspiring catalyst in his very active commitment to the emergence of sustainable cultural landscapes everywhere. Every design project he is involved with furthers the development of a beneficial vision for human and ecological communities. Whether this involves urban design and placemaking, ecological building, encourages community interaction, or assists those who typically do not have access to design services, his leadership has benefited communities across the North American continent. These include cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and Ottawa where City Repair Projects are underway.

This event is co-sponsored by UCSC's Common Ground Center at Kresge College, People Power of Santa Cruz County, and numerous other community organizations to be announced.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS
The mission of the Common Ground Center is to “create cultural change for social justice, environmental regeneration and economic viability.” The Center hosts a series of public lectures and workshops based on this mission, as well as undergraduate courses, two themed residence halls, and a range of student-led activities. A list of subsequent talks, and more information, can be found at http://kresge.ucsc.edu/commonground

People Power of Santa Cruz County, since its inception in 1991, has been improving the quality of life in Santa Cruz County by promoting bicycling and other forms of sustainable transportation. More information about People Power's work can be found online at http://www.peoplepowersc.org/

“Reclaiming the Commons: Uniting for Our Shared Future” with Mark Lakeman is Friday, March 7, 2014 from 6 – 8:30 PM. This event will be located in the Kresge Town Hall at UCSC. It is free and open to the public. Parking is $3 in the Core West Parking Garage. More parking information is online at http://kresge.ucsc.edu/commonground/about/parking.html