Emerging New Urbanists: Where Ideas and Community Flourish

We don’t always do what’s good for us. Sometimes we do something good for our health, but it impacts our mental wellbeing, or social success. Other times, we make many small choices that aren’t good for us, and only realize it later. However, the reverse is also true—sometimes one decision benefits us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. For me, that’s being a part of the Emerging New Urbanists.

I joined the Emerging New Urbanists before we even had a name. We were a group of young people who shared the passion for new urbanism and wanted to have a voice in the field and at the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU). Back in 2021, we had no idea how our group would look. But now, as the group has grown past its initial seedling stages, we know what ENU is. It’s a virtual gathering of people who  work in or care about urbanism in its many forms. We are “emerging” because we are professionals of all ages, who are at the beginning of their careers in new urbanism - whether that’s planning, engineering, marketing, design, politics, or more. This group is dedicated to uniting around shared interests, educating each other, and expanding our networks. If our professional growth forms the roots of our success and our knowledge is the careful nurturing that allows us to thrive, then the true vibrance of ENU is our social life—the energy that enriches the world around us. Like the branches and blossoms of a tree that shape and improve the street, our presence in the field—our relationships and connections—create an inspiring and thriving community.

Without support, a tree struggles to survive.

With resources and care, a tree flourishes—offering beauty, shade, and shelter to the community.

What has been my personal experience with ENU?

I stumbled into a leadership role in ENU—currently heading the ENU Exchange, where I help guest writers to publish on our platform. I say “stumbled”, because, at the time, I didn’t think I had the time to take on any responsibilities. But I knew I wanted the ENU group to flourish, and part of that meant fostering thought leadership and empowering each individual member of this brilliant group. Just being in the virtual room with these other ideators gave me the confidence to voice my thoughts, even though at that moment I expected someone else to take ownership of my ideas. When the Executive Director Cal invited me to take a leadership position and take action, she gave the power back to me. This is what an enabling environment looks like. In the years since, I learned so much about myself and grown in personal confidence and agency.

I’ve always been interested in helping people share their ideas and dig deeper into their thoughts, but I discovered I had more skills in this area than I realized. As editor, my goal is for each contributor to explore topics that matter to them—especially when it takes them to surprising places. Everyone has a talent, whether they’re aware of them or not. You can start locally, like our Urban De-Codes (formerly called Place Summits) volunteers, or go all in, like our new President Sheinya Joseph has brought tremendous energy to our group in her first year. There’s absolutely a skill to share or an area in which to grow.

One of my favorite aspects of ENU is connecting with people from different schools, firms, and backgrounds. It’s fun to dive into a conversation about trains in a book club meeting or attend a local happy hour and meet new faces—check out our ENU calendar on our website or Instagram. And of course, our major urbanist reunion is at the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), where first-time attendees can walk in and find a welcoming space filled with emerging connections.

Attending my first in-person CNU.30 in 2022, I connected with people I had met virtually through ENU.

ENU has facilitated so many valuable relationships for me—people from different schools, majors, and cities. This diversity has helped me engage in informed discussions and learn about urban issues beyond my design background. I’ve attended online talks from a Harvard graduate student, received resources on urban economics, discussed multifamily housing development at length, and befriended urban planners across the country. This rich haven of diversity is a good way to stay informed on happenings locally and nationally. ENU has even helped me stay connected to urbanist interests while pursuing architecture in my day-to-day work.

A few years in, ENU continues to promote connection, education, and professional growth. I’m grateful for my time here, especially directing the ENU Exchange, where I’ve engaged with thoughtful, skilled writers. Reflecting now, I realize that while jobs come and go, the network we’re a part of and the interests we foster blossom and grow.

When one plant thrives, it creates the conditions for others to flourish alongside it.

Check out the ENU website today: https://www.emergingnewurbanists.org/ 

And subscribe to the ENU Exchange, a monthly article resource from guest writers in urbanism: https://emergingnewurbanists.substack.com/

Do you have an idea for a guest post? Submit your idea here.