Activities will include a bike tour, an accessible streetscape walking tour, a tour of the MLK Jr. Memorial Library, guided meditation, and more! Stay tuned for more details yet to be announced.

We’re thrilled to announce Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer at The Atlantic and thought leader on housing, urban policy, and economic equity, as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Equity Summit. Jerusalem is known for her ability to connect policy with real-world impact, and her writing deftly sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in creating equitable communities. Her keynote address will inspire us to think boldly as we build a shared movement for vibrant communities. Learn more>>

Zoning reform is critical in addressing housing affordability, access, environmental challenges, and systemic inequities. Zoning created these problems—but it can also be part of the solution. However, real reform requires broad support and a movement to drive change.

Reform is never simple. It’s messy, costly, and involves trade-offs. How do we change hearts and minds? What are the most effective arguments? And what tangible steps lead to truly equitable and sustainable reform?

A major challenge is engaging communities in advocacy, especially when they are facing immediate crises. While zoning reform could ultimately address these crises, the benefits often feel distant. How do we bridge that gap? One potential process: address urgent needs, educate, mobilize, and then sustain action.

This interactive session offers attendees the option for structured networking or engaging in dynamic world café discussions on key themes. Participants can rotate between topic-focused tables to exchange insights or take advantage of guided networking to build meaningful connections and advance their work.

Highways and other infrastructure practices have destroyed neighborhoods by limiting access to schools, grocery stores, and healthcare resources. Increased lanes have made it more difficult and dangerous simply to cross intersections, leading to more individuals likely to avoid contact with roads unless using a private vehicle. Transportation for America has long acknowledged the root of these issues via our reports Dangerous by Design and Divided by Design, but now we look at the change we are creating to undo the damages that harm us now. Now is the time to look to best practices and solutions on how to undo these damages.

The event reception will be held at Boqueria in downtown DC. Stay tuned for more details.

As a new political reality shapes federal grantmaking—especially for initiatives focused on creating equitable and accessible communities—one critical question emerges: what funding avenues remain for addressing systemic inequities in housing, transportation, community facilities and climate resilience?

This panel will bring together leaders with deep experience in funding equity-centered work, including experts from CDFIs, philanthropy, community organizations, and the government. Together, they’ll explore creative funding strategies to help keep your projects moving forward and making an impact.

The workshop sessions will dive into critical issues shaping equitable and sustainable communities, from leveraging data to improve walkability to advancing climate justice. Participants will also explore the true costs of funding transit—both urban and rural—and gain insights into the federal reauthorization process, equipping them with the knowledge and strategies to drive meaningful change.

Enjoy lunch provided by DC Central Kitchen.

With each administration change, there are significant shifts at the federal level in terms of priorities and approaches to transportation, land use, and other aspects of smart growth. One thing is clear in our minds, the issues we work on are vital and urgent, we cannot throw up our hands and wait for the government to change. Instead, it is important that Smart Growth America, and all of those who believe in smart growth, to find ways to advance our agenda and make progress, regardless of who is in charge. With this in mind, we bring together a panel of experts to give perspectives about smart growth policy, advocacy, and real-world actions to take at three different levels. 

The workshop sessions will highlight community-driven solutions for smarter growth, from empowering local leaders to shape their neighborhoods to designing accessible and inclusive streetscapes. Participants will also explore the intersection of green infrastructure and complete streets, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities for advancing smart growth in rural communities.

We will end the Equity Summit with a final presentation and interactive activity to reflect on what we learned at the Equity Summit.