# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone, my name is Brennan Johnson and this is my reflection for module one on the urban American cities in the future. In this reflection, I'll touch on all the required materials. The article Gary Indiana and the long shadow of US Steel the two videos magic city of steel part one and an American in the making the reading what is a city and future all that matters. I'll also bring the additional three sources future craft the city of tomorrow and the articles the future of cities and what are future cities. Uh there were four specific passages and concepts that stood out to me. Um starting with from what is a city the idea of a city as a theater of a social action really has an effect in a sense. Um it's really such a powerful way to think um about cities uh because they tend to intensify the human experience in both good and bad ways. Um from the reading future all that matters um the line about the future not existing but being real um was kind of confusing at first but then it like kind of clicked for me because um our choices now determine the future in a sense. Um the Gary and Indiana story was kind of troubling, but it showed um inequality and environmental harm like can kind of linger after like the jobs uh disappear. And in the future craft um reading, I kind of like appreciated the idea of instead of um trying to predict the future um we should provoke um conversations about the possible future. Um that kind of felt uh refreshing in a sense uh because it reminded me um of how predictions can be wrong and stuff like that. Um um as an example, you know, like uh year to year they have college football rankings and um for each new season and most of the time they're completely off and they're completely wrong about those predictions as the season moves on. So things can change drastically. So, what ideas from the materials challenged my thinking the most? Um, I probably would say the story of Gary, Indiana. Um, mainly because it made me rethink my assumptions. Always thought cities were very resilient and always had like constant growth. But I see how dear Gary um declined because of its dependence on one industry and also racism. Um the future of cities um also challenged my thinking because it argued that cities remain vital despite technology making distance less important in a sense. Um I I've always heard people say remote work is killing cities but um the author makes a strong case for why face tof face interaction and error concentration still matters to this day. Um and when reading future all that matters um it kind of talks about the idea that the future really doesn't exist um yet but we have to create it through um our actions. Um this re this made me realize I see the future as something that just happens not something that we actively shape and we control from our actions um and what we do now. Hello everyone. My name is Brennan Johnson and this is my reflection from module one on urban American cities in the future. In this reflection, I'll touch on all the required materials. The article Gary Indiana and the long shadow of the US steel, the two videos, magic city of steel part one and the American in the making. The readings what is a city and future all that matters also will bring three additional resources. future craft, the city of tomorrow and the articles, the future of cities and what are futures of cities. My main key takeaways uh from this modules um are that cities are shaped by people's choices, not just by technology. Um the future isn't really something that just happens. It's something we help create like through the um like through our personal actions. Um, we also need to question ideas about growth and progress because they can sometimes hide unfairness and inequality. Um, and I felt as if there are so many possible um outcomes for the future. Um, and we personally need to choose to work towards the ones that we want, the ones that will benefit us in the long run. At first, it was kind of hard for me um to tell how these muh materials connected or even contradicted each other, but um you can kind of see how because they all agree that cities are dynamic and shaped by human decisions. Um but they can also change based on how resilient um a city really is. Uh Peter Hall, the author of Future Cities, says that cities thrive um basically because they move as one. But uh the city of Gary, Indiana shows that cities can also fail when people and policies fail them in a sense. uh the other authors kind of emphasized the idea of plural features that there just not one path uh forward and this kind of was a connection I noticed and the early optimism in America in the making about industrial progress really contrasts what actually happens in Gary Indiana which makes you question those narratives of like growth and stuff like that. How do these materials shape my thinking about urban sustainability and the future of cities? Um, I would say they helped me see that sustainability isn't just about technology. Um, but it's also about fairness, good leadership, and learning from the past. The future cities uh report showed me that ideas like smart and resilience um can help us rethink cities, but they also can just be buzzwords if like not done correctly. Um, uh, all that matters. um in the future craft taught me that it's important to um imagine and like talk about different possible futures um if we want cities to be fair and sustainable in the future. Uh to sum everything up, I just wanted to mention that I use open AI sht to help me organize uh some of my ideas. I think tools like this are very useful for like saving time and clarifying your thoughts. Um, but they shouldn't replace um how you actually engage with the material. Um, me personally, I recommend them as a support, not just like a shortcut or anything like that. Thank you.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi, my name is Brendon Johnson and this is my reflection on module 2. Um, today I'll talk about the required materials and three extra materials that I explored. I'll also share what stood out to me, what was meaningful, and also what was confusing and also how these ideas shape how we think about the future of cities. How do these materials contradict or connect to each other? The APA report and the urban models fit in together in some type of way, but they also contradict each other in a way. The urban models show how cities grew in the past in circles, sectors or around centers. Um they seem very predictable, but the APA report shows how unpredictable cities can be now with climate change, AI, and social changes. Um they both agree that geographic and connections matter. Uh but the APA report adds social justice and future generations matter too. when talking about passages or ideas that were very confusing. Um, I really like the quote from the APA report, future thinking is about the people who will be living in the future. Planners really need to understand the diverse cultural views of those futures we are imagining. Um, this kind of made me really think about the equity and who really benefits from city plans. Um, from the urban geographic reading, the idea of the site and situation was really helpful. It's um, simple but powerful. I really like how San Francisco grew because of the gold and its natural um harbor um or how ports and trade routes really help cities um like Shanghai grow. One thing that kind of confused me at first was the galactic city model, how cities became more spread out with the edge cities instead of everything around uh a downtown. But when I thought about people um that live and work in uh the suburbs today, it started to make sense. Um the most troubling part was learning about how the housing crisis from the APA report um how most homes didn't fit the needs of families um today and how hard it is for young people and older adults to afford to afford housing. Um, one idea that really challenged me was from the APA 2025 THR report where it said planners um have to prepare for things that are uncertain um but can have like big impacts or big impacts um like climate change or giving rivers legal rights. Um I never thought nature could have legal rights or how lawsuits could force cities into acting on climate change. um that's really changed um how I think about what planners do. Um another idea that surprised me was the part about decolonizing the future. Um the report said planners should think about people who aren't even um born yet and include different cultures in planning. Um that made me realize that we use plan for whatever we want now but not everyone in the future. How these ideas shape the future of cities. These materials have helped me see that cities have planned for flexibility and equity. Cities need to include all kinds of people prepared for unexpected problems like floods, uh, migration and new technology. Um, sustainability means that thinking beyond what we see today and about who lives here tomorrow and what they'll need in the future is very important. talking about ideas that were meaningful or confusing. Um I really like the quote from the APA report. Future thinking is about people who will be living in the future. Planners must understand a diverse cultural views those whose views we are imagining. Um this kind of made me think about the equity and who really benefits from city plans. Um from the urban geographic reading, the idea of sight and situation was really helpful. It's simple but powerful in a way. Um, I really like how San Francisco grew because of gold and its natural harbor and how cities like Shanghai grew because of ports and trade routes. Um, one thing that confused me at first was a galactic city model. Um, really because it's really how cities became more spread out with edge cities um, instead of everything around it like around being a downtown. Uh, but when I thought about it um, people live and work in suburbs today and it started to make sense a little bit. Um, the most troubling part was learning about how the housing crisis um from the APA report, how most homes don't fit the needs of families today. Um, and how hard it is for young people and older adults to afford housing today. From module 2, I had three major key takeaways. Um, first, cities are shaped by geographic uh people and policy. Uh second, planning is about imagining better fear of futures, not just managing what exists now. And third, sustainability means designing for change and including everyone, even the people who aren't here yet. So basically planning for the future in a sense. And that is my module 2 reflection. Thank you everyone for watching. Bren Johnson signing out. Peace. I use VT's open AI to help me put together my thoughts. Um, I still went through all the material myself and uh, created the script myself. Um, but I think AI um, tools help you save time and um, help you form a great structure.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi, my name is Brennan Johnson, and this is my reflection on Module 3, which explored how demographic shifts, cultural orientations to time, and historic inequalities have shaped cities—and how they might evolve in the future. This module really pushed me to realize that the future of urban life isn’t just about building structures and improving transit. It’s about people, relationships, and justice.

In this video, I’ll break my reflection into three sections—one for each lesson. After each, I’ll share my key takeaways. I’ll also discuss additional sources toward the end.

Lesson 3.1: Demographics, Aging, and Declining Enrollment

The demographic transition model helped me visualize how the U.S. is entering the later stages of population change. One major takeaway was that our population is aging fast, but urban infrastructure hasn’t adapted to meet the needs of older adults.

The Wall Street Journal article, “American College Towns Go From Boom to Bust,” made this clear. Cities like Macomb, Illinois, are economically collapsing as universities lose students. Dorms are emptying, businesses are closing, and towns are struggling. One quote really stuck with me:

"It’s almost like you’re watching the town die." This drives home the reality of demographic change when a city relies on a single economic anchor.

These ideas connect directly to the video “How Will Society Change as the U.S. Ages?” which emphasized the need for walkable cities, elder care, and multi-generational housing design.

Key Takeaway: Cities must diversify their economies and services—or risk collapse under their own demographic weight.

Lesson 3.2: Time, Mental Health, and City Life

Georg Simmel’s “The Metropolis and Mental Life” explains how urban environments overload the senses, leading people to emotionally shut down. As he puts it, “Man reacts with his head instead of his heart.” I’ve seen this in real life—how people put up emotional walls as a survival tactic in fast-paced cities.

Tuan’s “Fears and Cities” built on this idea, arguing that while cities were once designed for order, they now often feel chaotic and unsafe. He contrasts ancient cities aligned with celestial order to today’s urban environments that often clash with basic human needs.

Sardar’s chapter “Where is the Future?” challenged me most. It introduced the idea that cultures experience time differently. Western cities function on linear, clock-based time, but many Indigenous and religious communities view time as event-based. The quote,

“I’ll meet you when the cows come out,”
reminded me that our concept of progress is not universal.

Key Takeaway: Understanding how people perceive time and manage stress in cities is crucial to designing urban spaces that nourish mental health and preserve human dignity.

Lesson 3.3: Redlining, Suburbanization, and Future Possibilities

This lesson hit hardest for me. The NPR video on redlining showed how government policies caused racial segregation and generational poverty. Minority communities were denied loans just because of their race. These policies created wealth gaps that still exist today.

Nicole Aschoff and Lizzy O’Shea’s article on suburbanization explained how post-WWII programs like the GI Bill and FHA helped white men buy homes—while women and people of color were largely excluded. The suburbs weren’t just housing—they were tools for exclusion.

Toffler’s “The Modular Man” took this further by showing how people have become interchangeable and disposable. In today’s cities, we often form temporary, transactional relationships rather than lasting community.

That’s why I appreciated Dolores Hayden’s “What Would a Non-Sexist City Be Like?” so much. She argues that suburban design traps women, especially working mothers. Her vision of gender-equitable cities includes walkable neighborhoods, co-designed childcare, and housing that supports real-life needs.

Key Takeaway: Moving forward, cities must repair the harm caused by redlining and discriminatory policies. The built environment must support equity—not just efficiency.

Additional Materials

Robert Putnam’s NYT Interview revisited Bowling Alone and introduced two types of social capital: bonding (among similar people) and bridging (across different groups). He warned that loneliness leads to societal breakdown. Cities must intentionally build bridging connections.

Afrofuturism: Sci-Fi + Social Justice inspired me to think creatively about the future. This video showed how art and storytelling can imagine cities built on justice—not just policy. It reminded me that imagination is just as important as planning.

Women and Urban Planning highlighted how women are reshaping cities to better serve everyone—especially when it comes to safety, childcare, and transit. It directly connects to Hayden’s feminist framework and proves that diversity in planning leads to more inclusive cities.

Final Reflection

Module 3 taught me that sustainable cities must be people-centered, not profit-centered. They must acknowledge history, support mental health, and recognize cultural perspectives on time and connection.

To build the cities of tomorrow, we need to repair past injustices like redlining, adopt inclusive urban designs like Hayden’s, and plan with empathy—not just for efficiency.

Thank you for watching my reflection. I used ChatGPT by OpenAI to help organize my thoughts and structure this script.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello, my name is Brennan Johnson, and this is my reflection for Module 4. In this module, we explored the changing economic context of cities, along with more recent transitions in outlook, work, infrastructure, and real estate. I’ll share which ideas challenged me, which stood out as meaningful, and how these ideas shaped my thinking about urban sustainability and the future of cities.

This module included two main lessons Lesson 4.1 and Lesson 4.2 as well as several additional readings. At the end of each lesson, I’ll also share my connections and key takeaways.

Lesson 4.1 The Changing Economic Context of Cities

From Knox and Pinch, one big idea that stood out to me was how cities evolve alongside economic transitions. They describe the shift from preindustrial cities, which had rigid social orders, to industrial cities built on Fordism, and finally to post-industrial cities shaped by globalization and technology. What challenged me was realizing how much inequality these transitions create. Cities often polarize into groups — some people gain access to new opportunities, while others are left behind.

From Naisbitt’s Megatrends, the major theme was the shift from a national economy to a world economy. America once dominated global industry, but by the 1980s Japan, South Korea, and Brazil were rising. His phrase “thinking globally, acting locally” really resonated with me. It connects to today’s reality that cities compete on a global stage but still must meet the daily needs of their local communities.

Connections and Takeaway for Lesson 4.1:
These materials challenged me to rethink cities not just as local places, but as nodes in a global network. For sustainability, this means cities cannot act in isolation — they must coordinate across borders on trade, migration, and especially climate. My key takeaway is that economic shifts always reshape city life, and the cities that adapt fastest are usually the ones that thrive.

Lesson 4.2 Transitions in Outlook, Work, Infrastructure, and Real Estate

The TED-Ed video asked: “Can the economy grow forever?” The idea that infinite growth is impossible really challenged me to think about alternatives.

The COVID-19 video showed how the pandemic accelerated remote work and changed housing demand.

The WIRED real estate interview highlighted how zoning restrictions and affordability crises are shaping U.S. cities.

Finally, the Stanford infrastructure video stressed that smart, data-driven investments are crucial for resilience and sustainability.

Additional Materials

Paoletta’s Shrinking the Economy to Save the World introduced the degrowth movement, which argues that to save the planet, we must move away from our obsession with GDP and accept slower or even negative growth.

Bieri’s Are Green Cities Nice Places to Live? showed that greener cities lead to a higher quality of life, making sustainability not just an environmental choice but also an economic one.

Kahloon’s The World Keeps Getting Richer. Some People Are Worried pointed out the paradox that while growth has lifted billions out of poverty, it has also made climate change worse. This really challenged me — how do we balance justice for developing nations with sustainability for the planet as a whole?

Keynes’ Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren was surprisingly optimistic. He predicted that by now, societies might be able to work shorter hours and focus more on quality of life than accumulation. That made me reflect on whether we’ve failed to realize his vision.

Connections and Takeaway for Lesson 4.2

These additional sources sometimes contradicted each other. Keynes imagined abundance, while degrowth argues for contraction. Bieri showed that green growth can improve life, while Kahloon warned that too much growth could destroy the planet.

My takeaway is that the future of cities depends on redefining success beyond GDP. Cities that invest in green infrastructure, embrace flexible work, and prioritize well-being will be more sustainable and more attractive.

Conclusion

In summary, Module 4 really shaped my perspective. Lesson 4.1 showed me that economic transitions always change cities, while Lesson 4.2 forced me to wrestle with the paradox of growth and sustainability.

My biggest takeaway is that the future of cities depends on finding a balance embracing innovation and global interdependence, while also protecting the environment and focusing on quality of life. That balance is the only way cities can remain sustainable for future generations.

And finally, I want to note that I used ChatGPT’s OpenAI tools to help me organize my thoughts for today’s reflection. Thank you.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello, my name is Brennan Johnson, and this is my reflection for Module 5.

In this module, we explored how cities are working to build sustainable futures in the face of climate change, energy demands, food insecurity, and post-globalization challenges. I’ll break down each lesson, highlight what challenged me, what stood out, and how the additional sources deepened my understanding.

Lesson 5.1: Urban Sustainability & Biophilic Cities

In the Crash Course video, we learned that sustainable cities must balance three key pillars: environmental health, social equity, and economic viability.
What challenged me most was realizing how hard it is to strike this balance—especially in the Global South, where infrastructure and population growth often outpace planning efforts.

The guest lecture by Tim Beatley and Carla Jones-Harrell introduced the concept of biophilic cities—urban spaces designed to integrate nature into everyday life. What stood out to me was the powerful link between greenery and emotional well-being. Biophilic design isn’t just environmentally smart—it’s also essential for mental health and building stronger communities.

Lesson 5.2: Energy and Food

In the chapter by Rodey and Claw, the authors explain how outdated heating systems in buildings waste energy. One striking example was how heat flows into homes regardless of whether someone is present. Their solution—smart systems like Nest—shows how syncing energy use with human behavior can drive real sustainability gains.

The video on AI and energy was surprising. We often think of digital technology as clean, but I learned that AI systems require enormous amounts of energy. This really challenged my assumptions about the environmental impact of tech.

The Financial Times documentary on food after globalization highlighted how cities are working to localize food systems. Innovations like vertical farming and urban agriculture impressed me—they reduce emissions while improving access to fresh produce. This showed me that food is no longer just a rural issue; it’s central to urban sustainability.

Lesson 5.3: Globalization and Post-Globalization

Patrick Le Galès’ article, The Rise and Fall of the Sociology of the Global City, challenged the idea that cities like New York or London are still dominant. He argues that climate change, migration, and inequality are reshaping what it means to be urban. This made me think of cities not only as economic engines, but also as battlegrounds for justice and human survival.

Additional Sources

1. "12 Migrants, One Apartment" – The New Yorker
This article gave a face to the housing crisis. Twelve migrants sharing one small apartment in Queens—using curtains for walls and one bathroom. It reminded me that urban sustainability isn’t just about green roofs or carbon emissions. It’s about human dignity.

2. UN Strategic Foresight Guide
This guide was a game changer. It introduced tools like scenario planning, horizon scanning, and backcasting—methods that help cities plan for multiple futures. What stood out was how these tools emphasize participation and long-term thinking, which are crucial for tackling complex urban problems like housing and inequality.

3. "America’s Yard Sale" – Business Insider
This article looked at the rise of the secondhand economy. Platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and ThredUp are helping people buy and sell used goods for both affordability and sustainability. It connected back to Lesson 5.1—sustainability doesn’t always mean high-tech. Sometimes, it’s about making better use of what we already have.

Final Connections & Takeaways

Across all three lessons and the additional readings, I found a few powerful themes:

Technology isn’t automatically sustainable—it must be managed responsibly. Nature and community matter—future cities must be designed not just with data, but with people in mind. Equity is essential—human stories, whether from migrants or thrift resellers, show us the true heart of sustainability. And finally, tools like strategic foresight can help cities shift from reactive crisis responses to proactive, inclusive planning.

This module taught me that urban sustainability isn’t just about systems. It’s about people. From energy and food to housing and future planning, we need solutions that are not only smart—but inclusive and rooted in human dignity.

Thanks for listening to my reflection. I used OpenAI's ChatGPT to help organize my thoughts.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone, my name is Brennan Johnson, and this is my Module 6 reflection.

In this module, we explored how technology shapes urban form and influences the way we imagine and plan future cities. Throughout this course, we’ve touched on technology’s role here and there, but in this module it takes center stage—not just as a tool, but as a force that changes how cities work, look, and even feel. What stood out to me was how the module connected history, present-day technology, and even science fiction visions into one conversation, showing how each influences the next. It made me think not only about what technology can do, but also what it should do for communities.

Lesson 6.1 – The Technologically Evolving City

One of the main readings, Cities in the Third Wave by Ruch, used the “three waves of change” to show how cities evolve:

First Wave – Agriculture and Pre-Industrial: Small, walkable, and connected to waterways.

Second Wave – Industrial: Steam power, railroads, and factories transformed cities into manufacturing hubs.

Third Wave – Post-Industrial: Built around knowledge, innovation, and advanced technology—cities now trade in ideas, software, and global networks instead of steel and coal.

What struck me was that each wave didn’t fully replace the one before. Traces of industrial and even pre-industrial patterns still exist today. This overlap means planners have to manage layers of history while building for the future.

In Leah Navis’s Revisiting the Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, technology—especially AI—was used to analyze public spaces in Manhattan Plaza. The study revealed surprising patterns. For example, William Whyte’s old idea of “street theater,” where people watch other people, doesn’t hold the same way today. Instead, people often gather in public spaces but focus on their devices. They also discovered quirky habits like:

The Donut Effect: People fill in the edges of a plaza first.

Viewophilia: A love of good views.

Lizarding: Relaxing in the sun.

These findings show how small design elements—like bench placement or sunlight—can shape how people use spaces. AI now gives planners tools to measure these behaviors in ways that were previously impossible.

The Crash Course Geography video tied this together by showing how technology shapes city growth, from transportation to communication. It also warned that poorly planned technology can create inequality—such as when new transit lines bypass lower-income neighborhoods.

Anthony Townsend’s The Ghost Road made me think about future mobility. He warned that if we simply replace human-driven cars with self-driving ones but keep the same car-focused infrastructure, we’ll miss the chance to design safer, more walkable, and greener streets.

Connections and Takeaways – Lesson 6.1

My three biggest takeaways:

Technology is a driver of urban change—and now it moves at a faster pace and larger scale. This speed is exciting but dangerous, because mistakes can have immediate and widespread effects.

Data is powerful but must enhance human experience. AI can tell us where people sit, but only listening to their voices can tell us why they feel comfortable there.

Human preferences still matter. No matter how advanced cities become, people still want sunlight, views, and comfortable spaces. Ignoring these needs risks creating smart but cold and disconnected cities.

Additional Resources

Carl Abbott’s “Dude, Where’s My Aircar?” – From Imagining Urban Futures. He used science fiction to show that many future city visions just resemble present-day cities with flashier tech, like flying cars or moving sidewalks. This made me realize how limited our imagination can be—we often just upgrade existing systems rather than rethink them for equity and sustainability.

Jill Lepore’s “The Artificial State” – Highlighted the risks of algorithm-driven politics. It made me think about urban planning: if corporations control the algorithms that decide which neighborhoods get investment, we could create a digital form of redlining.

Evgeny Morozov’s “The Social Origins of Big Data” – Explored Chile’s 1970s Cybersyn project, an early attempt to manage an entire economy in real time with data. This reminded me that smart city ideas have existed for decades and are always tied to political values. Technology carries moral choices as well as technical ones.

Conclusion

Module 6 reinforced for me that technology is not neutral—it shapes our cities, politics, and daily lives. It can help us design more sustainable, connected communities, but it can also create inequality or strip away the human element if we’re not careful.

Future cities won’t just be about roads, buildings, and parks they’ll also run on invisible networks of data and algorithms. We need planners who can read code as well as blueprints, and leaders who know that just because we canautomate something doesn’t mean we should.

The best “smart” city is ultimately a human city—one that uses technology as a servant, not a master.

Thanks for watching

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone. My name is Brennan Johnson and today I'm presenting my preferred vision for the city of Richmond, Virginia in the year 2045. This city I know best, but I'm imagining it transformed over the next two decades into a place that is greener, more equitable, and more connected than it's ever been. Throughout this course, I've learned that cities are not just shaped by physical infrastructure, but by choices people make. Policies, leadership, and community action. That's the lens I'm bringing to his vision. Introduction. My vision for Richmond in 2045 built on three big ideas from this class. First, cities are a dynamic and shaped by human decision. For module one's idea of the city as a theater of social action. Second, equity and sustainability must go hand in hand. As we saw in module 3's histories of redlinining in module 5's examples of bofilic cities. Third, the future isn't something that just happens. It's something we actively create. A lesson that has been mentioned throughout every module. By 2045, I see Richmond as a thriving midsize city that embraces technology while staying deeply human- centered. where and how people will live. In 2045, Richmond's population will be around 325,000 people, a projected based on the city's current growth rate and migration from climate affected coastal areas. Most people will live in mixed use walkable neighborhoods designed for multigenerational living where grandparents, parents, and children can live close together, sharing amenities and reducing cost. Drawing from module 5 biolithic design principles, these neighborhoods will be rich with green roofs, vertical gardens, and urban forces. Every resident will be within a 10-minute walk of both park and public transit stop. Housing will be affordable by design thanks to zoning reform and inclusionary policies that prevent displacement, a direct response to inequalities we saw in module 3's redlinining lesson. What people will do economically, Richmond will have transitioned into a green technology hub. Building on lessons from module 4, the city will embrace industries that connect local needs to global opportunities. We'll see growth in renewable energy manufacturing, AI assisted urban planning services, and climate resilience research centers. Food production will be a part of the local economy through vertical farms, hydroponic systems, and rooftop gardens that feed residents while creating jobs. Remote work hubs and neighborhood co-working spaces will keep communities vibrant while cutting down on long commutes. Cultural tourism will remain strong, but it will be paired with investments in local artists and creative entrepreneurs, making Richmond not just a place to visit, but a place where creative talents thrive. Daily life and city characteristics. Daily life will feel more connected, more sustainable, and less stressful than it does today. Transportation will be centered around autonomous electric shuttles and expanded bus rapid transit network protected by bike highways and safe walking routes. People will eat locally grown foods from nearby urban farms, farmers markets, and cooperative grocery stores, reducing food miles, and building food security. Waste will be managed through a zerowaste circular economy where nearly everything is reused, repaired, or composted. Inspired by module 3's focus on mental health, public spaces will be intentionally designed to reduce sensory overload with quiet areas, shade, and art installation that invites people to slow down. Children will grow up in neighborhoods where schools, parks, and after school programs are easily accessible. Older adults will benefit from universal designs and housing, public facilities, allowing them to age in a place without losing independence. Economic and social problems reduced. By 2045, Richmond have drastically reduced the housing inequities that have existed for decades. Permanent supportive housing will reduce homelessness to less than 1%. Through green job training programs and targeted investment in historically underserved communities, the wage gap will have narrowed significantly. Public transit access will be equal across neighborhoods. No more bypassing lower income areas. A problem highlighted in module six, transportation equity lesson. Environmental problems reduced. Environmental progress will be clear. Richmond will be powered entirely by renewable energy, eliminating fossil fuel dependency. The James River and its wetlands will be restored and expanded, acting as a natural flood protection. A strategy informed by the climate resilience examples from module 5. Air quality will improve thanks to both reduced emissions and urban green projects that act natural as carbon sinks. Other problems reduced social isolation which we explored in Robert Putnham's bowling alone from module 3 will decline as public spaces community events and co-l livingiving arrangements foster grinding connections across different groups. Universal high-speed internet will ensure that all residents have equal access to online education, teley health, and remote work opportunities. New problems to watch for. No future is perfect. Richmond in 2045 will face new challenges. One is digital redlinining where biased algorithms decide which neighborhoods get investments. As module 6 warned, technology can create inequality if not managed ethically. Another is climate migration. As more people move inland from vulnerable coastal areas, there will be pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services. And while local food systems will make us more resilient, they will also be vulnerable to extreme weather. So, redundancy and backup supply chains will be critical. Probability. I will call my vision moderately likely really because most of the ideas from renewable energy to equitable housing policies already exist in some form today. The barrier isn't technology. It's political will, funding, and public commitment. Without those, progress could stall. But with strong leadership and an engaged community, this future is within reach. Five actions starting in 2025. To move forward with this vision, Richmond will start now with five actions. First, adopt inclusive zoning reforms to allow affordable mixeduse housing, which was mentioned in module 2. Second, invest in renewable energy infrastructure and training for green jobs, which was mentioned in module 5. Third, launch a citywide urban farming innovative to improve food security, which was mentioned in module 5. Fourth, enact digital equity laws to prevent algorithm bias which is mentioned in module six. And fifth, use strategic foresight methods like scenario planning and backcasting to guide decision-m which was used in module 5. My individual role starting in 2025, I will be an advocate for affordable housing and equitable zoning policies. I will also support local food systems and secondhand economies that keep resources in the community. I'll be a participant in city planning forums to make sure all voices are heard. I will also promote responsible technology used in urban planning, ensuring that digital tools enhance not replace human decision-m. Conclusion: Richmond in 2045 will be a human city first, a place where technology serves people, not the other way around. It will be a city that learns from its history, invest in its people, and design for both resilience and joy. The biggest lesson I've taken away from this of course is that future is built on the decisions we make now and in Richmond those decisions can lead to a city that is greener, fairer and more connected than ever. These are my references in which slides I use these certain references. Thank you. In today's video, I use Chat GPT’s open AI to help me put together my thoughts and references.