Equitable Infrastructure: a resource framing infrastructure types using an equitable placemaking lens
I was recently honoured to be invited to contribute to this report on infrastructure and equity in Canada. While the term infrastructure has traditionally meant roads and buildings and parks - this group of diverse community leaders was able to re-imagine how infrastructure could look if we valued equity. If we recognized the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, if we respected the rich identities and experiences of Black people, if we considered justice - how would our built environment change? When we think about rebuilding after this pandemic, and as many speak of going “back to normal”, I want you to imagine a radically different tomorrow. One where we take care of the human beings around us and design our environment with respect for black and brown bodies and respect for the earth built in to the planning from inception to implementation. This report explores that thought and brought together so many big thinkers to help inform this lens.
Special shout out to lead author and big hearted place maker Jay Pitter for her vision.
The following text is from the September 1 blog post from Community Foundations of Canada.
The Community Foundations of Canada convened a diverse range of stakeholders and Jay Pitter was the lead author and process facilitator. Together with practitioners, funders, organizers, and academics leading transformative place-based initiatives across multiple disciplines, the collective has co-created a robust response to the recent federal call for submissions.
The collective is pleased to share this resource document with colleagues, communities and decision-makers interested in deepening their understanding of the critically important role that equitable infrastructure can play in COVID-19 recovery strategies. The resource document endeavours to both expand and critically redefine the term infrastructure. Then, employing an equity-based placemaking lens, it unpacks the different types of infrastructure that we identified:
physical infrastructure
social infrastructure
participatory and democratic infrastructure
digital infrastructure
economic infrastructure
The natural environment is positioned as core and foundational, in recognition of its sovereignty and sacredness.
