Four Degrees to the Streets
43 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 29 ratingsFour Degrees to the Streets is designed to empower anyone curious about places and spaces, not just persons with professional degrees or backgrounds. Here we will cover a host of topics, including transportation, health, housing, and the environment, through the lens of racism, classism, and sexism and give listeners the tools they need to overcome institutional barriers. Please rate and leave a review! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @the4degreespod. Or connect with us over email at [email protected].
Tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.
Views and opinions are our own.
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Episodes
Bonus Episode: Season 4 Finale
April 23, 2024 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.74 MBThank you to all of our listeners for a great season 4! In this bonus episode, Nimo and Jas recap the season, memorable moments, special guests, and our accomplishments over the last four years. We’ve reached over 10,000 total downloads, 27 countries, and over 6,000 unique listeners. The Podcast will be back with new episodes for season 5 in Fall 2024. News for next season: Nimo will be taking a break. However, Jas will continue to host Season 5. Thank you for listening and tune in every ...
Economic Development of Former Military Bases: Tyler Perry Studios
April 09, 2024 09:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBIt's difficult to argue Tyler Perry's influence in the entertainment industry and Black media. Twenty-four feature films, 20 stage plays, 17 television shows, and two New York Times bestselling books. In this episode, Nimo and Jas uncover the impact of Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) and the physical footprint implications in Atlanta. TPS opened its 330 acres in 2019 after purchasing land that was the former Fort McPherson military base. Press play to hear: History of Fort McPherson and Base Rea...
Planning for a Growing Metropolitan Area while Growing your Planning Career
March 26, 2024 13:15 - 44 minutes - 25.4 MBNina Simone sang, "To be young, gifted, and Black." For today's episode, we'll add one more: to be young, gifted, Black, and a planner! Nimo and Jas sat down with Kamau As-Salaam, the Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning for Henry County, Georgia, part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, where the population is expected to increase by 1.8 million by 2050. Kamau participated in and facilitated Henry County's 2045 Comprehensive Plan, zoning code updates, housing affordability measures, and ...
Budget Equity in Local Government
March 12, 2024 09:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBYou may remember our first in-person episode, “Where The Money Reside,” from Season 1. In it, we explained the budgeting process in local governments and briefly mentioned examples of how cities can incorporate equity into the budget process. Today, we’re following up with a deeper dive into budget equity as a tool to address historic and present inequalities throughout programs and plans that lead to effective change and implementation. PolicyLink’s Equity Manifesto defines equity as just a...
Genealogy and Urban Planning with Ross Murph
February 27, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBHappy Black History Month! This week, we have a special guest, Ross Murph, aka MorfBoss, a professional genealogist born in New York with Southern roots. Ross shares examples from Los Angeles, CA, and Washington, DC, to tell the history of Black and Latino land loss. According to the American Bar Association, as an example, by 1997, Black farmers lost more than 90 percent of the 16 million acres they owned in 1910. This massive decline was possible through white privilege, power, and influen...
Genealogy and Urban Planning with MORFBOSS
February 27, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBHappy Black History Month! This week, we have a special guest, Ross Murph, aka MORFBOSS, a professional genealogist born in New York with Southern roots. He uses his research to uplift people and uncover overlooked parts of history. Ross shares examples from Los Angeles, CA, and Washington, DC, to tell the history of Black and Latino land loss. According to the American Bar Association, as an example, by 1997, Black farmers lost more than 90 percent of the 16 million acres they owned in 1910...
Walk Score & More: Tools to Measure Environmental Quality
February 13, 2024 09:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBThe podcast often discusses how human activity and policies impact the natural and built environment. In today’s episode, Nimo and Jas share vital tools and resources to help you understand the environmental condition of your community and how to use the tools to make decisions in your personal life. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is the source for most of the tools below. EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment by ensuring clean air, land, an...
The Economic Impact of the Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour
January 30, 2024 09:00 - 44 minutes - 81.3 MBThe Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour was more than ticket sales, metallic outfits, horses in outer space, and a showcase of a timeless album. In this special in-person episode, Nimo and Jas discuss the tour's impact on urban planning and local economies. The Renaissance World Tour influenced ten countries, with 56 shows in total. As the highest-grossing tour for any female artist and the highest ever of any artist per show, averaging $10.3 million per show. The New York Times estimated the tou...
Empowering Community Development Education through ULI's UrbanPlan: An Interview with Kevin Miles
January 16, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBHow old were you when you discovered urban planning? Maybe it was listening to our podcast, attending a community meeting for a proposed development change, or a class you took in school. In today’s episode, Nimo and Jas interview Mr. Kevin Miles, a dynamic teacher and DEI facilitator based in Dallas, Texas. By using the Urban Land Institute’s UrbanPlan curriculum, press play to hear how he cultivated a five-year education path for 8th-12th grade students at Dallas Townview School of Busines...
Transit-Oriented Development East to West w/ Urban Planning is Not Boring
January 02, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBHappy New Year! In this special joint episode, the Four Degrees to the Streets and Urban Planning is Not Boring podcasts come together to discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Hosts Nimo, Jas, Sam, and Nat use their expertise and experience living in TODs as a backdrop to give a coast-to-coast perspective on this complex subject. Press play to hear: TOD defined as a mixed-use community that encourages people to live near transit services and decrease their dependence on driving and it...
An Intro to CDFIs: Compassion, Community, & Financing
December 12, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBIn this episode of the Four Degrees to the Streets podcast, hosts Nimo and Jas interview Natasha Dowell, a Loan Officer at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in the Southeast US. Natasha has over a decade of public health experience and is passionate about bringing to life community development projects that advance health equity. Her public health experience covers a wide range including behavioral health, nutritional and physical fitness, maternal and child health...
Why Aren't Kids Playing Outside?
November 28, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBHello, and welcome back to the fourth season of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! We are truly grateful for your support since 2020, and we're excited to bring you something truly special this season. In today’s episode, what if we told you that technology might not be solely to blame for why kids don't play outside anymore? What if we said that the physical design of our roadways, parks, and neighborhoods could have a bigger impact on children's safety and access to outdoor play? P...
Inclusive Transportation
September 05, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.3 MBSeason Four is almost here! In the meantime, we have a special interview to share. This July, Veronica O. Davis, PE, transportation expert and Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations for Houston, Texas*, released her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. Nimo and Jas had the pleasure of speaking with Veronica Davis about her inspiration for the book, questions from our reading, and reflections on her career journey in fields that lack Black...
Make the Plan, Find Your Purpose
April 11, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBBoy, we had a time this season! And just like that, we’re on our last episode of season three. We got to catch up with Nina Idemudia, AICP, before she presented several sessions at the American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference that took place April 1-4, 2023. Nina inspired Nimo and Jas in their planning careers long before this episode. She currently serves as the Chicago Recovery Plan Director for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. She start...
And The Winner Is...: Reactions to RCP Awardees
March 28, 2023 09:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBEarlier this month, we met with a special guest and Professional Planner, Byron Nicholas, to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, regional planning, and the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP). We discussed MPOs and USDOT funding. However, we want to dive deeper to give an overview of federal transportation authorizations and why they matter in BIL and environmental planning. BIL is the most recent federal transportation authorization and the largest in history, so it’s only r...
AMERICA HAS A [Infrastructure] PROBLEM
March 14, 2023 09:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBOne of President Biden's top priorities was to build better infrastructure. To start, he signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on November 15, 2021, that allocated funding to over 350 distinct programs across more than a dozen federal departments and agencies. One may wonder how this historic $1.2 trillion investment in roads and bridges, broadband, rail and transit, clean energy, and water will look when it appears at their doorstep. We sat down with Byron Nicholas, PP, AICP, based in Ne...
Free to Move with ACE YOGA LA
February 28, 2023 11:30 - 1 hour - 36.5 MBThank you to all of our listeners for a powerful Black History Month focused on health and wellness. We’ve enjoyed sharing health-related content and meaningful conversations with guests. This episode is no different. We’re joined by Alicia “ACE” Easter, certified yoga and meditation instructor and master Reiki practitioner. ACE also hosts the JOY FOR LIFE Podcast that covers self-discovery, loss, motherhood, mindfulness, body acceptance, and the extraordinary power of yoga. Press play to he...
Free Flo Fit
February 14, 2023 09:00 - 50 minutes - 28.7 MBHappy Black History Month! Places and spaces that are accessible for people to be physically active directly impact health, wellness, and quality of life, as discussed in our last episode, where we used the Atlanta Beltline as a case study. This week, the hosts are joined by the founders of Free Flo Fit, Shontia Walton and Adaeze Medani, a non-profit organization making health and fitness more affordable, inclusive, and accessible for the minority community. Based in Seattle, WA, Shontia and...
The South Got Something to Say
January 31, 2023 07:30 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBThe World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” To kick off our health and wellness theme for Black History Month, Nimo & Jas use the Atlanta Beltline Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a case study. The primary goals of the Beltline include more parks, trails, transit, and redevelopment. Lack of access to these can lead to adverse health outcomes like obesity, diabetes, heart dis...
Reclaiming block parties & Blackness
January 17, 2023 09:00 - 49 minutes - 28.2 MBLast season, we released an episode about how to make community engagement work for you. This week, Nimo and Jas had the opportunity to sit down with Julia (she/her), a Seattle-based community planner, to discuss the research question that she answered in a year-long project in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic: how block parties can be used as an empowerment tool to positively affect civic engagement for the Black community? Press play to hear: Reflections on the current state of local c...
Failing to plan is planning to fail
January 03, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBHappy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed the holidays. Welcome to 2023! It’s often challenging to define urban planning when there are numerous types and approaches to planning. Although, the approach most likely to succeed includes as many elements as needed. Urban planning in local government is usually centered around a document known as a master plan, a blueprint for the future while examining existing and proposed uses. Press play to hear: An overview of what master planning includes...
Is cost of living everything?
December 13, 2022 09:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBThe topic of inflation is in the news daily. As the cost of consumer goods increases, this impacts household spending and, more broadly, the cost of living. Location matters when measuring the cost of living because it is subjective, unlike inflation, which measures change over a period of time. In this episode, Nimo and Jas explore what matters most when deciding where to live and how much it costs. Press play to hear: Methodology discussion on RentCafe.com report: The Best Places to Live ...
Future of Work
November 29, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBWelcome to season three of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! We’re excited to be back to continue delivering relatable and informative episodes this year. Make sure to watch this full recording on our YouTube channel. In this episode, Nimo & Jas break down what work, workplaces, and the workforce look like almost three years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent many industries home and out of the traditional office building setting. Press play to hear: A comparison of central business d...
Emerging practices in social responsibility
March 22, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 33.6 MBThat’s a wrap! Thank you to all of our listeners for a great second season. We will be back for season three this fall. In this season finale, Nimo and Jas dig into emerging programs in the urban planning and development space. Specifically, the topic and pilot programs related to Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) in the transportation field and Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund launched in 2021. Arguably, both programs aim to make communities better, but does the mission align with the execution? P...
Decision-making in public space: Gender, race, and class
March 08, 2022 09:00 - 49 minutes - 35.5 MBIn honor of Women’s History Month, we dedicate this episode to the authentic experiences of people who identify as women in public space and the built environment. Planners of all gender identities have a responsibility to create spaces that are safe and accessible for all users. Women are often underrepresented in the fields responsible for these conditions. Such as planning, architecture, and engineering. Nimo and Jas interviewed two fellow black women on how they engage with public space ...
The Streets Are Not Equal
February 22, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 27 MBThis week, Nimo and Jas sat down with Charles T. Brown, Founder and CEO of Equitable Cities. A minority- and veteran-owned urban planning, public policy, and research firm focused at the intersection of transportation, health, and equity. Charles is internationally known for his research and advocacy on barriers to access in transportation and the built environment for racialized minorities, women, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. This episode discusses his recent...
People-First Public Safety and Health
February 08, 2022 09:00 - 50 minutes - 36.6 MB“Reimagine 911.” A common call-to-action in the movement following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Since then, many local governments have begun to assess their policing systems, gun violence, investments in public safety, and public health and human services. Traditionally, only Police and Fire/EMS have been available to respond in-person to a person in crisis on a 24/7 basis, but that is changing. This week, we have a special guest, Dan Kornfield, Executive Director of Dignity Best Pra...
Tracing the Dream
January 25, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 35.6 MBIn honor of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday earlier this month, Nimo and Jas traced the dream back to the 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement. Following the March on Washington and his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, authorizing the federal government to enforce desegregation and prohibit discrimination. We explored Dr. King's tremendous legacy and how that has impacted black people in the ...
Grown folks business: Planning for older adults
January 11, 2022 09:00 - 37 minutes - 28.2 MBAccording to the Population Reference Bureau, over 55 million Americans are 65 or older. And by 2030, 26 states will have over 20 percent of their residents over the age of 65. This podcast is for anyone curious about places and spaces, their community, and how to make it better. So it is only fitting to discuss what it means to age in place, which is staying in your own residence as you age for as long as you can. To do so successfully, older adults need to access necessary services to main...
How-to: Researching your neighborhood
December 14, 2021 09:00 - 48 minutes - 90.3 MBHappy Holidays! Nimo and Jas are back this week with another "how-to" episode. There are many resources available to explore the world around you from a planning perspective, such as the social impacts and economic functions in a specific place. However, these tools are accessible for everyone. They may empower you to find the answers to your questions about why your neighborhood, town, city, or state is the way that it is today. Press play to hear: How to use Census data to explore people...
Four Degrees, Four Careers
November 30, 2021 09:00 - 46 minutes - 33.9 MBNo two planners are the same from their title, educational journey, and interest areas. Even though Nimo and Jas have a total of four degrees in planning, neither of them works in traditional planning roles. This week, they had the pleasure of interviewing Jasmine Burnett and Michelle Juma to add their perspective on life after studying planning. Jasmine Burnett is based in Atlanta, GA. Her work focuses on building self-determined and liberated Black communities based on cooperative econom...
Can you pay my bills?: Renting during COVID-19
November 16, 2021 09:00 - 52 minutes - 38.5 MBThe CDC’s eviction moratorium to block the eviction process for tenants who cannot pay rent ended on August 26, 2021. In a public health emergency like COVID-19, this ensures people can quarantine, isolate, and social distance to prevent the spread. This Supreme Court decision spurred national discussion on housing policies for the most vulnerable, financially-strained residents. This week, Nimo and Jas cover the status of wage growth, housing costs (and affordability) as we approach the fin...
How-to: Make community engagement work for you
November 02, 2021 09:00 - 44 minutes - 32.1 MBWelcome to season two of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast. We missed y’all and plan to deliver more relatable and informative episodes this year. Make sure to subscribe to our email list. Our first “how-to” themed episode covers the basics of how to make community engagement work for you in your neighborhood. The American Planning Association defines civic engagement as the process of working collaboratively with individuals and groups to achieve specific goals. Press play to hear: ...
Old Town Road: Conversations on traffic safety
April 27, 2021 09:00 - 47 minutes - 36.3 MBHey, y’all! Thank you for a great first season. We’ll be back in Fall 2021 with more relatable urban planning content for the streets. In the season finale, Nimo and Jas dig into all things traffic safety. Specifically, the 4 E’s: Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Evaluation. Data shows that 49 out of 50 states are getting increasingly dangerous, and pedestrian fatalities are up 45 percent in the last 10 years. What policies and programs are addressing this public safety and public he...
#WeOutside: Climate change overview for the streets
April 13, 2021 09:00 - 40 minutes - 29.6 MBWith Earth Day 2021 approaching this month, Nimo and Jas took time to analyze the cycle of climate change. Specifically, the relationship between climate, the built environment, human behavior, and the daily human experience in a world that is getting warmer every day. In recent times, 2015 to 2019 had the top five hottest years on record. And 19 of the 20 warmest years have occurred since 2001. Press play to hear: A brief explanation of the difference between climate and weather. An overv...
"Where the Money Reside"
March 30, 2021 09:00 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MBHappy Spring! This week we have a special treat. Nimo and Jas met up in DC for the first time since starting Four Degrees to the Streets to record this episode in-person. In addition to the audio recording, you can also watch this episode’s full visual recording on our Instagram. “Where the Money Reside” is all about how local governments develop their budget. The budget process determines implementation for policies, plans, and programs, which will naturally impact residents and their quali...
Sports and the City
March 02, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBIf there is one thing most of us can agree on, the professional sports industry is fueled by money. Fan-based revenue is one of the major sources of income, and they need a place to call home. This week Nimo and Jas investigated the impact of sports stadium construction deals on cities, specifically the San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium that opened in 2014. The average cost of an NFL stadium is $1.2 billion. Should local taxpayers and governments be responsible for paying for a portion of t...
#SupportBlackBusiness
February 16, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBFour Degrees to the Streets is excited to celebrate Black History Month with two episodes that focus on Black history, community, and planning. This week's episode features a panel of Black business owners from around the country! Speakers include Kira Hibbert, based in Philadelphia, owner and partner at 3BL Developers, and real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Preferred. Basheera Agyeman, founder and owner of SheWrapz, a Ghanaian-American Muslim educator based in Baton Rouge. We also hea...
Black History, Community, and Planning
February 02, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutes - 38.9 MBFour Degrees to the Streets is excited to celebrate Black History Month with two episodes that focus on Black history, community, and planning. This week, Nimo and Jas talk with Kristen Jeffers (she/her), also known as The Black Urbanist. Her multimedia platform highlights Black Queer Feminist Urbanist design, planning, and practice. Later this month, episode 6 will feature a panel of Black business owners from around the country! Press play to hear: Reflections on the development of Black ...
Policy Attempts to Remediate Injustice
January 19, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBRemember episode 1? Nimo and Jas weighed in on federal policies that contributed to the history of racism in the United States. This week’s episode focuses on housing, environmental, and transportation policies that attempt to address past wrongdoings and injustices. These policies are not perfect and come with their own set of challenges; however, they created a foundation for equitable practices. Press play to hear the following attempted remedies: The Fair Housing Act, Low-Income Housing...
Mental Health and the Built Environment
January 05, 2021 09:00 - 51 minutes - 36.1 MBHappy New Year! 2020, COVID-19, and stay at home orders affected mental health for many individuals. How do communities cope when their built environment does not support positive mental health outcomes from a planning perspective? This week we are joined by a special guest, Christie Holland of Gutted Fitness LLC. Gutted Fitness helps black individuals from urban areas make peace with their past, present, and future by providing and preserving safe spaces to be black. Christie uses her backg...
Racism as a Public Health Crisis
December 12, 2020 16:00 - 47 minutes - 88.4 MBIn 2018, the American Public Health Association (APHA) declared law enforcement violence disproportionately affecting people of color and marginalized communities a public health issue. In 2020, following the killing of George Floyd and continued police violence during protests, APHA declared racism as a public health crisis. In this episode, Nimo and Jasmine consider the pros and cons of how states, cities, and counties responded to this declaration and the current state of public health am...
The History of Racism in Urban Planning
November 24, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 152 MBWelcome to Four Degrees to the Streets! In the first episode of the podcast, Nimo and Jasmine define urban planning and a brief history of racism in the United States. Press play to hear: An analysis of the American Planning Association (APA) statement on Righting the Wrongs of Racial Inequality (published May 2020). Are some of the most influential urban planners racist in their policies? Think Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs. A breakdown of federal policy decisions that altered communitie...