On October 15, nearly 250 people attended the Courageous by Design symposium in NYC, where panelists addressed the theoretical – understanding the scope and scale of the climate crisis, especially in New York City.  Barbara’s  panel was focused on the importance of biological diversity and cultural diversity to foster engagement and allow for agency of both as well.  She was joined on the panel by Rebecca McMackin (Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park) and Edwina von Gal (Founder of the Perfect Earth Project and the Two Thirds for the Birds initiative) to expand on the importance of diversity and native plants in the landscape.

The symposium was organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) and also included the announcement of Julie Bargmann as the first winner of the inaugural Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. The event was the first of the two years of public engagement activities associated with the biennial prize. PBS Newshour published a live simulcast featuring Julie, and it can be viewed here.

Overall, attendees found the symposium “truly inspiring,” and “a place of inspiration, sharing, cooperation, and spurring collective action.” In the weeks ahead, TCLF will post the speaker presentations on its Youtube channel.

Photo credit: TCLF, Barrett Doherty, 2021