Garland’s 2013 Neighborhood Summit provides a chance for participants to share their ideas about what makes a city loveable. The annual Summit invites residents, civic leaders, revitalization practitioners and others to address the issues affecting neighborhood health and stability with a variety of workshops and speakers.

This year’s keynote speaker is Peter Kageyama, author of For the Love of Cities. Kageyama is a community and economic development consultant based in St. Petersburg, FL. Peter is the former President of Creative Tampa Bay, a grassroots community change organization. He has spoken all over the world about bottom up community development and the amazing people that are making change happen.

Peter looks at what makes cities lovable and what motivates citizens to do extraordinary things for their places. Peter speaks about how we can turn peoples’ emotional engagement with their place into tangible action and uses that excitement and energy as a much needed community development resource. He is the co-founder and producer of the Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary event that brings together citizens and practitioners around the big idea of the city.

The 2013 Summit theme “Rethink Community”’ is an opportunity for Garland and other first tier suburbs to consider the correct next steps as we look at revitalization and redevelopment opportunities. Register for the 2013 Neighborhood Summit today at GarlandVitalNeighborhoods.org. Registration for Garland stakeholders is $25 ($30 after October 22). Event sponsors are the City of Garland, Garland Power & Light, and the American Planning Association North Central Texas Chapter.

For more information about the summit, neighborhood story contest, or to inquire about exhibit space, contact the Office of Neighborhood Vitality at 972-205-2445 or neighborhoods@garlandtx.gov. Details are also available at GarlandVitalNeighborhoods.org.