Socially Healthy Places: Co-Creating Thriving Communities with Risa Wilkerson
02/25/25 • 36 min
Risa Wilkerson is a pioneer in the field of community health and design, dedicated to creating spaces that foster connection, inclusivity, and well-being.
As the Executive Director of Healthy Places by Design, Risa has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of public health, community development, and equity.
Her work empowers organizations across the U.S. to design environments that bring people together, breaking down barriers to create stronger, more resilient communities.
Risa’s passion for this work stems from her own experiences growing up in a rural, close-knit community, where she first began to understand the power of place and connection.
Her journey has taken her from rural America to urban centers and across the country, gaining invaluable insights into how thoughtful, human-centered design can make a profound difference in people’s lives. Whether living in a co-housing community, a van, or a sailboat, Risa has continually sought spaces that allow for greater connection with others, finding that the most vibrant communities are those that provide access to shared public spaces and offer a sense of belonging.
Erin Peavey and Risa Wilkerson are co-authors and co-chairs of the Systems of Cross-sector Integration and Action across the Lifespan (SOCIAL) Framework Report on the Built Environment. Risa advocates for the importance of creating spaces that bring people together, fostering both "weak" and "bonding" ties that are essential for individual and collective well-being.
Her deep commitment to social justice and equity drives her work, ensuring that the voices of historically marginalized groups are heard and included in the design process.
Through her work with Healthy Places by Design, Risa has become a leading voice in advocating for spaces that nurture relationships, embrace diversity, and promote joy.
Her dedication to building communities where people feel seen, heard, and valued is not just professional - it’s personal.
Key Takeaways
1. Design for Connection - The spaces we create have the power to foster deep connections. When we design with community in mind, we build environments that bring people together, spark joy, and reduce isolation.
2. Co-Create with the Community - True connection comes from collaboration. Involve the community in the design process to ensure spaces meet their needs and reflect their values, creating a sense of ownership and belonging.
3. The Power of Third Places - Third places (public spaces outside of home and work) are crucial for building community. Coffee shops, parks, and community centers can be the places where connections thrive.
4. Safety and Accessibility Are Key - To foster connection, we must prioritize safety, accessibility, and proximity. Design spaces that allow people to feel comfortable and open to engaging with others.
5. Engage the Young Generation - Don’t forget to include youth in the design process. By involving the next generation in shaping their environments, we can create spaces that empower and inspire them to lead.
6. Honor History, Celebrate Culture - Every community has a rich history. Incorporate cultural and historical elements into the design of spaces to honor the past while creating a sense of pride and continuity for the future.
Quotes
1. "We have to ask, who in our community isn’t being heard? Those are the voices we need to bring to the table to create spaces where everyone feels welcome." – Risa Wilkerson
2. "When we design with the community, we create spaces where people not only feel safe, but they feel seen, valued, and ready to connect." – Risa Wilkerson
3. "Third spaces—places where people gather outside of work or home—are the heart of a connected community. Let’s create those spaces where bonds can form and thrive." – Risa Wilkerson
Connect with Risa
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/risawilkerson/
Website - https://healthyplacesbydesign.org/
Risa Wilkerson is a pioneer in the field of community health and design, dedicated to creating spaces that foster connection, inclusivity, and well-being.
As the Executive Director of Healthy Places by Design, Risa has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of public health, community development, and equity.
Her work empowers organizations across the U.S. to design environments that bring people together, breaking down barriers to create stronger, more resilient communities.
Risa’s passion for this work stems from her own experiences growing up in a rural, close-knit community, where she first began to understand the power of place and connection.
Her journey has taken her from rural America to urban centers and across the country, gaining invaluable insights into how thoughtful, human-centered design can make a profound difference in people’s lives. Whether living in a co-housing community, a van, or a sailboat, Risa has continually sought spaces that allow for greater connection with others, finding that the most vibrant communities are those that provide access to shared public spaces and offer a sense of belonging.
Erin Peavey and Risa Wilkerson are co-authors and co-chairs of the Systems of Cross-sector Integration and Action across the Lifespan (SOCIAL) Framework Report on the Built Environment. Risa advocates for the importance of creating spaces that bring people together, fostering both "weak" and "bonding" ties that are essential for individual and collective well-being.
Her deep commitment to social justice and equity drives her work, ensuring that the voices of historically marginalized groups are heard and included in the design process.
Through her work with Healthy Places by Design, Risa has become a leading voice in advocating for spaces that nurture relationships, embrace diversity, and promote joy.
Her dedication to building communities where people feel seen, heard, and valued is not just professional - it’s personal.
Key Takeaways
1. Design for Connection - The spaces we create have the power to foster deep connections. When we design with community in mind, we build environments that bring people together, spark joy, and reduce isolation.
2. Co-Create with the Community - True connection comes from collaboration. Involve the community in the design process to ensure spaces meet their needs and reflect their values, creating a sense of ownership and belonging.
3. The Power of Third Places - Third places (public spaces outside of home and work) are crucial for building community. Coffee shops, parks, and community centers can be the places where connections thrive.
4. Safety and Accessibility Are Key - To foster connection, we must prioritize safety, accessibility, and proximity. Design spaces that allow people to feel comfortable and open to engaging with others.
5. Engage the Young Generation - Don’t forget to include youth in the design process. By involving the next generation in shaping their environments, we can create spaces that empower and inspire them to lead.
6. Honor History, Celebrate Culture - Every community has a rich history. Incorporate cultural and historical elements into the design of spaces to honor the past while creating a sense of pride and continuity for the future.
Quotes
1. "We have to ask, who in our community isn’t being heard? Those are the voices we need to bring to the table to create spaces where everyone feels welcome." – Risa Wilkerson
2. "When we design with the community, we create spaces where people not only feel safe, but they feel seen, valued, and ready to connect." – Risa Wilkerson
3. "Third spaces—places where people gather outside of work or home—are the heart of a connected community. Let’s create those spaces where bonds can form and thrive." – Risa Wilkerson
Connect with Risa
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/risawilkerson/
Website - https://healthyplacesbydesign.org/
Previous Episode
Sustainable Connections: Socially Vibrant Cities and Suburbs with Nico Larco
Nico Larco is a visionary leader and changemaker at the intersection of architecture, urban design, and sustainable development.
As a Professor of Architecture at the University of Oregon, Director of the Urbanism Next Center, and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Sustainable Cities Initiative, Nico has dedicated his career to designing environments that inspire human connection, improve our collective well-being, and contribute to a healthier planet.
His unique blend of expertise, spanning cognitive psychology, architecture, urban planning, and international sustainability work, fuels his ability to see beyond conventional boundaries.
With numerous national and international accolades under his belt, Nico’s impact resonates far beyond his immediate academic circle. He takes complex challenges, like balancing housing needs, social equity, and environmental resilience; and translates them into actionable strategies for livable density, walkable neighborhoods, and vibrant, human-centered public spaces.
His recent co-authored book, The Sustainable Urban Design Framework, equips stakeholders with the insights needed to respond to complex challenges and build truly sustainable communities.
Whether collaborating with public agencies, private developers, nonprofits, or students, Nico consistently models a spirit of partnership, understanding that transformative change only emerges when everyone’s voice is at the table.
Nico Larco’s vision reframes the conversation around our cities. By placing people, relationships, and environmental resilience at the heart of architectural and urban design decisions, he reminds us that the spaces we shape ultimately shape us, guiding us all toward more vibrant, caring, and sustainable futures.
Key Takeaways
1. Design for People First - Our built environment should be shaped around human needs, fostering interaction, well-being, and genuine connection.
2. Unlock Suburban Potential - Even in car-oriented suburbs, small tweaks; like adding walking paths or creating inviting public spaces, can spark a vibrant community life.
3. Value the Power of Density - Thoughtful, human-scale density can support walkability, reduce car-dependence, and bring neighbors closer together.
4. Embrace Active, Lively Streets - When buildings and businesses engage directly with sidewalks and public spaces, communities bloom with social activity and a sense of belonging.
5. Collaborate Across Boundaries - Progress happens when designers, policymakers, community members, and industry leaders join forces, share ideas, and solve problems as one.
6. Rethink Sustainability Holistically - True sustainability isn’t just about energy savings, it’s about health, equity, resilience, and helping people truly thrive.
7. Start Small and Go Big - Even the simplest interventions; like reorienting a storefront, creating a bike path, or adding seating, can spark transformative change and inspire others to reimagine their neighborhoods.
Quotes
1. “The urban condition is not a physical thing, it’s a social thing. It’s absolutely about interaction—seeing people, interacting with people, and recognizing that’s where everything happens.”
2. “It’s not rocket science—just think about connections early on. Even creating a simple pedestrian path can transform how people move, interact, and build community.”
3. “We’re not just aiming for aesthetics; we need to make places that really work for people—places where everyday life becomes easier, more vibrant, and naturally more social.”
Connect with Nico
Linkedin -https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-larco-6702a213/
Website -https://www.urbanismnext.org/
Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/sustainable.urban.design/
Book -https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Urban-Design-Handbook/dp/1138945676
Next Episode
Third Places, True Connections: Redesigning Our Social Fabric with Richard Kyte
Dr. Richard Kyte is a thought leader, educator, and author whose work is centered around the transformative power of human connection, community-building, and the spaces where these vital interactions unfold.
As the director of the DB Reinhardt Institute for Ethics and Leadership and an endowed professor of ethics at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Richard brings a deep understanding of ethics, justice, virtue, and the meaning of life to his students and the wider community.
His educational journey, which culminated in a PhD in philosophy from Johns Hopkins, has led him to explore some of life’s most profound questions, focusing on how we live, connect, and thrive together in an increasingly disconnected world.
Through his book, Finding Your Third Place: The Art of Making Room for Friends, Richard shines a light on the powerful, often overlooked spaces that shape our social identities. His exploration of "third places" - the informal settings where people gather to relax, converse, and form friendships - reveals their essential role in our mental and emotional well-being.
Richard believes that these spaces are more than just physical locations; they are metaphors for living with purpose and building meaningful relationships that transcend the transactional nature of work and the intimacy of home.
Drawing on his experiences growing up in the small town of Frazee, Minnesota, and his academic expertise, Richard’s work invites us to reevaluate how we design our cities, our workplaces, and our personal lives.
With a focus on hospitality, interdependence, and the power of community, Richard encourages us to create places that cultivate connection - places where we can meet, support, and grow together.
A passionate advocate for the importance of human relationships, Richard teaches that it is through connection with others, especially in times of struggle, that we find the most profound growth. His message is a reminder that while technology and modern design may give us freedom, it is in shared spaces - whether physical or metaphorical - that we rediscover the essence of who we are and who we can become together.
Key takeaways
1. Embrace the Power of Third Places - Create spaces where you can connect deeply with others, outside of the confines of home and work, to build meaningful relationships.
2. Design with Connection in Mind - Think about how your environment - whether your home, office, or city - can foster opportunities for spontaneous, unplanned interactions.
3. Cultivate Interdependence - Recognize that true well-being comes from interdependence, where we support and are supported by others in our communities.
4. Practice Genuine Hospitality - Welcome others with open arms, remembering that the act of hosting not only benefits the guest but also enriches the host’s life in unexpected ways.
5. Seek Out Vulnerable Conversations - Engage in conversations that go beyond surface-level interactions; these are where real growth and connection happen.
6. Break Away from the Spectacle - Resist the pull of constant performance and focus on building real relationships, where your true self can emerge.
Quotes
1. "True connection isn’t about the space you occupy, it’s about how you engage with the people around you. Make room for friends and watch how your life transforms."
2. "The deepest friendships arise when people go through real struggles together. You become who you are through the people you meet and the experiences you share."
3. "We need to intentionally cultivate relationships, create spaces where interdependence thrives, and redefine what it means to be truly connected."
Connect with Richard
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-kyte-8796061a0/
Website - https://www.richardkyte.net/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rick.kyte.9
Books - https://www.amazon.com/Books-Richard-Kyte/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARichard+Kyte
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