We must build on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these are:
- Lesson 1: Today’s Inequity is Dangerous and Intolerable.
- Lesson 2: Preserving our Climate Saves Lives.
- Lesson 3: Connecting Infrastructure to Serving People is Critical.
At the federal level, the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Proposal (The American Jobs Plan) takes a broad view of “Infrastructure” to include the essential services that enable more equitable participation in the economy by folks who traditionally have been left behind. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/
This provides a foundation for discussing what People-First Infrastructure could mean in practice, even when the strategies are deployed at regional and local levels. Key priorities for investment criteria may include:
- Health Care: to address capacity gaps and systemic inequities.
- Improved Coordination, Innovation and Technologies: to enable rapid response of people, equipment and supplies to the areas of greatest need.
- Sustainability and Equality: to create lasting impact from the public dollars spent.
To make it work, HOW we do it matters:
- Innovation is Critical
- Inclusion is Essential
If approved, panel members may include the following or comparable subject matter experts (subject to confirmation of availability/scheduling):
Barbara A. Lloyd, CEO, IMPACTS USA Advisory Services : https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-lloyd-a9198611/ (can moderate)
Deborah Acosta, CEO, WeAccel : https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahvacosta/
Kome Ajise, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kome-ajise-2522a224/
Sarah L. Catz, Director, Center for Urban Infrastructure : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-l-catz-3235347/
Joel Swift, Executive Director of Facilities Planning & Development, UC Davis Health (retired) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-swift-architect-aia-aua-0701b621/
Joshua Ramirez, Director, IMPACTS USA Advisory Services
See below for my article advancing these discussion topics:
https://edacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CALED_Summer_2020_Journal_WEB-pages-26-27.pdf
