Historically, a city’s downtown core has been the community’s cultural and economic center, expressing shared values and aspirations. Today, however, many downtowns represent a community’s social and economic distress. Cities of all sizes are trying to revitalize their downtowns, but the qualities essential to this revitalization remain elusive.

Saturday, May 10, 2014 • 2:00 p.m.
Redmond Library

This is the focus of “A City’s Center - Rethinking Downtown,” a free conversation with Nan Laurence, a senior planner for the City of Eugene, on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Redmond Library. This program is hosted by Deschutes Public Library and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.

Laurence manages downtown development projects and revitalization as a senior planner for the City of Eugene. Her role is to help the city’s downtown urban form and activities more closely reflect the community’s vision. Laurence has a master of architecture degree from the University of Virginia and a master of city and regional planning degree from Cornell University.

Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future. For more information about this free community discussion or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org or contact Liz Goodrich at 541/312-0132. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032.