Olivia Wahl
08 May 2026
In part 2 of my S5E36 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Sabina Sethi Unni from @openplansnyc breaks down how urban redevelopment can truly impact a school community. Sabina shares specific strategies for urban design, like a co-created toolkit and a relational outreach approach, showing a before and after in community engagement. This architecture video highlights the Clarkson Street project, proposing new installations to foster a better environment. 💫Make sure to watch Part 1 and learn more about applying by reaching out to Sabina at sabina@openplans.org 📚 Some Episode Mentions: School Streets program with Open PlansClarkson School Street Project New York EdgeThe Project for Public Spaces Transportation AlternativesParis School Streets program Pratt Institute / International Placemaking Week CHAPTERS 0:00 — Introduction: Streets as the Most Joyful Place in the Neighborhood 1:30 — What Is a School Street? Definition & What It Looks Like 4:00 — How Schools Apply & Eligibility Requirements 6:30 — Equity First: Why Low-Income Communities Are Prioritized 9:00 — The Biggest Barriers: Staffing, Admin Burden & Leadership Turnover 11:30 — Co-Creating the Toolkit with Transportation Alternatives 14:00 — From Cold Outreach to Relational Organizing 16:30 — The Clarkson Street Story: A National Model in the Making 20:00 — NYC's First-Ever Permanent Swing Gate on a Public Street 23:00 — Mayor Mamdani's Opt-Out Proposal & What It Could Mean 26:00 — If Every Street Became a School Street: Where to Start 29:00 — The Vision for Scale & What Paris Can Teach NYC 31:00 — How to Get Involved, Apply, or Support the Movement 🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content. 📧 Connect with me if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in. 🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Don't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE! Next week's episode: Xochitl Bentley teaches us about different storytelling stances and how they connect to climate stewardship. Xochitl offers a masterclass in culturally responsive teaching, inclusive classrooms, and sparking student motivation through narrative and identity. #schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedstrategies #classroomreadystrategies #SchoolStreets #UrbanPlanning #EquityInEducation #StudentSuccess #WholeChild #SchoolCulture #InstructionalLeadership #TeacherCoaching #ActiveLearning #OutdoorLearning #FamilyPartnerships #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #ProKidMindset #SchoolImprovement #EmpoweredEducators #InclusiveClassrooms #SchoolusionsPodcast #TeacherSupport #PrincipalStrategies #CommunitySchools When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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