When we think about conservation and historic preservation, we often think first of land and buildings. But Juli Polanco's work is putting people, culture, and climate at the center of those topics.
Lindsay Baker and I (of the Design the Future podcast) talked to Juli about her work as State Historic Preservation Officer for California, her role founding and leading the Climate Heritage Network, and her involvement with the Urban Land Institute's Sustainable Development Council. Her mission, she says, is to help build resilient communities.
Part of that is making sure that people see themselves in history. "We can use history as a binding agent for communities," she says. "Part of the work is asking people -- everyone -- 'how do you value this site?' We can learn so much from the answers to that question. That has to do with what we save, how we build, and how we give hope and context to the youth in our community."
Listen on our site (www.designthefuturepodcast.com/episodes/juli-polanco) or on your favorite podcast platform (please consider leaving a review; it helps people find us).
As always, oceans of gratitude to the producers, Clare Becker and Amber Artrip, who are part of this labor of love.
#climateaction #preservation #womeningreen #womeninsustainability
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Kira Gould Hon. AIA
Kira Gould CONNECT
Oakland CA
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