Lauren Garrott Recognized for Advancing Diversity and Social Change

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Chance Sparks

Urban Planning + Design Group Manager

 

Lauren Garrott was selected for an award by the Central Texas Section of the American Planning Association Texas Chapter for her efforts in Advancing Diversity and Social Change.

Lauren routinely demonstrates LEADS values through her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, both at FNI and with our clients. This was exemplified in a number of recent comprehensive planning efforts in the region. These projects featured diverse environments with large populations frequently underrepresented in or that often face barriers to participation in public processes. Her work on Pflugerville’s Aspire 2040 Plan made it a trailblazer and model for creative and inclusive community engagement, even in the midst of a pandemic. She applied this philosophy to the plan itself in the incorporation of health and wellness, including a unique Wellness Wheel as the cornerstone linking all departments and activities back to the people they serve, among several other equity-based plan recommendations.

She has continued efforts to find new, creative ways to bring voices into urban planning processes and their resulting plans for our clients in Hutto, Manor, Victoria and many others! We couldn’t be prouder to call her a colleague and friend!

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Chance Sparks, AICP, CNU-A, is Urban Planning + Design Group Manager, based in San Marcos. He was 2020-21 President of the American Planning Association Texas Chapter.