Graduate student in Social Work Jia Rowland (BSW ’22) attended the Global Placemaking Summit in Mexico City, November 1-5. Her attendance was made possible by WNMU Student Research and Professional Development funding.
“Placemaking is really as simple as it sounds,” said Rowland. “It’s making space. . . In oppressed communities, in indigenous populations, they don’t have bike lanes, they don’t have sidewalks, and that is going to keep people from having third places—places that aren’t workplaces, that aren’t schools . . . places just to be.”
The summit brought together people from around the world to “share their experiences and ideas on how to create more livable, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces,” according to the event organizers.
Rowland’s interest in placemaking is tied to her own sense of place as a Midwesterner who now calls New Mexico home. “I love New Mexico,” she said, “I love the Gila. I love camping, hiking, being outside, riding my bike. . . I feel a huge sense of belonging here.”
The Global Placemaking Summit benefitted Rowland in a number of ways. “This trip, supported by SRPD funds, allowed me to gain an understanding of topics that are hugely important to my line of social work,” she said, “It allowed me to network with others from all over the globe who have the same mission.”
In additon, said Rowland, “It inspired future research project directions that I have tentatively planned. . . Just going there to get a better understanding of placemaking from a feminist perspective, black placemaking—all these world views that I don’t have access to—was beneficial,” she said.
This is far from the first SRPD grant for Rowland, and overall, she sees the difference the funding has made in her academic and professional lives. “I originally thought that I wanted to do clinical social work, and I still really, really love clinical social work,” she said, “but I think doing research projects supported by SRPD all through undergrad makes me realize I could help more than just one person and advocate for policy reform . . . bigger scale change.”
In particular, attending the conference helped Rowland understand how she can get involved in shaping policy from a social work perspective. “Social workers have a huge role in shaping policy, but we also don’t have an understanding of legislative barriers and how all of that works,” she said.
“Support from the SRPD grants that I have gotten through my undergrad program and graduate program have helped me develop personally and professionally,” said Rowland, “They positively affect my whole educational journey here at WNMU. I am super grateful to attend a university that encourages my academic success by giving me every opportunity under the sun to grow.”