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Next Steps for SNU
Jim Kumon

On Sunday morning of SNU I, students and young professionals convened for 120 minutes to assess and the weekend and examine student involvement in the future of urbanism. Four primary issues were addressed in this large group discussion:
• A SNU national presence and the relationship to the Next Generation of New Urbanists (NextGen)
• The format and purpose of future SNU conferences
• A SNU website and communication tools
• Mentorship from NextGen and CNU members.

Although unanswered questions numbered as many as those resolved, the following is a summary of the conclusions reached on the four subjects.

NextGen will serve as a national umbrella for students and young professionals.
While there are varying levels of organization and interest at the schools represented at SNU I (Notre Dame, University of Miami, Andrews University, University of Utah and BYU) there is currently not a critical mass to populate a separate national structure. NextGen will host a committee of students and young professionals as mechanism for supporting local SNU chapters and to work with the CNU Membership Director in refine issues relating to student fees and participation.

In this way, students and professionals will continue to work collectively at national/regional levels on common initiatives and planning committees. In terms of names, retaining Students for New Urbanism is useful at a local, campus level because it communicates clarity of purpose and identity of the group among the typical multitudes of university organizations.

Future SNU Conferences should be regional and focus on creating dialog across multiple disciplines at multiple institutions.
Given there is no national component to necessarily convene (not to mention the difficulty of funding and traveling to a single national location), SNU conferences for the near future should focus on a regional geographical area during a fall semester time period. Focusing on institutions within 3-6 hour driving radii (depending on region of the country), a host chapter should reach out to multiple disciplines in nearby colleges and universities, as well as collaborating with its own departments.

An example format would be a day long conference with optional overnight, including a social event either before or after the formal conference program. The most important outcome of SNU conferences is increasing cross disciplinary dialog beyond the design and planning fields to influence the broad range of people who shape urban places. These locally based conferences are also a great way to connect student members to firms and CNU members in chapters in their region through activities such as career fairs and panels.

A web archive of SNU I and basic resources will be created for students searching for information about New Urbanism.
Information about Students interested in New Urbanism is buried on both the NextGen and CNU websites, so effort needs to be made to streamline the navigation structures and content of both sites. This important body of information includes how to start a SNU chapter by registering with CNU, how to become a student member of CNU, participating in charter awards and how to become involved in NextGen. Electronic resources will be pursued with CNU with content support from NextGen.

Informal mentorship opportunities should be created between students and NextGen members.
The consensus on this idea was strong and there are multiple possibilities for implementation. One is to be organized locally through nearby CNU chapters and/or organizing committees. A second is to create a database of willing mentors in each region of the country, where communication would take place more by phone or email. The third is also through a pool of mentors at large, but organized through common areas of professional interest. Access to contact information and oversight of such a program needs to be further discussed through NextGen and CNU. Individuals willing to help form the mentorship program (and be the first to get a mentor) should write contact [at] cnunextgen.org with the subject line SNU Mentorship.

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Jim Kumon, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, works for Miralles Associates in Pasadena, California and is Chair of the Next Generation of New Urbanists. He appreciated the welcoming hospitality of the Notre Dame students and alumni during his visit to South Bend, despite of his maize and blue allegiances. Reach him at chair [at] cnunextgen.org