Middlesboro is Headed to the 2015 National Main Streets Conference in Atlanta

Middlesboro will be well represented at the National Main Streets Conference in Atlanta from March 30 - April 2, 2015. We've been invited to participate in three sessions and to set up a pop-up in the Expo Hall. You can see the full conference program here.

Our Executive Director Isaac Kremer will be joined in Atlanta by Deidre Donahue, America Saves! Project Manager and Jeannie Redmond Allen, founder of The Palace. Wish these folks good luck as they set off for what is sure to be an exciting and educational experience for all involved!

Monday, March 30

• 8:30am-9:45am. America Saves! In Action. Our Executive Director Isaac Kremer will be a panelist along with five other leaders who have been involved in the national pilot project for the America Saves initiative. We'll share our experience and show other communities how they can participate in this exciting program. 
• 12:30pm-3pm. Tactical Urbanism Workshop. Reprising his role at past conferences, Isaac will lead an hands on workshop demonstrating 10 tactical interventions to restore downtown areas for $500 or less. He will be joined by Dr. Kateryna Goncharova with the Ukranian State Institute for Preservation of Historic and Architectural Sites, and Ryan Gravel from Perkins+Will. The interventions will then be put on display in the Expo Hall the next two days.



Mike Lydon participating in our first
Better Block event, October 2013.
Credit: Discover Downtown Middlesboro.



• 1:00pm-1:45pm. People Power: Engaging Your Community Members. During this crash course Deidre Donahue, our Project Assistant for America Saves will be joined by two others to share how she worked with business owners to connect them with this important program.

Tuesday, March 31

•  8:00am-6:00pm. Tactical Urbanism Pop-up at the Expo Hall. We'll take the interventions made during the workshop the previous day and put this on display. Items from our pop-up shop, The Palace, will be brought down and even available for sale. Conference goers are invited to drop by as little or as much as they want to explore these Tactical Urbanism concepts.

Wednesday, April 1

• Wednesday, April 1, 8:00am-2:00pm. Tactical Urbanism Pop-up at the Expo Hall. On day 2 we'll be joined by Mike Lydon who will be signing copies of his new book Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action for Long-term change.
• Wednesday, April 1, 4:00pm-6:00pm. Closing Plenary. Mike Lydon will give the Closing Plenary address. In 2013 Mike visited Middlesboro for our first Better Block event. He's been a long time friend, follower, and supporter of our work. After his talk Mike will be on hand to sign copies of his book.

We'll have copies of Tactical Urbanism available for sale. Track us down in Atlanta during one of our sessions or at the Expo Hall to get your copy.