Abby is a seasoned urban designer and planner with nearly a decade of experience shaping context-driven, sustainable, and pragmatic solutions. A proud Midwest native, she is deeply committed to enhancing the economic and social resilience of small- and mid-sized communities through thoughtful urban design and planning strategies.
Driven by a belief in the transformative power of grassroots initiatives, Abby emphasizes incremental development, human-scaled design, and the thoughtful design of public spaces to foster vibrant and resilient communities. Her expertise lies in championing bottom-up strategies that empower residents and inspire meaningful change, reflecting her vision of urban design as a catalyst for stronger, more connected communities.
Beyond her project work, Abby actively contributes to the field of urban planning through her advocacy and leadership. She is the founder of Small Developers of KC, an initiative focused on building capacity of local entrepreneurs seeking to improve their own neighborhoods. She is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism and host of Strong Towns' Upzoned podcast. Abby also co-chairs the Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Program, and was formerly the co-chair of their Young Leader's Group.
Learn more about building safe, livable, and resilient places at strongtowns.org
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