web01.fireside.fm Fri, 22 May 2026 09:44:07 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Urban Planning” https://www.llofed.com/tags/urban%20planning Fri, 01 May 2026 04:30:00 -0400 This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. en-us episodic These are the women leading economic development across the US. Kaycee Bunch This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals. no economic development, econ dev, development, community development, women, leadership Kaycee Bunch kayceegbunch@gmail.com You Can’t Censor Experience: Leading Community Change from the Ground Up │Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar https://www.llofed.com/season3-episode6-kathleen-j-guillaume-delemar d2e213be-b7ea-402f-adeb-3b4c14b9d5e5 Fri, 01 May 2026 04:30:00 -0400 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 54:02 no <p>In this powerful episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast, Kaycee sits down with Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in under-resourced communities in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic to leading a national organization focused on equitable property revitalization. She challenges conventional ideas about “blight,” economic development, and community engagement, emphasizing that lasting change must be community-led, policy-driven, and rooted in lived experience.</p> <p>Through candid storytelling and practical examples, Kat explains how communities can reclaim vacant and abandoned properties without displacement—and why listening to community “whispers” is the key to sustainable revitalization.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lived experience should shape leadership and solutions. Kat emphasizes that real, lasting change comes from leaders who understand the systems firsthand, not just in theory.</li> <li>Communities must be true partners, not afterthoughts. Effective revitalization starts with residents, not after decisions are made. Listening early leads to sustainable outcomes.</li> <li>Fixing systems matters more than fixing properties. The Center for Community Progress focuses on policy, education, and tools that address the root causes of vacancy and disinvestment.</li> <li>Revitalization can happen without displacement. When done right, community-led strategies can increase stability, homeownership, and quality of life—without fueling gentrification.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> “You can censor words—but you can’t censor lived experience.”</p> <p><strong>Link to register for the 2026 reclaiming vacant properties conference:</strong> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/rvp26/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference | Center for Community Progress </a></p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-guillaume-delemar/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Kat J. Guillaume-Delemar on on LinkedIn</a><br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Center for Community Progress</a><br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/services/leadership-education/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Resources for Community Development Leaders &amp; Professionals | Center for Community Progress </a><br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/nlbn/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">National Land Bank Network | Center for Community Progress</a> <br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/publications/new-jersey-hcv-homeownership/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Newark through Housing Choice Vouchers | Center for Community Progress </a><br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/blog/from-harm-to-home-replicating-detroits-make-it-home-program/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">From Harm to Home | Center for Community Progress </a><br> <a href="https://www.savannahga.gov/485/Land-Bank-Authority" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority | Savannah, GA</a><br> <a href="https://www.benzieco.gov/government/land_bank_authority.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Benzie County, MI </a><br> <a href="https://buildingdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Detriot Land Bank Authority</a><br> <a href="https://buildingdetroit.org/rehabbed-ready" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Detroit Landy Bank Authority Rehabbed &amp; Ready Program</a><br> <a href="https://www.saginawcountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/land-bank/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">County of Saginaw, MI - Land Bank </a><br> <a href="https://communityprogress.org/publications/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Publications | Center for Community Progress </a> Special Guest: Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar.</p> economic development, community revitalization, vacant properties, center for community progress, abandoned housing, land banks, affordable housing, housing policy, urban planning, community development, neighborhood revitalization, anti-displacement strategies, equitable development, housing justice, property tax policy, code enforcement reform, homeownership access, gentrification myths, public policy and housing, civic leadership, women in economic development, Black women leaders, Haitian American leadership, nonprofit leadership, systems change, community engagement In this powerful episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast, Kaycee sits down with Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in under-resourced communities in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic to leading a national organization focused on equitable property revitalization. She challenges conventional ideas about “blight,” economic development, and community engagement, emphasizing that lasting change must be community-led, policy-driven, and rooted in lived experience.

Through candid storytelling and practical examples, Kat explains how communities can reclaim vacant and abandoned properties without displacement—and why listening to community “whispers” is the key to sustainable revitalization.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Lived experience should shape leadership and solutions. Kat emphasizes that real, lasting change comes from leaders who understand the systems firsthand, not just in theory.
  • Communities must be true partners, not afterthoughts. Effective revitalization starts with residents, not after decisions are made. Listening early leads to sustainable outcomes.
  • Fixing systems matters more than fixing properties. The Center for Community Progress focuses on policy, education, and tools that address the root causes of vacancy and disinvestment.
  • Revitalization can happen without displacement. When done right, community-led strategies can increase stability, homeownership, and quality of life—without fueling gentrification.

Quotable: “You can censor words—but you can’t censor lived experience.”

Link to register for the 2026 reclaiming vacant properties conference: 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference | Center for Community Progress

Resources and Links
Connect with Kat J. Guillaume-Delemar on on LinkedIn
Center for Community Progress
Resources for Community Development Leaders & Professionals | Center for Community Progress
National Land Bank Network | Center for Community Progress
Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Newark through Housing Choice Vouchers | Center for Community Progress
From Harm to Home | Center for Community Progress
Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority | Savannah, GA
Benzie County, MI
Detriot Land Bank Authority
Detroit Landy Bank Authority Rehabbed & Ready Program
County of Saginaw, MI - Land Bank
Publications | Center for Community Progress

Special Guest: Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar.

]]> In this powerful episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast, Kaycee sits down with Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in under-resourced communities in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic to leading a national organization focused on equitable property revitalization. She challenges conventional ideas about “blight,” economic development, and community engagement, emphasizing that lasting change must be community-led, policy-driven, and rooted in lived experience.

Through candid storytelling and practical examples, Kat explains how communities can reclaim vacant and abandoned properties without displacement—and why listening to community “whispers” is the key to sustainable revitalization.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Lived experience should shape leadership and solutions. Kat emphasizes that real, lasting change comes from leaders who understand the systems firsthand, not just in theory.
  • Communities must be true partners, not afterthoughts. Effective revitalization starts with residents, not after decisions are made. Listening early leads to sustainable outcomes.
  • Fixing systems matters more than fixing properties. The Center for Community Progress focuses on policy, education, and tools that address the root causes of vacancy and disinvestment.
  • Revitalization can happen without displacement. When done right, community-led strategies can increase stability, homeownership, and quality of life—without fueling gentrification.

Quotable: “You can censor words—but you can’t censor lived experience.”

Link to register for the 2026 reclaiming vacant properties conference: 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference | Center for Community Progress

Resources and Links
Connect with Kat J. Guillaume-Delemar on on LinkedIn
Center for Community Progress
Resources for Community Development Leaders & Professionals | Center for Community Progress
National Land Bank Network | Center for Community Progress
Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Newark through Housing Choice Vouchers | Center for Community Progress
From Harm to Home | Center for Community Progress
Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority | Savannah, GA
Benzie County, MI
Detriot Land Bank Authority
Detroit Landy Bank Authority Rehabbed & Ready Program
County of Saginaw, MI - Land Bank
Publications | Center for Community Progress

Special Guest: Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar.

]]> How Planning, Structure, and Collaboration Shape Economic Development Outcomes │Amalia Cunningham, AICP https://www.llofed.com/season3-episode2-amalia-cunningham 0fe769a7-7c88-4c33-92b6-8bce9e6dbc3a Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 26:39 no <p>In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.</li> <li>Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks. </li> <li>Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”</p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amalia-cunningham/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn</a><br> <a href="https://amaliacunninghamconsulting.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Amalia Cunningham Consulting</a><br> <a href="https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/News_and_Views_Fall_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"</a> Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.</p> economic development, local economic development, community development, planning and economic development, municipal economic development, local government leadership, economic development consulting, public sector consulting, economic development strategy, community growth, city planning, urban planning, municipal planning, zoning and land use, development regulations, public-private partnerships, stakeholder collaboration, government operations, organizational structure in local government, restructuring economic development departments, outsourcing economic development, developer and local government collaboration, regulatory processes, resource allocation in local government, economic development best practices, Amalia Cunningham, Amalia Cunningham Consulting, Leading Ladies of Economic Development, women in economic development, women in local government In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.
  • Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.

Quotable: “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn
Amalia Cunningham Consulting
News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"

Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.

]]> In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.
  • Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.

Quotable: “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn
Amalia Cunningham Consulting
News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"

Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.

]]>