CALRC 2026: Knights of the Brownfields Table, Learning from Champions in Land Reuse

We all know (and some of us are!) that colleague that goes above and beyond to push brownfield projects forward. Whether they’re offering new and innovative ideas, organizing and connecting people that may have otherwise been siloed, or routinely setting and meeting project goals, they’re usually in the middle of all the action! We fondly refer to these individuals as our “brownfield champions”. From managing tense community engagement meetings to coordination between city departments, managing grant funding like MARC or ECRG, and countless groundbreakings and grand openings, these brownfield champions have amassed invaluable experience and lessons learned. This session will bring together redevelopment role-models from various sectors within land reuse in a panel discussion where they can share their stories, strategies, stumbles, and wisdom with anyone looking to further develop the champion in themselves.