CITIES SPARE NO EXPENSE…EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING PEOPLE WITH DISABIITIES LIKE HUMAN BEINGS THAT DESERVE EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Our new
library is state-of-the-art.
We spared no
expense on the billion dollar stadium.
The city
hall annex is the best of the best.
Improving
the community pool lift to bare minimum ADA compliance is in the (unfunded)
10-year plan.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
His expertise and commitment to inclusivity will undoubtedly continue to make a positive impact on the communities he serves."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
"Steve Wright's ability to communicate concepts in an accessible manner was evident, and his passion for Universal Design shone through in every aspect of his presentation.
Steve's contributions have made a lasting impact on our organization, and we are immensely grateful for his dedication and expertise.
His commitment to
promoting inclusivity and accessibility aligns perfectly with our mission to
create a Downtown Detroit that is welcoming to everyone."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
His presentation, which lasted approximately
one hour, allowed ample time for questions and answers, fostering a productive
and insightful dialogue."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
"Within 30 days of the tour, as per the agreed-upon timeframe, Steve Wright submitted a concise yet comprehensive report summarizing his observations, recommendations, and suggestions.
The report was well-structured and provided actionable insights that are now being used as a guide to inform future design and development initiatives within the Downtown Detroit area.
Steve's expertise and
attention to detail contributed to the quality of this report and its value to
our organization."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
The purpose of the tour was to highlight Universal Design issues and identify opportunities to enhance accessibility and inclusivity within our city center.
Steve's guidance and insights during the 90-minute walking tour were invaluable.
He
demonstrated a deep understanding of Universal Design principles, and his
ability to articulate the importance of creating spaces that are accessible to
all members of the community was thoughtful."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT
"I am writing to provide a recommendation for Steve Wright and the services he provided during his engagement with the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP).
Steve's
expertise in Universal Design and his commitment to promoting inclusivity have
had an important impact on our organization and the Downtown Detroit community
as DDP continues its stewardship of our downtown."
--Eric
Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023
The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building.
Having observed
its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful
downtown organizations in the nation.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
I would start at the Ball and Chain in the heart of Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. It was a big key to the turnaround of this famous main street of Miami’s most famous neighborhood.
I live within walking distance.
The owners are super community minded. They buy historic buildings and rebuild
them — so they don’t fall prey to the wrecking ball.
The music, drinks and bar food are great too.
I would then
go on a walking tour of Shenandoah — the part of Little Havana that I’ve lived
in for 20+ years. There are tons of unique houses and apartments. You can see
Spanish Mission, Mediterranean, Art Deco, Belvedere Bungalow and all kinds of
unique, built from scratch homes from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s.
For a great
meal and a fair price, I’d go to La Camaronera on Flagler Street. I remember
when this was a little standup counter with maybe a half dozen total food items
— all fresh from the sea. The seafood is still fresh caught, but now there are
more than a dozen tables. And along with the signature fried fish and shrimp
sandwiches, there are some gourmet plates and even craft beer. It’s a nice
transition of a very longtime family business into one that’s perfect for
locals and visitors.
I’d also
take a stroll north of Calle Ocho toward the Miami River. This area also has
great old 1920s apartments, houses, churches and businesses. It’s still a bit
hard scrabble, but perfectly safe. My photo exhibit at the Miami Beach Art Deco
Welcome Center on Ocean Drive at 10th Avenue showcased my images of this area.
I would enjoy the heart of Calle Ocho — roughly between 12 and 17 Avenues — though a lot of new development is heading east of 12th — and stop at SW 13 Ave. There, you can walk a meandering path among mature trees and many public monuments that cover the history of the Cuban exile experience in Miami.
Many of the old
homes have been restored, though there are not any shops or restaurants on the
area known as Cuban Memorial Boulevard. When you reach Coral Way on the south
end of the path, you are rewarded by another tree-lined main street with tons
of mom and pop restaurants, bakeries and shops.
Everybody
knows Miami Beach and nearby Little Havana neighborhoods of Coconut Grove and
the city of Coral Gables, so I’ll reserve my tips solely for la Pequena Habana.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
My Pulitzer-nominated, award-winning writing has been featured in Planning Magazine, the publication of the American Planning Association.
I have been a
speaker on Universal Design and inclusion at a nationwide APA conference.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
United
Spinal is the premier nonprofit for people with spinal cord injuries and all
who use a wheelchair for mobility.
I very much
enjoyed writing legislation and create public policy for the better part of a
decade for Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez, who represented Little Havana.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
My advice is to turn your passion into your career.
You may not get Bill Gates rich, but you
will have a very rewarding career.
I’ve also learned to be flexible.
When I started at a newspaper, I figured I’d work as a daily
journalist for more than half a century…till I slumped over my desk after
filing a front page story.
The internet
greatly reduced the profitability of newspapers, so I later pursued careers in
public service, marketing, business development, content creation and creative
arts.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
I have published thousands of stories about how to make our cities a better place to live — for all people of all abilities, backgrounds and incomes.
I bought a
camera to illustrate my stories, even though the Columbus Dispatch newspaper
had a staff of top-nothing photojournalists.
When I moved
to Miami in 2000, I started having exhibits of my photos — from my trips to
Spain and South and Central America.
I got to work with the greatest photographer of the 20th century — Ara Guler, The Eye of Istanbul.
I edited the English language version of his biography.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR
My late
mother struggled with severe mental illness for her entire adult life.
I became a
writer because I wanted to tell the stories of all people — including those
that struggled each day of their life.
I later
became a leading disability advocate, clearly an outgrowth as a child who
served as his mom’s caregiver.
I started out as a daily newspaper reporter for a large paper in my native Ohio.
I
wanted to be a pro sports team beat writer, but got started covering suburban
government and zoning meetings.
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2023 was an unprecedented
years with keynote speeches, workshops for major clients, university lectures,
hundreds of published articles, a major photo exhibit, dozens of podcast
appearances and much more.
We chronicled
those exploits and more on this blog.
We hope to double the success, as 2024 evolves.
