In April 2007, two graduate architects founded The Urban Charrette as a response to what they saw as disappointing city leadership around the built environment in Tampa. The organization convened emerging professionals across the city to discuss its future. The Urban Charrette was described as “a guerrilla movement in its approach to influencing urban development,” because it utilized innovative tactical urbanism, social networking and unconventional formats and interventions to push change. Its impact on the city over time was undeniable. The volunteerism and public service work also helped launch careers and gave voice and then influence to its core members, who have become civic leaders across the city and points beyond. The Urban Charrette provides a quintessential example of grassroots design leadership and creative problem-solving where new civic mechanisms can provide breakthrough ideas for positive change.
This session was recorded live on February 12, 2026.
Learn how do-it-yourself design movements can have an outsized influence on the direction of a city and improve outcomes dramatically.
Use the principles of tactical urbanism to build popular support for a range of interventions.
Gain a toolbox of urban design activism and use innovative community engagement techniques to reach new audiences and expand participation.
Apply lessons learned from the Tampa experience to other community settings around the country.
Presented in partnership with Communities by Design (CxD).
