Schools that heal: design with mental health in mind

Abstract

those who use it. Indeed, a unique facet of the book is how conversational and personal it reads. Each chapter is a ‘practice story’—a product of an interview with the author whereby their strategies and observations about a particular project, its processes, challenges and outcomes are described and reflected on. This way of setting up the book affords a sense of honesty and education that will undoubtedly be valuable for anyone seeking to embark in a participatory planning endeavour for the first time, or hone these skills for those who are seasoned at engaging with communities. The book is structured around three distinct parts that frame the place makers’ stories. Part I is titled ‘Design, Collaboration, and Ownership’ and includes four chapters that tackle broad but timely topics such as affordable housing and ethnicity, public space use, and group dynamics among stakeholders. The authors in this section recall actions taken, and lessons learned, related to the projects that they are describing for the book – many of which are both relatable and repeatable for those who live and work in cities with analogous demographics and economics. Many authors note the benefits of finding more accessible ways to inform (but also to learn with) members of the public so that everyone has a confident voice in municipal decisionmaking. Part II is titled ‘Engagement and Difference in Placemaking’ and includes four chapters concerning dispute resolution and racial violence, the development of a justice centre, community belonging, and the art of listening and being accountable in a community. These authors discuss some of the strategies used to form partnerships with community members and organizations, including working in alignment with the idiosyncratic aspects of a place in order to make participatory methods work smoothly. The authors also make sure that readers understand how important the local context is, whether the issue at hand is food security, social justice, public health – and beyond. Authors’ insights formed from the ground up seem transposable to research and activism related to mental health: When planners and administrators concern themselves with the culture and the nuanced ways of living in a place, it often results in stronger trust-building and a level of openness among stakeholders and community members, affording greater democracy and cogent policy-making. Last, Part III is called ‘Art, Imagination, and Value Creation.’ Its five chapters discuss links between public art and economic development, place identity, sustainable design, and cultivating the arts in communities in general. This collection of chapters expresses a common worry among the authors that decision-makers may not thoroughly or consistently listen to, or act on, what artists, activists, entrepreneurs, gardeners, and other community players suggest for a setting. This section of the book may be particularly helpful for those looking to make a difference at the individual-level, as well as work within teams with varied interests, to form an impactful voice and attain meaningful goals. The book includes an engaging introduction and conclusion by the editor to frame his motivations for writing the work and to justify the timeline toward its development. These portions are important because the book has been published in the wake of a number of global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued effects of climate change, and numerous public uprisings addressing social and racial injustice. The editor offers an ‘afterword’ section to explain the relevance of the book’s storylines in a pandemic era, as well as in the context of the recent Black Lives Matter movement. The book also includes three appendices to augment some of the information given in particular chapters (along with details about the interviews conducted with each chapter author, such as dates and approval documentation) to further mark the book as an ethical and formal undertaking. Overall, ‘How Spaces Become Places: Place Makers Tell Their Stories’ is an inspiring volume for those studying or working in the social sciences, public health, planning and design disciplines, and other fields that rely on humane, organic communication methods to bring many kinds of people together in support of a public purpose. Anyone who wishes to learn from others’ accounts of their trials and success stories on the job – whether they are artists, community members, government administrators, city managers, or academics alike – can find much satisfaction and instruction in this well-curated book. Lindsay J. McCunn Department of Psychology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada lindsay.mccunn@viu.ca