ROCKLAND PLUS 2016
PLANNING LAND USE WITH STUDENTS
MENTOR GUIDE
(Updated to reflect new morning meeting place, the Cultural Arts Building Theatre)
Rockland P.L.U.S. 2016 is made possible with the generous support of
MENTORINFORMATIONFOR
ROCKLANDP.L.U.S.
PlanningLandUsewithStudents
March,2016
DearRocklandPLUSMentor:
Thankyouforjoiningustobeamentorforthe2016RocklandPlanningLandUsewithStudents(PLUS)project.
Theplanningteam,teachersandstudentsvalueyourinputandthetimeyouspendwiththemduringthe
project’sculminatingsymposiumatSUNYRocklandCommunityCollegeonFriday,March18,2016.
RocklandP.L.U.S.2016focusesonplanningforsustainablecommunitiesthroughtransitfocusedplanning.Our
2016eventcombinesthebestelementsofpreviousyears’programming.Intheclassroomworkshopsleadingup
tothesymposium,studentsexplored:(1)theirconnectiontocommunity,(2)theperspectivesandneedsof
communitymembersatdifferentstagesoflife,(3)thestrengthsandweaknessesofthewidercommunityand
(4)whatroledifferenttypesoftransportationplayinacommunity.Theythenassessedtheirlocaltransitstation
andthesurroundingarea,andre-envisionthespacetocreateacommunityhub,integratingfeaturesthat
promoteacommunitybalanceofSocialConnections,EconomicOpportunityandEnvironmentalSensitivity
(S.E.E.)–TheyareabletoS.E.E.theircommunityinawholenewway.
Atthesymposium,studentsfromtheparticipatinghighschoolswillfirstpresenttheirvisionforcreatinga
‘communityhub’throughrevitalizingtheirlocaltransithub(busortrain)tocreateansenseofplacearoundthe
transitstop.Theywillthengatherinputfromyoutoimprovetheirplan.Theyhavefocusedonthisspecific
spaceandhowitcansupportandimprovethewidercommunitythroughinnovationandpartnerships.Following
thesepresentations,thestudentswillworkinmixedschoolteams,applyingwhatthey’velearnedtoalarger
project;thedevelopmentofaproposalforExit10onthethruwayinNyackaspartoftheNYSNewBridge
project.Theirdesignswillfocusonreconnectingthevillageabringinginnewcommercialventures.
Thisyearatthesymposiumwehave7participatinghighschoolsgroups:ClarkstownNorth,Nanuet,Nyack,Pearl
River,P-TechandSpringValleyandSuffern.
TheRocklandP.L.U.S.websitecontainsallcurriculummaterialsfortheprogram:
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/plus/Rockland.html
Belowisahighlightoftheplanfortheday,whichbeginsinRCC’sCulturalArtsCenterTheatre.Wewillhavea
check-intablesetupinthelobbyoftheEllipseRoomforyou.
ForBuildinginformation:http://www.sunyrockland.edu/about/campus-guide/rcc-virtual-tour/technologycenter.Volunteerguideswillalsobeavailable.
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8:15-8:30AM MentorCheckIn
8:30–8:50AM
CULTURALARTSBUILDING
9:00–9:30
VariousCampusLocations
GreetingfromDr.Wood,PresidentSUNYRCC
-Introductions&DayPlan
-IntroductiontoMentors&Facilitators
CULTURALARTSBUILDING
LOBBY
StudentPresentationsofLocalTransitFocusedProject
Eachschoolteampresentstomentorsforfeedbackanddiscussionontheirprojectplan
Studentswillbecollectingfeedbackontheitemsthementorsfoundasstrengthswiththeir
projects,aswellassuggestionsonimprovements.Weencouragethementorstohavea“light
touch”astheysuggestandofferfeedback,allowingthestudentstobethedriversoftheproduct.
Yourinsights,thoughtsandobservations,however,areextremelyvaluable.Weoftenfindthat
posingquestionsassiststhestudentsinconsideringtheirplanmoredeeply,allowingthemto
comeupwithwaystoimprovethem.
9:40–10:00 SnackBreak
CULTURALARTSBUILDING
Studentspostersandfeedbackformswillbeposted
10:00-10:25 IntroductionstoCollaborativeMappingProject CULTURALARTSBUILDING
StudentswillreceivebackgroundinformationonExit10andanewlyvisionedSouthNyackand
weputintomixedschoolgroupstoworkonrethinkingthisspace.
10:30–12:00PM CollaborativeMappingProject
VariousCampusLocations
Studentswillworkinmixedschoolteamstoapplytheirunderstandingofrevitalizinga
communityaroundtransittodevelopaplanfortheExit10/SouthNyacksite.Mentorsprovide
feedbackandguidanceduringtheprocess.
12:10–12:40
Lunch-Forstudents,mentors,teachers,facilitatorsandvolunteers
FacultyLounge&StudentCafeteria,CulturalArtsBuilding
12:50–1:20TeamPresentations
Mapsposted-2-minuteprojecthighlightsfromteamspokesperson
EllipseinTechBldg
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Howwastheuseoftrains,buses,bikingandwalkingpromoted?
Howdidtheproposedplanfocusonaddressingperceivedweaknesses&strengthsofthe
community?
Mostvaluedpieceofinputreceivedfrommentors.
CommentfromMentors(fromthosethatcanstay)
1:20 Wrapupandreflection/Evaluationform
1:30 Dismissal
EllipseinTechBldg
Many,manythanksforyourhelpinthisevent.Wehavedesignedtheprogramtoengagethestudents
intheirownlocalcommunity,aswellastoconnectthemtothewidercommunityofRockland.We
wouldlovetohaveyourfeedbackandsuggestionsontheeventandwillbefollowingupaftertheday
withaveryshortevaluationformwehopeyouwillcomplete.
THANKYOU!
TheRocklandPLUSPlanningTeam