Catalyzing Communities for a Regenerative Future is a global program that works to develop actions to help communities become more resilient and sustainable. The program is aligned with the Paris Agreement on Climate Control, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Mexico’s sustainable development policies and incentives, and the Pátzcuaro’s Plan de Desarrollo Municipal. These organizations and policies were established to create a global eco-community business model, and to formulate strategies for implementation and operational actions on the local level.

In mid-January, a group of us traveled to Michoacán, Mexico, and attended the first program in a series held in the Spanish colonial village of Pátzcuaro. Kristen Victor of Sustainability Matters and co-founder of Beautiful PB and a leader in galvanizing communities throughout the southland to live more sustainably, spearheaded the program. Her credentials include the development of the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict and is a leading advocate and co-creator of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan. Catherine and I are proud to be participating in the first of its kind in Mexico.

Kristen believes “that the future or our species depends on individuals participating in a ‘bottom up approach’ rather than top down; secondarily, a system where government and large public agencies support and engage with the community to build more sustainable futures.

First Steps for the Community of Pátzcuaro

We arrived on January 16 in Pátzcuaro at Casa Werma, a Pueblo Mágico, and began working with the community to help develop and plan their ecovillage.

Pátzcuaro is a community dedicated in sustainable living, and even though stressed by population growth, it is extremely beautiful. There are many groups throughout their community who are currently working towards this goal. However, the advantage of this program was to bring varying groups together, formulate common goals, to build trust and encourage the a bottom up mindset.

Research, Discovery and Alignment

Kristen Victor, Kim Nadel and Lola Victor arrived early to set the stage for the program. Their intent was to forge trust and understanding within their team and the local participants and form community coalitions. During an earlier visit, they found that three local groups had historically been at odds, so Kristen and her team needed to align everyone for a common goal. Indigenous, Mexican (Spanish European) and the “extranjeros,” or foreigners (mostly American expats), were brought together to create a regenerative ecosystem that would transcend the test of time for future generations.

McCullough’s Participation

As landscape architects, we know the value of understanding the components that make up an environment and how they affect the culture of a community. Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community's assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness and well-being. Catherine and I spent several days gathering information about their water, waste and mobility flow through placemaking, visualization, local cuisine, cultural trips, community planning and design discussions.

One of the first activities McCullough led was a process called asset mapping. Community participants met around a large map with color-coded dots that were used to designate specific asset categories. The participants placed dots on the map based on their personal knowledge and values relating to their community assets. The team then used this map, along with other information collected from our research, to move specific activities and studies of placemaking, culture, water, waste and mobility. Next, we met in smaller group sessions throughout the week to work on the ideas that were generated.

The program benefitted from having a diverse range of participants drawn from the community. They included:

State and city government
The mayor (or Presidente, as is locally acknowledged) and representatives
Students and educators
Indigenous peoples and their tribal elders
Artists, local craftspersons
Entrepreneurs
Spiritual leaders
Architects
Expats

Next Steps: The Water Challenge

This event along with several trips to Pátzcuaro, is only the beginning. The Catalyzing Communities team has agreed to return on three additional trips to organize more studies into the four primary areas that concern the town. In April, the first more focused discussion will be to discuss water. The community is tasked with outlining how to provide cleaner water and maximize its distribution. Experts will be brought in from around the world to hold important discussions, and to set goals that are realistic and achievable.

This has been an amazing time for all of us and is greater than any individual or singular organization can initiate. But, this is just the beginning for every individual to help solve some of society’s greatest sustainability problems.

We’ll keep you posted through our social media as things develop for the next event in April 2020. We invite all of you to send us your ideas and solutions to ecocommunities16@gmail.com.

David McCullough, ASLA, PLA
Principal Landscape Architect

Welcome Zeek Magallanes to the McCullough Team

Mario "Zeek" Magallanes recently joined McCullough as our newest Associate Landscape Designer. Zeek’s responsibilities include designing for both large and small commercial-landscape development projects within the market sectors we are best known: commercial, hospitality, education and mixed-use projects. All of us are excited to see what Zeek’s visions will be.

Partnership and the Gaslamp Association is an important additional to our firm as we continue to shape our downtown and urban cores,” commented David on Zeek’s unique experience.

Magallanes brings years of education and volunteerism to our team. He earned a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from USC, graduating with honors in Tau Sigma Delta for his academic achievements.

Prior to attending USC, he studied Residential Landscape Design at Cuyamaca College and attended San Diego State University where he earned a degree in Cultural Anthropology. Magallanes has been active as a volunteer in various club organizations. While at Cuyamaca College he served first as the Media Officer, then as the Secretary of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Student Chapter. Concurrently, he was active in the Cuyamaca College Botanical Society where he served first as an Assistant to the Board, then as its 36th president. While attending USC, Magallanes served as the ASLA Student Chapter President for an academic year.

Naby Miller is Promoted to Studio Design Leader

As McCullough continues to expand its influence throughout the region as well as globally, our designers also increase their design influence into our projects. Previously a Senior Associate, Nabyl "Naby" Miller has been promoted to Studio Design Leader. She will be collaborating with the studio’s design principal, David McCullough.

Miller’s work focuses on creative integration of landscapes and social design, mixed-use development, civic centers, residential development, office campuses, office retrofits and commercial centers throughout the U.S., China, Indonesia and Mexico. “Naby is a great addition to our team as the firm’s latest promotion. She offers a perspective and artistic bent that stretches the limits of creative thinking,” commented David McCullough.

McCullough Helps Plan a Sustainable Community South of the Border