October is National Community Planning Month, which makes it a fitting month to honor urban planner Rob Monsma as our neighbor of the month! Rob, who is also a community organizer and advocate, is an incoming member of the Center for Neighborhoods board of directors.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am an Urban Planner, community organizer, and advocate who has lived in Louisville since 1993. I grew up the suburbs before living in several neighborhoods around UofL. I spent most of my adult life playing music, working in restaurants and bars, and earning a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in urban planning from UofL. I live in the Original Highlands with my fiancée, dog, and two cats.
What have you been working on in your neighborhood?
I’m most interested in mobility policies and advocating for better infrastructure throughout neighborhoods in Louisville. American cities have overbuilt our infrastructure to the detriment of safe neighborhoods. The best thing we can do is invest in infrastructure for alternate modes of transportation – buses, bicycles, and various electric vehicles.
How did you get involved in this work?
I was at small music festival my friends had put together in Lexington that lasted all day. It was next to a city park that has a set of bike polo courts and throughout the day the surrounding community gathered at the courts to play soccer. I grew up playing and eventually found my way onto the court, sharing space with a community of whom very few spoke a common language. It made me realize the importance of creating spaces for communities to organize around common activities and ideas. I’d spent some time pursuing that through music and decided that was a worthwhile endeavor.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I love the simplicity. There are businesses, parks, and people I care about within walking distance. Running into people, sharing ideas, and organizing to pursue them are the building blocks of community.
What are your hopes for your neighborhood in the future?
I hope my neighborhood can set a model for affordability in Louisville. Our city has been in a crisis of affordable housing for years and we need affordable housing that is close to services and my neighborhood is in a good position to provide that.
Do you know someone who deserves a spotlight? If you would like to nominate a neighbor to be a “Neighbor of the Month,” email us: admin@centerforneighborhoods.org. (Please include their name, neighborhood, and your reasons for why they should be Neighbor of the Month.)