Hive Brainstorms 2025

A Deep Dive into Public Spaces with Hive Public Space

After an exciting first year, Hive Brainstorms is back—bigger, bolder, and bursting with fresh ideas! This year, our virtual monthly series will focus on the future of healthy, vibrant, and inclusive public spaces. Each session brings together experts, community leaders, and creative thinkers to dive into groundbreaking ideas, discuss innovative projects, and share best practices that drive real change.

Small Group. Big Ideas. Real Impact

Hive Brainstorms isn’t your average webinar. It’s where bold ideas meet real talk, and passionate people like you help shape the future of our cities.

We’re keeping it cozy—with Up to 20 spots per session to keep the energy high and the conversations real. That means it’s first come, first served, so be sure to stalk that Eventbrite link and grab your seat in the Zoom room!

These sessions aren’t just about listening—they’re about thinking together, dreaming bigger, and building smarter. Whether you’re a city planner, artist, student, or just someone who cares deeply about public space, Hive Brainstorms is your place to plug in, speak up, and co-create.

Vol 01 | The Neurodiverse City

An ongoing research and design initiative by Verona Carpenter Architects and WIP Collaborative in partnership with The Design Trust for Public Space to reimagine NYC's public spaces to better support neurodiversity. Learning from the experiences and knowledge of neurodivergent self-advocates, the teams are applying learnings from participatory workshops and surveys with local community organizations to design prototypes for NYC streets and playgrounds. Ultimately, the Neurodiverse City aims to identify scalable ways of creating neuroinclusive environments in the public realm.

Vol 02 | H.Earth

Zarith Pineda

H.earth is more than a garden; it's a sanctuary for community care, mutual aid, and cultural preservation. This innovative project, strives to address urban challenges, food insecurity, and climate-induced migration.

Zarith Pineda, an architectural and urban designer, is the founder of Territorial Empathy Her expertise lies in designing urban spaces that promote inclusivity and sustainability. Her notable work includes the H.earth project, which aims to inclusive public spaces by emphasizing community interaction and environmental health.

Vol 03 | Sacred Landscapes & the Architecture of Community

Ifeoma Ebo

This session explored themes of ancestral memory, sacred spaces, and cultural reconnection. Through a masterful fusion of traditional African materials and quilting patterns rooted in both African and African American traditions—Ebo’s work weaves together a powerful narrative of healing, rest, and spiritual reconnection. Her artistic and academic work is deeply rooted in the concept of sacred spaces where Black people, whether on the African continent or in the diaspora, can find solace, meditate, and reconnect with their ancestral lineage. Through AI-generated architectural imagery integrated into her quilted and woven pieces, she challenges viewers to reflect on the ways they engage with their heritage and the spaces they consider restorative.

VOL 04 | Mental Landscapes

Kelsey Zlevor

Kelsey Zlevor is a design researcher, public academic, and founder of Mental Landscapes, An emotion-meets-design lab committed to creating and reimagining spaces that comfort, support, and accompany people through mental health experiences over the course of their lives.

Join us in conversations as we reimagine spaces that foster well-being, connection, and resilience. Because great public spaces start with great ideas—and great ideas start with you!