&Co. is a regular conversation series where we spend some time talking to each other and our partners about what we're experiencing and learning through our work and within our day-to-day lives.
We try to do these monthly and we try to mix in just as much fun as we do information about the places we love from across the country, and how they are growing and changing. Of course, change is accompanied by both challenges and opportunities....and we love digging into those.
Welcome to & Co.
What happens when you turn a parking lot into a roller rink for one weekend? In this episode, the Yard & Company team breaks down their latest activation in Wheaton, Maryland—an ambitious, joyful experiment in placemaking. From design challenges to community buy-in, you’ll hear how a simple idea became a catalyst for long-term change, and why sometimes the most powerful planning tool is a pair of roller skates.
21 Apr 2025
&Co. Episode 018: Talk of The Town Card Game
On this special episode of &Co., Yard's own Chris Ashwell and Andre Johnson step in as guest hosts to debut Talk of the Town—a brand new storytelling card game created by the Yard team. More than just a game, Talk of the Town is a tool for connection, designed to spark meaningful conversations about place, community, and creativity. Chris and Andre share the backstory behind its creation, the design process, and the ways they hope it will be used—from community council meetings to coffee shops across the country. Whether you're a planner, a neighbor, or just someone who loves a good story, this one’s for you.
25 Feb 2025
&Co. Episode 017: Anthology 2024
On this special edition of & Co., we celebrate the release of Yard’s Anthology 2024, a collection of stories, insights, and reflections on the people and places that defined our year. Join us as we revisit the projects that challenged us, the communities that inspired us, and the ideas that are shaping the future. From the streets we walked to the voices we amplified, this episode is both a reflection and a roadmap—looking back at what we built together and forward to what’s next in 2025.
The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.
25 Nov 2024
&Co. Episode 016: Alli Thurmond Quinlan
Yard & Co. team members Layne Ferguson and Brooke Klejnot share the creative and logistical challenges of building a community-centric art space, 'The Backyard,' for the Blink festival in Cincinnati.
24 Oct 2024
&Co. Episode 015: The Backyard at Blink
In this episode of & Co., Kevin is joined by Yard & Co. team members Layne Ferguson and Brooke Klejnot to discuss the recent activation, "The Backyard," at the Blink festival in Cincinnati. Blink, the nation's largest public art and light show, transformed downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into a glowing canvas. Yard & Co. partnered with Cincy Nice, Black Art Speaks and BlaCk OWned Outerwear to create a community-centric space featuring a film about Cincinnati's Black neighborhoods, interactive activities, and a welcoming atmosphere. The team shares insights into how the activation came together, including the challenges and creativity that went into building the space with limited time and budget. From pallet seating to light installations, hear how "The Backyard" became a hub for connection, art, and fun throughout the festival!
The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.
23 Sept 2024
&Co. Episode 014: Dan Hintz
Join us for a lively conversation with Dan Hintz, where we dive into the unconventional side of urban planning, development, and the power of community-driven change. In this episode, Dan shares his experiences in revitalizing downtown spaces, running a beer garden, and how creativity in planning and development can lead to meaningful transformations. If you're curious about how hands-on work intersects with high-level strategy, this one's for you!
7 Aug 2024
&Co. Episode 013: Dara Eskridge
In this episode of &Co., Dara Eskridge, CEO of Invest STL, discusses resident-led planning and revitalization. In her conversation with Kevin she challenges traditional notions of urban planning, reinvestment and talks about her recent experience working with YARD in the West End of St. Louis. Dara highlights the significance of creating spaces where neighbors can come together and shape their future, arguing that genuine engagement and long-term commitment to the residents can lead to sustainable and inclusive growth. The conversation also explores the role of planners as facilitators rather than mere technicians, advocating for a more empathetic and inclusive approach to urban development.
Discussed are CNU & the Strong Towns Gathering which occurred after the recording of this episode.
10 Jul 2024
&Co. Episode 012: First 16 Feet
On this episode we're joined by Yard's very own Daniella Beltran to discuss the First 16 feet, a term we use to describe the first 16 feet up from the sidewalk and out from a building.
Discussed are CNU & the Strong Towns Gathering which occurred after the recording of this episode.
12 Jun 2024
&Co. Episode 011: Chuck Marohn
On this episode we're joined by our friend and college Chuck Marohn. Chuck was in town for CNU and the Strong Town's National Gathering and he joined us on the couch for a good conversation.
23 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 010: Ross Chapin
On this episode of &Co. we are joined by our friend and partner Ross Chapin. Ross is the author of 'Pocket Neighborhoods, Creating Small-Scale Communities in a Large-Scale World'. Over the past several years he has designed hundreds of human-scaled neighborhoods and places that better connect us to one another and create joy and beauty.
17 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 009: History of Yard and New Brand Reveal
On this episode of &Co. Joe and Kevin discuss where Yard's been and where it's headed.
16 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 008: COVID-19's Impact on City Planning Departments.
This week’s guest on &Co. is Rebekah Kik from the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rebekah has been leading the charge in Kalamazoo during the crisis and has adjusted City strategies related to engagement, planning and development processes. We spoke with Rebekah about everything from business permitting to surveying community needs. We even had a technical glitch in the middle that enabled some fun audience participation.
16 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 007: COVID-19's Impact on community development and engagement.
This week’s guest on &Co. is Lauren Hood of Deep Dive Detroit. Lauren is a translator and negotiator between developers and community stakeholders. She has led innovative dialogues and initiatives around equitable development and inclusive growth. We spoke with Lauren about everything from how to define growth to what expertise means and how it is compensated.
15 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 006: COVID-19's Impact on Zoning and Regulation
This week’s guest on &Co. is Sean Suder from Calfee Zoning. Sean has been a leader in planning, zoning and city regulations for the last decade. His flexible and adaptive approach to problem solving through regulation has helped several cities and neighborhoods strategically grow. We spoke with Sean about everything from equitable regulations and zoning to the importance of the front porch. Below are five takeaways from our discussion.
14 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 005: Philanthropy and crowdfunding in the era of COVID-19.
This week’s guests on &Co. — our limited series focusing on COVID-19 and the impact on our cities — were Jennifer Allen and Leslie Rich from ioby (“in our backyards”). For the last several years ioby, has been giving local leaders the tools they need to build real, lasting change from the ground up. Their innovative crowdfunding platform connects leaders with funding from within their community to create lasting positive change. We spoke with Jennifer and Leslie about basic neighborhood needs, minority small business support, public space activation and more. Below are five takeaways from the discussion.
13 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 004: District Management in the COVID 19 era with Memphis Medical District’s Tommy Pacello
This week’s guest on &Co. is Tommy Pacello from the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. For several years Tommy has been leading the development of several districts across a diverse set of neighborhoods with the backing of the region’s major medical, educational and research institutions. We spoke with Tommy about topics ranging from the future of outdoor living to the power of the front porch. Below are five takeaways from the discussion.
12 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 003: Streets in the COVID 19 era with Mike Lydon.
This week’s guest on &Co. is Mike Lydon from Street Plans. For more than a decade Mike has been one of the key leaders of the Tactical Urbanism movement globally. His work is now being formalized in cities across the country as the COVID-19 pandemic creates a need for more space for people and less for cars. Streets, alleys, parking lots and plazas are being reimagined quickly and creatively as the warm weather season approaches. We spoke with Mike about everything from Open Streets to how this work might create a new generation of elected officials. Below are five takeaways from the discussion.
12 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 002: Public Private Partnerships with 3CDC's Adam Gelter
Our second guest on &Co. is Adam Gelter from 3CDC. Over the last decade or so, 3CDC has creatively invested over $1 billion into downtown Cincinnati and the adjacent Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Those investments have touched everything from streetscapes, parks, mixed-use developments, cultural arts venues and more.
11 Apr 2024
&Co. Episode 001: Retail Districts with Bobby Boone of &Access.
Our first guest was our colleague and partner Bobby Boone of &Access and the topic was retail. The full video of the discussion is below, but here are four of our takeaways from what proved to be a fun and informative talk.
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