Philanthropist Christy Brown’s interconnected vision of health, incorporating citizen science and advocacy, inspired the foundation of The Institute for Healthy Air, Water & Soil in 2012 as well as the partnership that became the Environment Institute in 2018. In 2015, Louisville had been selected as a new location for a luxury hotel chain and some historic buildings were facing demolition. The Institute requested a video that would hear from community leaders about why being thoughtful about the design and layout of our city incorporates so many aspects, including issues like community building, walkability, building more desirable blocks and neighborhoods, safety, human health, economic development, preservation, and more.

Through each interviewee, we aim to understand why urban design and the character of buildings and blocks influence a health sphere model that the Institute has identified – i.e. economic, physical, cultural, spiritual. This video was used to gain support for saving the historic buildings and as a call to action to the hotel group to be mindful in their design to ensure a more beautiful, vibrant, and healthy downtown Louisville.