ILASLA Webinar: Mental Landscapes: Creating Supportive Public Spaces

Join us as planner Kelsey Zlevor presents her research on how depression can impact the perception of stimuli in parks and public spaces. You will learn how key design interventions can create places that are safer and more supportive of people with depression, and recognize how designing for depressive episodes also benefits people across a wide spectrum of neurodivergence.

This session illuminates findings of 30+ interviews with park users across various identities who experience depression. Participants learn how depression and other forms of psychological disability can impact the perception of stimuli in parks and public spaces; how key design interventions can create places that are more supportive of people with depression through the Mental Landscapes framework; and how intersecting factors contribute to the rise of depression. Attendees will participate in an online design activity focused on building representations of memories and spaces where participants experience ease, observation, affinity for nature, and awe in their communities. Creations from the workshop will feed directly into a broader conversation about developing the next steps of this work.

Special Instructions: This is a 1.5 hr session to allow for the online design activity.

$15.00  ILASLA Member
$25.00 Guest

REGISTER

Member Vouchers

ILASLA offers education vouchers for members! Each year, Illinois Chapter Members will be provided at least one voucher to be used toward 6 eligible ILASLA LACES education sessions. Just click “Use Voucher” when checking out for a free webinar. In 2025 1 voucher per member will be available.

Speaker: Kelsey Zlevor

With a background in creative writing, environmental science, and urban planning, Kelsey is a spatial strategist and design researcher at the convergence of planning policy, climate justice, and social change. Kelsey founded Mental Landscapes, an emergent emotion-meets-design lab informed by Kelsey’s 8+ years of experience as a parks planning consultant to public sector clients. Her culture-shifting work weaves understanding around depression with a recognition of the oppressive forces that exacerbate its symptoms. Kelsey partners with community workers, outdoor space stewards, and cultural institutions committed to creating and reimagining spaces that comfort, support, and accompany people through mental health experiences over the course of their lives. Through Mental Landscapes, she was named the Fall 2023 Artist-In-Residence at Allerton Park and Retreat Center, and a speaker at SXSW 2024. Kelsey is a board member of Women in Planning and Development in Chicago and holds a master’s of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Iowa.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE