Introducing People. Place. Practice.

A Professional Development School for Spatial Thinking and Urban Change.

Designed for Practitioners Who Care Deeply

People, Place, Practice is built for educators, caseworkers, nurses, nonprofit leaders, and planners ready to grow — together. Our content is accessible, rigorous, and deeply grounded in justice.

Where you work, teach, and care matters. So does where your clients, students, and communities come from. At People, Place, Practice, we help practitioners see how geography shapes lives — and how place-based insight can lead to more equitable, impactful work.

We’re more than a training program — we’re a learning community. Through our interactive modules, workshops, and real-world case studies, you’ll explore the power of place in your profession. Whether you’re a nurse navigating care deserts, a teacher working across divided districts, or a planner aiming to serve residents better, this is a space where spatial understanding meets human-centered action.

Four diverse healthcare professionals, including doctors and a nurse, discussing a city map on a table with a city map background.

Why Spatial Thinking?

Geographic decisions — like where schools are zoned, clinics are closed, or buses stop — aren’t neutral. They’re shaped by policy, power, and history. Understanding these patterns helps professionals like you respond with insight, empathy, and equity.

 

What You'll Learn

✔ How place-based inequities show up in health, education, housing, and planning
✔ Tools to integrate spatial awareness into your practice
✔ Strategies to design with — not just for — the communities you serve
✔ A deeper understanding of how to turn insight into impact

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What you’ll gain

✔ Strengthen your resume and credibility with a certificate from a well-respected, empathy-centered training program.

✔ Expand your network by connecting with a vibrant learning community of care-centered professionals across education, health, and social services.

✔ Unlock new career opportunities—from consulting and leadership roles to grant-funded projects—by gaining specialized skills in place-based equity and engagement.

✔ Deepen your impact by integrating spatial empathy, systems accountability, and healing-centered design into your everyday practice.

Our services

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    Our Flagship Education Program

    A 12-week hybrid learning experience (online + optional in-person sessions) designed for educators, healthcare professionals, social workers, and planners.

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    Place-Based Learning for Your Team

    We tailor workshops, intensives, or full cohort experiences to meet your organization’s needs.

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    Bring Spatial Thinking to Your Organizational Goal

    For institutions ready to integrate place and power into decision-making, we offer customized strategy support.

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    Inspiration Rooted in Geography and Justice

    Our founder and faculty are available for keynotes, panels, and guest lectures.

Learn More

Who we work with

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    Healthcare Practitioners

  • An illustrated portrait of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a dark top and an orange-brown jacket, against a warm yellow-orange background.

    Educators

  • Cartoon illustration of a woman with short curly black hair, glasses, wearing a white lab coat over a black shirt, against a beige background.

    Social Workers

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    Other Care-Focused Practitioners

Apply Today

“Everything has to do with geography.”

— Judy Martz

Further your education with People. Place, Practice today.