Every human has a deep longing for home and a sense of place. But home is not where many people think it is, because home is a feeling­­ – not a location. David Engwicht is a place maker and founder of Creative Communities International, a social innovation incubator. The son of an itinerant gospel preacher, David grew up on the fringes with no sense of place. He shares his secrets for helping ordinary citizens add magic and soul to the public spaces in their neighborhood or town center.

David has over 25 years of experience in place making. Best known as the creator of the Walking School Bus and the 7 Day Makeover, he is a passionate designer, artist, author, communicator, and social inventor. David is also a founder and director of Creative Communities International, an organization dedicated to creating great public spaces. Nothing gives David greater joy than working with communities to breathe new life into dead public spaces and dead shopping streets. According to PPS in New York, David is “one of the world’s most inventive thinkers on creating vibrant public spaces.”

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx