Our Communities After COVID-19
Creating a more sustainable future after the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way of life of nearly all Washingtonians. While some of these changes are temporary, others are going to stay with us for a long time.
Our buildings, public spaces, homes, and communities are designed for our pre-COVID-19 world, but we anticipate that we will need to maintain some level of social distancing in our communities and buildings for several years in the future.
We want to figure out how we can create a healthy, sustainable future that keeps our communities connected.
Help the state imagine how we could redesign our buildings, public spaces, homes, and/or communities to allow for both social distancing and community connections.
How can we help Washington build back from the pandemic in a healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable way?
What the community has to say:
To take on this challenge, you can choose from one of the following problem-solving prompts, or create one of your own using the following themes:
Housing
As we plan for the future - what are some strategies cities or towns could pursue to ensure everyone has a safe place to live?
Background information
Urban Centers
How would you design an urban center that serves the needs of our communities after COVID-19?
Background information
Redesigning Schools
How would you redesign a classroom, school, or educational experience (e.g. school day schedule, method of learning delivery -- virtual, online, etc.) to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection and maximize effective learning for students?
Background Information
Worker Safety and Safe Factories
Imagine you were in charge of a manufacturing business in your community. How would you keep workers safe while ensuring operations continued smoothly?
Look at manufacturing businesses in your community for examples
Background Information
Climate Change and Wildfires
Design a community to lower the risk that people, homes, and businesses face from wildfires. How would you plan your community?
Background Information
Tools to help you implement this challenge case:
Get Instructional Guide
Use this guide to support your lesson/activity planning. Contains challenge case background research to share with youth and suggested activities.
Getting Started Guide
Use this checklist to help you plan your engagement with the challenge.
Submission Guidelines
The most creative solutions submitted will be recognized in Spring 2021. Take a look at the list of criteria, and learn how to submit.
Engage with Industry
Learn directly from industry leaders who work on them every day. Visit our schedule page to see the next engagement opportunity, and learn how to register.
Explore Future Pathways
Find information you can share with the youth you serve about college, Career Launch, apprenticeships, or postsecondary training in these fields.
Share on Lesson Bank
Share your lesson and activity plans with other teachers/program leaders statewide, and see what they are using with their students