Expanding Cities: Empire-Building or Empire-Ending?

"AJ Fawver leads the Community Consulting Program for Verdunity. She speaks, podcasts, and writes on planning and community topics, and spends her free time in a variety of mentoring and volunteer positions within several organizations such as the American Planning Association. From 2007 to 2019, she worked to challenge the … Read More

"AJ Fawver leads the Community Consulting Program for Verdunity. She speaks, podcasts, and writes on planning and community topics, and spends her free time in a variety of mentoring and volunteer positions within several organizations such as the American Planning Association. From 2007 to 2019, she worked to challenge the status quo, bring sound planning practices, and improve collaboration through leadership positions in several cities within the region of Texas where she was born and raised. In recognition of this work, she was named to the Traeger List, an annual list of the top 100 local government leaders in the nation, on three separate occasions. AJ brings to Verdunity her experience navigating the unique dynamics of local government. Her former colleagues have described her as dedicated, innovative, respected, and tenacious. She is a master at cutting through and bringing efficiency to processes and adopted documents, building relationships with stakeholders, aligning plans and codes for maximum effect, and providing training and instruction to planners, the public, and decision-making bodies. AJ is driven by her passion for bringing connection and trust back to city governance, and is a spirited advocate for rural communities, diversity and inclusion, and meaningful engagement." Read Less