The Bottom-Up Revolution How To Activate Volunteers and Build Trust at the Neighborhood Level
Nov 20, 2025
Victoria Via, an architect and community advocate from Portland, shares her insights on affordable housing and community empowerment. She discusses how lessons from luxury designs apply to affordable projects, emphasizing the importance of livable communities. Victoria explains the neighborhood groups pilot that promotes local action and highlights street safety initiatives. She also shares clever advocacy strategies like mapping vacant storefronts and fostering trust with city officials. The conversation is a rich blend of community action, design, and urban transformation.
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From RV Travels To Portland Practice
- Victoria traveled and worked remotely in an RV while building her architecture career across regions.
- That experience led her to settle in Portland and focus on multifamily and affordable housing at Fora.
Definition Of A Livable Community
- A livable community offers safe, affordable housing, transport, and amenities for all ages and abilities.
- Architects should advocate across land use, transportation, and policy to create holistic neighborhoods.
DIY Punk Ethos Inspired Activism
- Victoria compares Strong Towns' bottom-up ethos to DIY hardcore punk shows in D.C. where community members organized and taught skills.
- That punk-rock DIY spirit inspired her approach to local civic action.
