Community by Design Training

What if the places where we live, work, gather, and play could actually help create safer, more connected communities?

Join MOCSA for Community By Design, an interactive, community-centered training that explores how the physical environment can influence safety, connection, belonging, and prevention.

Formerly known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Community By Design takes these evidence-informed principles and makes them practical, accessible, and relevant to the communities we serve.

During this training, participants will learn how to look at everyday spaces differently—examining how things like lighting, visibility, landscaping, walkways, gathering spaces, property maintenance, and community ownership can either strengthen or limit safety.

But this training goes beyond buildings and sidewalks. Community By Design is about people. Participants will explore how thoughtful environmental design can strengthen protective factors, encourage positive community interaction, increase a sense of ownership and belonging, and support broader violence prevention efforts.

Participants will:

• Learn the foundational principles of Community By Design/CPTED
• Explore the relationship between the built environment, community connection, and safety
• Identify strengths and potential concerns within community spaces
• Practice assessing environments through a prevention-focused lens
• Discuss practical strategies that can be implemented in neighborhoods, organizations, schools, businesses, and shared community spaces
• Develop ideas for creating spaces where people feel safer, more connected, and empowered to participate in their communities

Community By Design is designed for anyone interested in creating stronger and safer communities, including:

Community residents, neighborhood leaders, nonprofit professionals, local government staff, educators, prevention professionals, youth-serving organizations, property managers, business owners, community health professionals, law enforcement partners, and other community stakeholders.

You do not need any previous experience with CPTED or community planning to participate.

Come prepared to learn, engage, look at community spaces through a new lens, and leave with practical strategies you can put into action.

Safer communities don’t happen by accident. They happen by design.