Smart Growth America

Project Overview

Client: Smart Growth America
Client Type: National Non-Profit
Location: Washington, DC
Audience Type: Regional Community-Based Organizations

Scope of Work:
Smart Growth America contracted Purpose Driven Games (PDG) to help community-based organizations better understand the relationship between zoning policy and health outcomes. The goal was to increase participant confidence and capacity to interpret zoning code and connect land-use decisions to real-world health impacts.

Our Approach

PDG worked with Smart Growth America to design and facilitate a gamified, scenario-based training experience. This was done through the Zoning for Healthy Outcomes™ Gameshop, an interactive learning session that enabled community-based leaders to explore zoning policies, their effects on public health, and ways to influence land-use decisions.

  • Strategic Consulting: We helped develop learning objectives for the training to ensure it met the needs of community leaders and equipped them with the tools to impact zoning decisions in their communities.
  • Training Development: The Zoning for Healthy Outcomes™ Gameshop was created to provide a hands-on, scenario-based experience to help participants understand how zoning decisions affect health outcomes and the built environment.
  • Facilitation: PDG facilitated the Gameshop at a national convening, engaging participants with interactive activities and guiding discussions on zoning policy, health equity, and community outcomes.

Outcomes & Impact

  • Training for 20+ Community-Based Organizations
  • 100% of participants reported feeling confident or very confident interpreting zoning code following the Gameshop.
  • 72% of participants reported low or moderate confidence interpreting zoning code prior to the session.
  • Participants left the training with increased capacity to engage in zoning and land-use conversations within their communities.