– Work –

Able ARTS Work (February 2019–Present): Development consulting, event planning, event promotions.

Long Beach Civic Center (publishing July 2019): Writing a small book about the new Long Beach Civic Center multi-block development, currently under construction. The project is partnership between the Long Beach Business Journal and the City of Long Beach.

Energize California (March–September 2017): Directed the Orange County efforts for this program as it got off the ground. Funded by a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission, Energize California is the state's fourth Regional Energy Innovation Cluster. The program's mains goals are to help bring new clean energy technologies to market and help connect and grow the clean energy ecosystem in four Southern California counties.

California Adaptation Forum (September 2016): Organized environmental art into the conference via live painting and a hands-on art activity; and created and led a walking tour about creative placemaking and its relation to climate resiliency and sustainable economic development.

Arts Council for Long Beach (March 2015–November 2016): Long Beach, California lacks a cultural affairs department, so this small non-profit fills that niche for the entire community. I oversaw communications, partnerships, media, marketing, and creative placemaking programs; created and managed programs and budgets; planned our annual State of the Arts event; fundraised and helped win grants; supervised employees and interns; and supported the executive director with organizational strategy and development. 

Downtown Long Beach Associates (June 2015): Advised the DLBA about how to turn a blighted corner into a thriving pocket park. Met with stakeholders and advised on best practices. Researched and wrote a paper distributed to the mayor, city council and top city staff for the June 2015 council vote. The motion passed unanimously.

City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office (March 2014): Co-pitched and co-facilitated a summit between business stakeholders and active transportation advocates to help move the MyFig complete streets project forward.

Bike Nation USA (July 2012-March 2013): Consulting general manager for the proposed Long Beach bike share system. Created and led bike tour for 75 TED attendees.

Contributing Writer, Various (2011–2013)
League of American Bicyclists’ magazine The Bicyclist – Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts (January 2013)
Transportation Issues Daily – What’s Working at the Newest Bike-Friendly Business District (November 2012)
Transportation Issues Daily – Emerging Trend: Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts (2012)
Transportation Issues Daily – Nine Reasons to Create a Bicycle-Friendly Business District (2012)
PedalLove – Bikes Mean Business column (October 2011–September 2012)

City of Long Beach, Office of Sustainability (2012): Helped create a brochure about citywide environmental accomplishments – advised on concept, collected metrics, and wrote text.

Passerelle Investment Company (2010-2012): Created focus papers on cutting edge urban planning programs, including bicycle-friendly business districts, parklets, and transforming parking lots into parks.

Arts Council for Long Beach (2011): Curated and coordinated two zero-waste events focused on urban gardening and bilingual performance art in an underutilized public space as part of the A [LOT] Initiative. Programming included community plantings, take-home planter boxes, seed bombs, composting, breakdancing, eco art workshops, live music, bike valets, Korean tacos, and sponsored water from Boxed Water Is Better. Collaborated with public art team Greenmeme, Captain Charles Moore, and several others.

South Coast Publishing, Inc. (2003-2015): Managed the editorial for the Long Beach Water Department’s and Port of Long Beach’s centennial publications. Contributed as a green business, urban planning, arts and culture, and art history writer for the Long Beach Business Journal.

Downtown Long Beach Associates (2011): Interviewed the organization’s 30 board members and wrote website bios.

Exhibit IQ (2003-04, 2010): Wrote two traveling, green museum exhibits, CSI: Crime Scene Insects and Glow: Living Lights, which traveled to natural history museums throughout North America from 2004–10.

Urban Place Consulting Group, Inc. (2003-08): Wrote From Open Spaces To Vital Places (a paper about activating parks), company business proposals, marketing pieces and client newsletters.

Figueroa Corridor Partnership (2003-08): Directed marketing and communications for this Los Angeles BID. Created the marketing and media strategy, landed the district’s first Urban Land Institute event, produced the quarterly newsletter, redesigned and managed the website and presented annually to the board of directors. Pitched media stories that positioned the district as an innovative, mixed-use neighborhood, and secured significant coverage on transit-oriented developments, pedestrian-friendly urban design and green roofs. 

Claremont Museum of Art & Claremont Packing House (2006-08): As part of the management team, created the marketing strategy and budget for the new museum (a Packing House tenant), managed all marketing programs and subcontractors, participated in staff meetings and presented to the board. Publicized the green renovation of the historic Packing House and its transformation into a community hotspot. Set up press conferences, secured two CNN Headline News segments, and landed a Huell Howser show and several articles in high-profile regional and national publications.

Claremont Village Square & Hotel Casa 425 (2007-08): Garnered media coverage emphasizing the Square’s community open space, public fountain and public art and the boutique hotel’s gourmet vegan muffins from a local bakery, free bikes for guests and a transit- and pedestrian-friendly location. Landed travel articles about the city of Claremont in national newspapers and magazines and a Huell Howser episode about the Folk Music Center. 

Truly Wize Organic Bakery (2007): Advised the bakery on strategic marketing and website promotion.

Ecoshack (2004): Helped publicize the design lab’s creative offsite facility in Joshua Tree as well as its international Green Tent Competition through a targeted mail and phone campaign to eco-minded corporate leaders.

Prior to 2004, April held staff positions as an event planner at the Smithsonian Institution, the marketing director of the Downtown Berkeley Association, and the development associate of the Berkeley Library Foundation.

 

– Complete Streets Consulting –

April Economides has done a substantial amount of consulting on active transportation and complete streets. Please click here for an archive of her work, awards, and news coverage.

(The “here” text):

Complete Streets Consulting


April has given a large number of speaking presentations and workshops about the economic and social benefits of complete streets, bicycle-friendly business districts, and placemaking, as well as written action plans, advised on implementation, and helped launch programs in the public and private sector:

Awards, Etc.:

Media Coverage:

Active Transportation & Infrastructure interview in Tanea, an Athens-based Greek newspaper (July 2016)
Activate a Diamond in the Rough: RFP Released for Design of Temporary Space at Ocean & Pine in DTLB (September 2015)
Could An Activated Corner Be The Catalyst For Revitalization on Pine? (June 2015)
Advocacy and the Future of Cycling (March 2015)
Nearly 3,000 Visitors Get a Sneak Peek of the Broad Museum – article and video (February 2015)
Live-Ride-Share Trended on Twitter (February 2015)
Long Beach Post: Operation Firefly Distributes Free Lights to Bicycle Commuters in Long Beach (January 2015)
Longbeachize: The New(est) Urbanist Mayor of Long Beach (June 2014)
Long Beach Post: One-On-One With Mayor-Elect Robert Garcia (June 2014)
Press Telegram: Long Beach Mayor-Elect Readies Transition Team (June 2014)
Long Beach Post: LACBC to Host Bike Ride Through Central Long Beach (May 2014)
Streetsblog LA: MyFigueroa Achieves Consensus, Auto Group Withdraws Appeal (May 2014)
Rocky Mountain Outlook: Canmore Could Take Bike Tourism Further (May 2014)
Billings Gazette: Study – Cycle Tourists Contribute to Local Economy (March 2014)
The Atlantic – City Lab: The Importance of a Giant Doughnut (February 2014)
Long Beach Post: Operation Firefly Distributes Bike Lights to Riders Who Need Them (January 2014)
Longbeachize: The Top 10 Stories of 2013 – Urban Living (December 2013)
Commercial District Advisor: IDA Recap – Bike Friendly Business Districts and Their Impact on Local Business (October 2013)
Bicycling: Meet 14 Innovators Flush With Ideas About How Bikes Can Change the World (October 2013)
Bicycling: How to Organize a Bike Train (September 2013)
Huffington Post Business: Bike-Friendly Companies Doing Brisk Business As Bike Culture, Infrastructure Gains Ground (July 2013)
KCET Departures: Southern California’s Seven Women of Vision (July 2013)
CSMonitor: The Bike Boom (June 2013)
Calgary Herald: Expert Says Cycling Boosts Nearby Businesses (June 2013)
Calgary CTV News (June 2013)
GOOD Ideas: Good Ideas Beyond Biking (May 2013)
StoryCommercialLLC Blog: A Bicycle Friendly Downtown?! (May 2013)
HuffPost Live (May 2013)
Orange 20 Blog: Lobbying for Bike Love (April 2013)
Bikeshare.com: The Nuts & Spokes with Bicycle Friendly Business District Creator April Economides (April 2013)
Momentum Mag: Help April Economides Name Her New Bobbin Birdie (March 2013)
Kingston Herald: Kingston Bike Summit Opens (March 2013)
BikePortland.org: April Economides is Bringing Bicycling to Businesses (February 2013)
Oakville, Ontario.Swoop’s World Online Radio (December 2012)

Long Beach Post: The Long Beach Cyclist (December 2012)
Sustainable Cities Collective (October 2012)
Mode Shift: Bicycle Friendly Business Districts Inspire Growth (October 2012)
Niagara This Week: Making Cycling Better (October 2012)
Inside Halton: New Oakville Cycles Hits the Ground Cycling (October 2012)
Project for Public Spaces – Place Capital: Re-connecting Economy With Community (October 2012)
Project for Public Spaces – Reflections from an Engineer on Advocacy for Transportation Reform (October 2012)
Fast Company: Bikes Aren’t Just Good For You, They’re Good For The Economy Too (October 2012)
LA Streetsblog: Pro Walknomics/Pro Bikenomics (September 2012)
Momentum: San Diego Announces Largest Bicycle-Friendly Business District Initiative (September 2012)
Momentum: Meet April Economides (September/October 2012)
League of American Bicyclists’ Blog: Women Who Ride – April Economides (July 2012)
Girl Bike Love: Women Who Inspire – April Economides (June 2012)
B.I.K.A.S. Blog: Bike Facility Needed: Bicycle Stairways or Wheeling Ramps (June 2012)
cdmCyclist: The Economic Impact of Bicycling (May 2012)
Los Angeles Times – Atlantic on the Move (May 2012)
Los Angeles Times – Long Beach shopping: Cool finds in Bixby Knolls (May 2012)
Oakville Beaver: Cycling Good for Business (April 2012)
Momentum Magazine – Urban Travel Guide (March 2012)
Streetsblog USA – Why Bicyclists Are Better Customers Than Drivers for Local Business (March 2012)
Commute by Bike – Tom Bowden’s 230-Mile Round-Trip Commute to The National Bike Summit (March 2012)
562 City Life – Saturday Discounts for Bicyclists (March 2012)
Bike Saturdays By Melissa Bell fan video (March 2012)
Long Beach Business Journal – Bike-Friendly Business Districts: Where Going Green and Making Green Meet (January 2012)
Grist: Cycles and cents – One city sets out to prove that bikes are good for business (January 2012)
The Nation: Can Long Beach Prove that Bikes Are Good for Business? (January 2012)
Sunset: Long Beach day trip – East Village (January 2012)
Pedal Love: Bike-Friendly Business Districts (January 2012)
Long Beach Business Journal: National Bike Advocate Mia Birk Speaks in Long Beach (December 2011)
deLab: Long Beach Bike Tour (December 2011)
Los Altos Patch: Can a Bike-Friendly Downtown Provide a Low-Cost Boost of Vitality? (November 2011)
Long Beach Press Telegram: Small Business Saturday (November 2011)
American Planning Association, Los Angeles: Transportation Planning: Off the Grid in Los Angeles (October 2011)
National Center for Bicycling & Walking’s CenterLines newsletter (October 2011)
Long Beach Business Journal – Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference Coming to Long Beach in 2012 (October 2011)
The Path Less Pedaled: Is Long Beach Bike Friendly Yet? (September 2011)
Video by Filmmaker Mike Bauch: Dengue Fever in Cambodia Town (September 2011)
OC Weekly: Dengue Fever in Cambodia Town, Then Fingerprints, Last Friday (September 2011)
Examiner.com: Cambodian Rockers Dengue Fever Promote Biking in Long Beach’s Cambodia Town (September 2011)
Losanjealous: Ride Bicycles With Dengue Fever in Long Beach Tomorrow If You Are Not Working (September 2011)
Video by Filmmaker Mike Bauch: Park(ing) Day in Long Beach (September 2011)
The Patch: Long Beach Takes Green to the Streets (September 2011)
4th Street Long Beach blog: 2011 Global Park(ing) Day (September 2011)
Streetsblog L.A.: Long Beach’s Leap Towards Livability (August 2011)
Streetsblog L.A.: Long Beach: Good for Bikes, Good for Business  (August 2011)
KCET website: Long Beach Unveils Bicycle Business District Program (June 2011)
Uptown Gazette: Businesses Welcome Bicyclists (June 2011)
LA18 Evening News: Bicycling in Long Beach (June 2011)

 

– Volunteer Community Work –

Kiss the Ground (2017): Strategic plan and feature film peer advisor

Long Beach Transit (2014-2017): Board of Directors 

Unexpected Benefits of Creating Sustainable Businesses (2016): Speaker

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia’s Transition Team (2014): Member 

California State University Long Beach Climate Change Symposium (2014): Speaker

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (2013-2014): Board Member

Green Prix Long Beach (April 2013): Organized bike elements into this green event

Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (2012): Economic Development Strategic Plan Community Advisor

30 Women to Watch (2012): Judge

TEDxSoCal Marketing Committee (2012): Member

Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference (2011-2012): Host Committee Member & Women’s Bicycling Summit Steering Committee

Developed and led placemaking and sustainable design tours to media, conference-goers and colleagues (2011-2016)

An Evening With Mia Birk (2011): Speaker Recruiter and Event Organizer

PARK(ing) Day Long Beach (2011): Bicycle Coordinator and Promoter 

Long Beach Retro Row Parklets (2011): Advisor

Riding Bikes with the Dutch film (2010): Social Media Advisor

San Francisco Planning & Urban Research (2010): Stakeholder Engagement Advisor

City of Berkeley, Office of Sustainability (2009-2010): Sustainability Metrics Developer

Natural Capital Solutions (2009): Sustainable Business Researcher & Writer

Claremont Sustainable City Task Force (2007-2008): Member, Sustainable City Plan Contributor

South Coast Publishing (2004): Architectural Daylighting Designer

West County Toxics Coalition (1997-1999): Board Member and Community Advocate

Kuumbwa Jazz Center (1995): Volunteer

Books Not Bars (1994): Student Organizer

 

– Kind Words – 

“I have worked with April since 2011 on a variety of projects related to transportation planning and urban placemaking. Her background in economic development, green business and business improvement districts lends important perspective to these efforts. Most recently, I hired her to advise on and write a best practices paper about how to turn a blighted corner lot into a thriving pocket park. The city council voted unanimously on the recommendation, and we continue to use her paper as the implementation guide for the park. April is an asset to creative visioning and strategic planning efforts. I highly value her expertise!”
Sean Warner, Placemaking Manager, Downtown Long Beach Associates

“April served on the City of Claremont Sustainability Task Force and helped to create the Claremont Sustainable City Plan. As the lead staff person for this effort, I really appreciated April’s hard work. Her knowledge regarding public relations, strong writing skills, attention to detail and enthusiasm were extremely valuable to the effort. The plan has been adopted as official City policy by the City Council. Based on this experience, I strongly recommend April for work in the areas of environmental policy, business, marketing and government.”
Chris Veirs, Senior Planner/Sustainability Coordinator at City of Claremont 

“April balances critical thinking and asking tough questions with genuine empathy and concern for the well being of those she works with. She has a knack for identifying, encouraging, and leveraging the strengths of others, and naturally assumes a leadership role in managing projects. She is an incredibly hard worker, is always striving, and has a remarkable sense of purpose and integrity.”
Carly Smolak, Project Manager at Harmless Harvest