Meet C.j. Opperthauser

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful C.j. Opperthauser a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

C.J., so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

Within my line of work, which I consider to largely be facilitating a vibrant urban public life, my optimism comes from and is often reinforced by observing people out in public spaces being, frankly, very sweet. This might be an older gentleman on a bench with his morning paper, a dog-walker letting their pet take its time sniffing, strangers engaging in conversation — whatever. These little moments remind me that people are so often so good, and that decent public spaces facilitate that goodness and allow it to spread to others, including me, as the observer.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My title is Executive Director of a nonprofit called Friends of Congress Square Park, here in downtown Portland, Maine. What we do, essentially, is manage and program a small urban plaza to make it a vibrant and engaging public space for all; this manifests as providing amenities like furniture and WiFi as well as dozens of free public events (concerts, films, chess, etc.). Beyond my title, I consider myself a placemaker — placemaking being, essentially, the work I just described. I believe in the power of good public spaces to solve or improve on so many of our most pressing needs. Improving physical and mental wellbeing? Vibrant public spaces. Supporting local businesses and artists? Vibrant public spaces. Improving public safety? Combatting car culture and alleviating our effect on climate change? Empowering better empathy and understanding? Vibrant public spaces. It’s endless. I find myself obsessing over well designed plazas, parks, sidewalks, and the like wherever I travel, and thinking about what I can learn from them. Here in Maine, beyond our little plaza, I try my best to spread the good word of placemaking and assist other individuals or communities in joining the placemaking movement.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to get involved. Figuring out what excites you, what aligns with your values, and what fills you with some sense of purpose and connection can later be bolstered by knowledge, but that follows being furiously curious and passionate. I studied poetry through graduate school, and only at the end of that journey did I discover a deep curiosity about urbanism, public space, and the like. I read everything I could get my hands on, started showing up and volunteering with relevant organizations, got drinks with practitioners, and just cut my teeth on the practice whenever I could. Before long, I had weaseled my way into the field (or what felt like that), started accumulating real on-the-ground experience, and suddenly found myself being, essentially, a regional leader in the placemaking world.

So, my advice for those starting a journey: hand the wheel over to your curiosity. Be a humble, empathetic part of the thing you love.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

It’s easy, as a staff of one, to find yourself shouldering every bolt, cog, lever, and volt of electricity it takes to run an organization. Four years into this position, I’m still figuring out how to share this load with volunteers in a way that is effective, efficient, and reliable. It’s not easy, but it’s important to try and trust others to be part of your team, and to invite other cooks into the kitchen.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://congresssquarepark.org
• Instagram: @congresssquare
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjopperthauser/