Nilsa Zacarias Shares Community Building Expertise at UCF

ChenMoore’s Nilsa Zacarias inspired future planners by sharing real-world strategies for community building and sustainable growth.

ChenMoore’s Nilsa Zacarias, AICP, Director of Planning, was the featured speaker for the University of Central Florida’s Distinguished Lecture Series: Fundamentals of Community Building, hosted by the School of Public Administration. During the lecture, Nilsa shared how thoughtful land use planning, proactive public engagement, environmental stewardship, and economic development come together to create vibrant, resilient communities. Drawing on ChenMoore’s experience, she highlighted the firm’s award-winning Proactive Public Participation Program (4Ps), the planning and development of the City of Westlake, and innovative concepts such as carbon neutrality and biophilic urbanism.

The event provided students, faculty, and planning professionals with practical insights into how planners balance community vision, regulatory requirements, and strategic partnerships to guide sustainable growth. By sharing real-world projects and best practices, Nilsa demonstrated ChenMoore’s commitment to advancing the planning profession and mentoring the next generation of community leaders.