What does belonging and social connection look like in an era defined by the tech industry and explosive growth? In the heart of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area’s largest city is carving a path to those shared goals amid the digital revolution through uplifting identity and insisting on space for belonging.

More than 120 cross-silo practitioners came to San José, California for Studio #11: Diverse Cultures, Common Ground to explore ideas of how growth can co-exist along with community and connection. Modern innovations are the latest chapter in a story of successive reinventions of this city about 50 miles south of San Francisco — from agricultural valley and farmland to the tech capital of Silicon Valley.

From our treks along the river to stitching our way through cultural districts, parks and public markets, to savoring breakfast burritos and soaking up the California sunshine, we explored how San José’s civic commons are helping communities move beyond division and toward shared purpose. We explored a central question: how might we create public spaces that help people feel connected across differences? From its agricultural roots to its rise as a global tech hub, we explored how policy, investment, migration, culture and local identity continue to shape the public realm in San José.

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Read “In the Heart of Silicon Valley, San José Is Building Belonging”
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Image credit: Knowbody Fotos