Q & A
with Sarah Wrightsman, New Hampshire Housing
How did you first become involved with the Plan NH Charrette Program, and what drew you to volunteer in the beginning?
I participated in my first charrette with Plan NH while I was finishing graduate school at the Carsey School of Public Policy and interning at the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast. Initially I wanted to see what a charrette looked like! The idea of a charrette was appealing to me given my interest in local planning and community engagement but experiencing it firsthand was even better. I’ll always remember Kensington 2017!
What keeps you coming back to participate in charrettes year after year?
I try to do at least one charrette per year because it is genuinely a lot of fun! One of my favorite parts of serving on a charrette team is the opportunity to immerse myself in a New Hampshire community (the people, the politics, all of it). Sometimes the host community is a town or city I know very little about, but even when Plan NH came to my own hometown, I learned a lot about the community and met new people. By the time the charrette is done, I often feel a sense of belonging, and the communities I’ve worked in have a special place in my heart. I think this is so important because the charrette team often starts the process feeling like “outsiders” but leave as honorary residents.
Is there a particular charrette moment or project that stands out as especially meaningful to you?
There is one moment that will be stuck in my head forever. One of the most challenging parts of the charrette is not knowing how many people will come for the community listening sessions on the first night (or how those sessions will go). But whether we get two people or a few dozen people, we always find a way to make it work. At one particular charrette, well over 100 people showed up for the community listening session (and they had questions)! The original plan went out the window, and we quickly shifted gears and organized attendees into small, self-facilitated groups.
How have you seen the charrette program evolve during your time as a volunteer?
The biggest change over the years is the quality of the deliverables to the community alongside technological changes. The renderings, maps, and photographs have all come a long way. The first time I saw a charrette volunteer bring a desktop computer was in Manchester in 2019! As a result, the charrette reports get better every year!
What impact do you believe the charrettes have had on New Hampshire communities?
Hosting a charrette is such a powerful way to bring your community together and create a shared vision. Sometimes communities take steps to implement the recommendations made during the charrette, but even when they don’t, the process lays the groundwork for future visioning work and productive community conversations. The benefit of charrettes is that they’re so hands-on, visual, and inviting. Everyone has a seat at the table and everyone who attends gets something out of it.
In what ways has volunteering with Plan NH influenced your own professional or personal growth?
Volunteering with Plan NH has given me access to experts in a wide range of professions that I may not have met otherwise. On the first day of the charrette, the team is taking information in, but on the second day that’s when the landscape architects, transportation planners, engineers, architects, housers, and planners translate the community’s vision into something tangible. It’s fun to witness the creative process, and the end result is beautiful concepts that reflect the needs, wants, and values of the community members.
What do you enjoy most about collaborating with multidisciplinary teams during a charrette weekend?
I learn so much from collaborating with people across disciplines! I feel more well-rounded as an advocate for good local planning and community engagement as a direct result of volunteering alongside so many incredible professionals.
As Plan NH celebrates 30 years of charrettes, what message or reflection would you like to share about the program’s legacy?
It’s such a joy to be a small part of Plan NH’s 30 years of charrettes! To date, I’ve served on nine charrette teams, and I am looking forward to future charrettes! One of the most important things I’ve learned is how the same and different every community is. At every charrette I hear some familiar things and at least one thing that surprises me!
Plan NH is grateful for C.R.'s participation on the following Charrette Teams:
- Kensington 2017
- Moultonborough 2018
- Bristol 2018
- Manchester 2019
- Wolfeboro 2021
6. Temple 2022
7. Brentwood 2023
8. Newmarket 2024
9. Nashua 2025
