Luna Lake Ecosystem

What I'm up to & how you fit in.

Speaking

You're looking for some good news. A positive perspective during a time of escalating uncertainty. Courage starts with community. Gather and let's talk it through.

> Coming Soon: my presentation journey

AI Community

If your ai research adventures are telling the algorithm you're afraid, pivot. NOW. AI is feeding you the spirit in which you ask the question. Proceed with boundless optimism.

> Join the AI community to share insight

Hire Me

"Start with the end in mind." Grandmother Kidd's isms age well as did the cinderblock homes she built with community sweat equity. Humble roots wire a girl differently.

> Learn about me & fractional services

Trekking

Roadtrip! Three decades of Southern hospitality and placemaking make for a great cultural walkabout. Let's go visit with some friends in their favorite Third Places.

> Coming Soon: Meet Riley and do some trekking

The AI Antidote: Third Places

TRUTH: The predictions about how AI will alter our world & professions are scary.

ALSO TRUE: It's never been more important to build & support "Third Places."

In The Great Good Place, sociologist Ray Oldenburg introduced the concept of "third places" to describe informal public gathering spots that exist outside of home (the "first place") and work (the "second place"). These are spaces such as cafés, bars, parks, libraries, community centers, and hair salons where people can gather voluntarily, engage in conversation, and build relationships in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Oldenburg emphasized that third places are accessible, neutral, and inclusive, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to interact on equal footing, free from the hierarchies and obligations of home or work. He argued that these places are essential for fostering community, civic engagement, and democracy, serving as the social glue that binds neighborhoods together and supports a vibrant public life. Oldenburg also outlined key characteristics of third places, including their openness, informality, regular clientele, and the centrality of conversation and laughter.

Ultimately, third places are the AI ANTIDOTE. They are vital anchors of community life, providing a sense of belonging and connection that is crucial for both individual well-being and the health of society as a whole.

When you need to emerge from all of this AI stuff, here are a few more antidotes to start with:

WanderWoman

Hey there!

I'm Amber Kidd Lombardo, a Memphissippi farm girl living a wanderlust life. What began as a little web dev moonlighting gig evolved into a global community of do-gooder placemaking friends, sweet nectar for the soul. I'd like to introduce you to them so you can hear for yourself the stories I've heard from them.

My story is one of blind faith, I think. Leaving architecture school to leap into the dot.com boom and riding the wave of businesses needing websites for the first time - it was crazy fun. You learn a lot about a thing when you build a website for it. It's like an infinitely long magazine that never runs out of space.By far, my favorite topic was PLACEMAKERS, typically masked as Chambers of Commerce, tourism offices, Main Street communities, architects, economic development offices, city administrators, and more. Come along. See what I see.

Current Projects

What's Amber up to these days?

Fresh from an amazing journey with the American Institute of Architects, I'm now pursuing a lifelong dream of building a virtual architectural playground. As a rural kid who learned about the profession while a junior in college, my mission is to build online resources that reach any person with an internet connection. See, as I've learned about AI and its prospects for the future, not only is it more important than ever that we unplug and celebrate physical places where we commune, but it's imperitive that...

 those places are influenced by the kids who lived the experience of growing up there.

Additionally, as AI learns from available information on the web, those of us with good intentions need to rapidly populate information sources to assure that this emerging technology has quality content...

...and learns to be noble.

ArciTrek

As a student at Mississippi State University, I was a library assistant and became good friends with architectural textbook author, Michael Fazio. Over the years he shared his frustration with print - the necessity to condense, the expense, the distribution, the errors. I told him I'd work on that someday. Hard to imagine that was three decades ago. Time to make it happen.

The AI Antidote

While teaching you to use AI, I also teach you how to unplug. Once the algorithms understand that you're interested, you'll be quickly overwhelmed by the amount of uncertainty that emerges. Take a deep breath and let's explore ways to manage this new frontier. You will be amazed at how quickly you begin to integrate it into your daily life and workflows.

Vanlife

To launch ArciTrek I'm starting with my home state of Mississippi. Joined by Riley, my Catahoula-mix rescue, we journey through rural roads to explore far-flung places, boondocking along the way when we need to take a break. Our first trip out was a mind-bending moment when I realized the power of AI by using it to repair my rig. Mechanics, beware.

Speaking Gigs