What happens when one of Philadelphia's biggest music festivals becomes a place to imagine the future of our neighborhoods?

That's exactly what happened at Roots Picnic, where we invited hundreds of people to share their stories about housing, affordability, and the places they call home. From conversations about rising rents to hopes for future generations, community members helped shape a dialogue around one of the city's biggest design challenges: creating more attainable "missing middle" housing that allows teachers, artists, young families, and longtime residents to continue living in the neighborhoods they love.

And the conversations are just getting started. This fall, the stories collected at Roots Picnic will come to life at the 2026 DesignPhiladelphia Festival through installations that explore how design can create stronger, more connected communities. As Philadelphia considers how to build more housing while preserving the character of its neighborhoods, the festival will brings us together around one shared belief: the future of our city should be designed with the people who live here.