To kickoff the Spring 2020 semester, the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design will launch a new programmatic initiative called DEPART-MENT. This new direction reimagines the exhibition and event space at 1725 Baronne Street into a launch pad for individual and collective journeys that propel us towards a more enriching, equitable, and connected world. Blurring the lines between academia, community, and design will open new pathways for the Small Center to expand on its 15-year body of work — building on existing partnerships to reach audiences previously out of its orbit. The hope is that DEPART-MENT will create a nexus for new ideas, coalitions, and civic action on issues related to the built environment locally and beyond. This is another step towards a New Orleans where every resident feels empowered to shape the places they live, work and play.