Downtown Spokane Partnership has announced author and urbanist Peter Kageyama as the keynote speaker for the fourth annual State of Downtown & Awards Breakfast.

The event, scheduled for May 30 at the Spokane Convention Center, will highlight the state of downtown, featuring new data and insights about the city’s urban core.

The program will also include the presentation of the Legacy and Impact Awards, for people and organizations driving progress.

Kageyama is a leading voice in the field of community development. His work explores how emotional engagement and grassroots energy can transform cities into places people love and invest in, according to a DSP press release. 

“(Kageyama’s) deep passion for people-powered urban development is a perfect match for Spokane’s spirit of innovation and connection,” says DSP President and CEO Emilie Cameron in the release. “We look forward to bringing the community together to celebrate the progress we’ve made and imagine what’s next for downtown.”

Nearly 400 business and community leaders are expected to attend the event, according to the release.

Nominations for the awards are open through April 30.

Tickets are now available. The cost to attend is $65 for DSP members and $75 for others.

DSP is a private, nonprofit membership organization that advocates for the city’s core and provides supplemental security and cleaning services to businesses operating in the core's Business Improvement District.