Ben Stone is a director of Arts & Culture at Smart Growth America (SGA) and its program Transportation for America. Based in Detroit, Ben leads the organization's broad efforts to help communities across the country better integrate arts, culture, and creative placemaking into neighborhood revitalization, equitable development, and transportation planning efforts. Prior to joining SGA, Ben served as executive director of Station North Arts & Entertainment, Inc., where he employed an arts-based revitalization and placemaking strategy to guide development in the state-designated arts district in Baltimore. Under Ben's leadership, Station North became a national model for creative placemaking and equitable development through the arts and innovative collaboration. As a frequent speaker, critic, and guest lecturer, Ben has advised planners, transportation professionals, and artists, students, and elected officials on creative placemaking and community-engaged art. Ben's work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Esquire Magazine, USA Today, Google Cultural Institute, and other international media outlets. Ben holds a B.F.A. from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; a Bachelor's degree in American studies from Tufts University; and a Master's degree in city planning from MIT.