How can we make a difference in our community if we don't understand the world around us and how the people and the environment interact together? Dr. Keith A. Ratner is a full professor of geography and Chairman of the Geography Department at Salem State University. He has a PhD in Geography from the University of Denver, a Masters of Regional Planning from Penn State University, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resource Management from Michigan State University. His specialties are in land use and transportation planning, urban geography and geographic information science. For eleven years he worked as a professional planner at the local, regional, and state levels of government. Dr. Ratner’s research has focused on American metropolitan land use change since the reintroduction of rail transit in the 1970s and the land use implications of Transit Oriented Development in Denver, Colorado. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx