PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM ATKINSON

NH: You grew up in Easton, went to Lafayette, and are now giving back in profound ways.

JM: There was intentionality in moving home. I decided that working in my hometown, with partners that I understood—the city and the College—was what I wanted to do. And when I came back in 2012, there was already momentum to improve Easton as a college town.

NH: Let’s talk about some of your wins. Last year, the Easton Public Market was named by USA Today as the top public market in the country. I’ve bought cookies there, and tacos, and flowers…

JM: We opened in 2016 and it’s been a hub for the community. People have a fondness for the mix of vendors. The shared magnetism is there’s something for everyone.

NH: When alumni are visiting, I don’t want them to just come home to campus. I want them to come home to Easton. That’s one of the goals of the strategic master plan.

JM: An alum who hasn’t been here in 20 years will be blown away by what Easton has become. Easton continues to flourish as a dining destination. But there is a food quotient that extends beyond the restaurants: Easton is a place where people care about food and coming together around food, from our farmers markets to our food festivals.

NH: I’m reminded of Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone, and the idea that people also need these places for social connections.

JM: The entire community can regularly convene and have shared experiences here. It becomes a ritual for people.

NH: Especially with the Bicentennial coming up, we should lean into Lafayette’s beautifully democratic origin story of being founded by the citizens of Easton.

JM: Students should see themselves as part of the legacy of a citizen-initiated college, and it should be celebrated.

NH: One of the most important things is seeing the alignment and potential between the College and city.

JM: We will have a new hotel in Centre Square. The Marquis apartments, developed by J.B. Reilly ’83, will bring in more retail. There will be more public spaces and trail projects. We’re creating more youthful experiences downtown.

NH: That sense of community is part of what makes the connection between Lafayette and Easton so special.

JM: We have had successes, but there is a lot of possibility to continue to make Easton a better place for its residents, students, and visitors, which includes returning alumni.

---

Get to know Jared Mast

After graduating in 2004 with degrees in art and philosophy, the Easton native lived in California before returning east for graduate school.

Expertise

Mast earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University in 2014. He has been working with GEDP since 2013, serving as its executive director for the last eight-plus years.

Noteworthy

In his first GEDP project, Mast worked on the site for the Easton Public Market and evaluated feasibility and possible grant funds.

For Fun

An avid cyclist, Mast often traverses town by bike. He also regularly volunteers and was part of the “Connecting Beyond Lafayette” subcommittee for the College’s strategic planning process.

Last Word

“Our vision at GEDP is to make Easton a national model of a livable and welcoming small city.”