APA Mission and Vision

Our Mission

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change.

Our Vision

We measure our success by the successes of our members and the communities they serve. Our vision is of a nation of vital communities, fully accessible to all people, with:

• comprehensive plans implemented to create healthy, safe places to live and work;
• social, economic, and racial equity and integration;
• good public services are provided;
• decisions based on sustainability at all levels;
• good jobs available close to home;
• a quality education available to all students;
• quality, affordable housing available to all people;
• choice in transportation modes;
• recreational and cultural opportunities;
• adequate protection from environmental hazards;
• natural resources protected or managed in a sustainable way;
• public officials and citizens who understand, support, and demand excellence in planning;
• citizens who actively participate in making the choices that determine their future.

This vision is the basis of our mission, goals, and strategies. It is what defines us as planners. And, most importantly, it is the measure by which we want to be judged — both individually and as an organization.

Our Values

We are the leaders of a planning movement. We champion good planning through direct public advocacy at the national level, through technical support for our chapters' efforts at the state level and division efforts at the national level, members' efforts at the local level, and through our amicus curiae committee's legal briefs in selected court cases. We advocate good planning through vigorous public information and education programs that include dissemination of materials to the media and through our web site.

We are recognized by our partners abroad as an international leader of the planning movement. We develop print and digital products to describe the outcomes of good planning, to educate the nation about planning, and to reinforce the collective and individual efforts of our members.

We assure excellence in the field through our continued support of the planning school accreditation process conducted by the Planning Accreditation Board and by continued emphasis on the importance of AICP certification for practicing professionals. These activities raise the quality, and thus the stature, of the profession. To help our professional members maintain their skills and respond to new challenges and opportunities, we develop a range of accessible, affordable continuing education programs. We support certified planners in their pursuit of certification maintenance. We promote a diverse workforce by bringing employers together with applicants through our job services.

We recognize that planning enables civic leaders, business interests, and citizens to have a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. We assure excellence in decision making by assisting planning commissioners, elected officials, and engaged citizens with training, information, and support. We offer workshops and training sessions during our national and chapter conferences, and a national clearinghouse of training materials.

We seek national and international partnerships to advance the planning movement that builds communities of lasting value and advances the principles of sustainability, inclusion, and nondiscrimination. We will continue to address issues of social equity in our publications, host Diversity Forums at our national conferences, provide a Diversity Portal on the website, and focus efforts in our growth strategy to attract and retain minority members.  We want our membership to reflect the diversity of the nation.

We enhance the state of knowledge in our field by identifying and fulfilling a vigorous agenda of applied research. We share the results of that research with our subscribers and members and, ultimately, with the national community.

It is our belief that the strategic combination of elected leadership, staff, and members, working together to implement these strategies, will help us achieve the mission and vision to which we are committed. We are committed to ensuring that all our members have equal opportunity to participate in the activities of our organization.

In 2009, APA will celebrate the centennial of the planning movement in this country. As America's communities face challenges of the future, including globalization and global warming, increased geographic and demographic diversity, we will also reflect on the accomplishments and history of the planning movement in this country over the last 100 years.

Our collaborative efforts will continue to result in great success for APA and the vital communities we strive to support, and APA members will continue to help create communities of lasting value. We value choice and community engagement, diversity, inclusion and social equity. We promote these values through a transparent organization, and are accountable to our members, and to each other.

What Does APA Do?

As leaders of the planning movement, APA acts on many fronts.

• We advocate for planning at the national level; support chapters', divisions', and members' efforts at the state and local levels; and file amicus briefs in selected court cases.
• We promote good planning through vigorous public information and education programs.
• We produce digital and print materials that describe the outcomes of good planning, educate the nation about planning, and reinforce the individual and collective efforts of APA members.
• We assure excellence in the field — and raise the stature of the planning profession — by supporting the efforts of the Planning Accreditation Board and emphasizing the importance of AICP certification for practicing planners.
• We develop accessible, affordable continuing education programs.
• We support certified planners in their pursuit of certification maintenance.
• We promote a diverse workforce by bringing employers and job seekers together through our job services.
• We assure excellence in local decision making by offering training, information, and support to planning commissioners, elected officials, and engaged citizens.
• We seek national and international partnerships to advance both the planning movement and principles of sustainability, inclusion, and nondiscrimination.
• We address issues of social equity in our publications, host diversity forums, and provide a diversity portal on our website.
• We work to attract and retain minority members so our membership will reflect the nation's diversity.
• We enhance the state of planning knowledge by identifying and fulfilling a vigorous agenda of applied research.
• We share research results with our subscribers, members, and, ultimately, the national community.