Bi-Annual Division Conference

August 8-11, 2007
Gary, Indiana

Click here for the program

The Planning and the Black Community Division (PBCD) of the American Planning Association will convene at its 2007 Division Conference on August 8-11, 2007, in Gary, Indiana. Indiana University Northwest and the City of Gary are jointly serving as local hosts.

At this conference, PBCD will celebrate 27 years of providing a forum for planners, public officials, students, and other APA members to address issues of significance in the black community. This year's theme "Making Great Communities Happen: Planning for a Comeback," centers on the dynamic challenges facing the planning profession and the black community as many places work towards revitalization-making them great places to live, work and play. After decades of economic downturn and social decay, Gary is showing signs of revitalization and the city is pursuing efforts to enhance its competitive advantage through partnerships and proactive development incentives. The conference will focus on the opportunities and challenges in sustaining vitality, inclusion, social equity and justice in planning and black communities throughout the USA as well as highlight some of the activities undertaken by the City of Gary.

Highlights of the week include keynote addresses from Charles Allen, FAICP, former Planning Director for the City of Gary (the first black planning director of a large U.S. city) and founding member of PBCD, and former Gary Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher, one of the first black mayors of a large U.S. city. Other highlights of the conference include community workshops, an AICP exam preparation course, the PBCD Recognition Dinner, thought-provoking conference sessions, and networking with PBCD members, students and other attendees.

Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity, and make your plans to attend now!

Early Registration Deadline: June 29, 2007