For SRC Regional Representative Elected from Region III
Marta Viciedo
Florida Atlantic University, School of Urban and Regional Planning
First year, second semester graduate student
Expected Graduation Date: May 2013
mvicied1@fau.edu
Leadership, Volunteer, and Planning-related Experience
List and describe briefly relevant leadership positions held at the local, regional, state, or national level.
During my first semester at FAU's School of Urban and Regional Planning graduate program, I initiated the creation of the Urban Planning Summer Institute. The goal of this program is to increase awareness for the field of urban planning among high school students. The program will also serve as a means to educate high school juniors and seniors on the fundamentals of urban systems. After creating and submitting a proposal to the school's chair the program was approved and is currently in development. In the summer of 2012, FAU will provide 15 high school students with 3 dual enrollment college credits, free of charge, while deepening their understanding of the dynamics of the urban system within which they reside.
In addition, during my second graduate semester, I organized a small team of student to initiate a student led organization called UrbanMatters. The goal of UrbanMatters is to promote connectivity both within the student body and with the urban community surrounding the college. UrbanMatters will assist students in gaining a deeper understanding of the connectivity present within urban areas by creating opportunities for hands on involvement and interaction. It is also the goal of UrbanMatters to support students in creating a foundation from which to build their future professional endeavors.
List and describe briefly any relevant planning-related volunteer positions held at the local, regional, state, or national level.
I have served as a volunteer for various organizations over the last 5 years within South Florida. Most notably, I was a volunteer leader at Hands on Miami. This agency served as a coordinator for over 40 community organizations. As a volunteer leader, I assisted the team at Hands on Miami in coordinating community efforts and the volunteer teams that would ultimately work on these projects. Some of our projects included support of urban farming collaboratives and marine cleanup efforts.
Describe your involvement in planning-related activities (community, nonprofit, planning student organizations, etc.):
Beyond my involvement in creating the Urban Studies Summer Institute and UrbanMatters at FAU, I am also a member of FAPS (Florida Atlantic Planning Society) and I am very active in creating collaborations within the school's surrounding urban area. As part of my coursework, I currently have two terrific opportunities to work with an area planning firm and a local non profit organization. I am confident that my involvement in these activities will broaden my understanding of today's key urban issues.
About APA and Planning
Describe how you have benefited from APA student membership to date.
The APA student membership has been an important resource for the projects I have undertaken. For example, the Green Communities Research Center has provided valuable information regarding the issue of sustainability. The APA not only supports students like me in research, but also assists us as we begin our professional careers through the career development services.
Describe your qualifications for the SRC Regional Representative position.
A strong belief in community involvement and collaboration and strong communication abilities are my best qualifications for this position. The representative is responsible, at least in part, for the relationship between the APA and its student members. My ability and desire to reach out to students and assist with the development of student activities will be an important contribution to that relationship.
How can APA and its student leaders assist planning students as they transition into planning careers?
In addition to the APA's career development services, student leaders serve as important conduits of information and can become a resource to their colleagues. As a student leader, two ways to achieve this is by interacting with other student representatives and participating in the local APA chapter.
Why did you choose planning as a career path?
Pursuing planning with a background in marine ecosystems and experience in adult ESL education may have initially seemed to be the result of a disconnected thought process. However, these experiences have provided me with two important elements: an invaluable scientific understanding of ecosystems and a deep commitment to community development. In choosing a graduate program, planning was the obvious choice because I could apply my experience to my current goal of creating sustainable, vibrant communities.
What have you learned from previous leadership experience?
My leadership experience has taught me how to be open and receptive to diverse perspectives, ideas and individuals. Additionally, these experiences have also taught me the importance of maintaining a focus on a project's vision and goals. I believe these two lessons are the foundations for creating the successful, dynamic relationships that ultimately help one achieve their most important goals.
