June 10, 2008

Alaska Housing Planner Reelected to APA Board

CHICAGO — Mitzi C. Barker, FAICP, director of rural housing and planning for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP), was reelected to serve on the Board of Directors for the American Planning Association (APA), a 44,000-member organization committed to promoting better communities through good planning.

This is Barker's second consecutive four-year term serving on the board as a Director-at-Large. She is one of 13 members on the APA Board of Directors responsible for setting the association's policy direction and strategic goals. Barker will begin her second term on June 11. This is a volunteer position.

Barker's career spans more than 30 years with a strong focus on housing and community development. In her current position, Barker manages RurAL CAP's housing rehabilitation and weatherization programs, and rural community planning assistance initiative. Previously she worked for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the Municipality of Anchorage, and as a private planning consultant.

An active member within APA, Barker currently serves as chair of the Legislative and Policy Committee, which recommends national planning policies and legislative priorities to the board for the association. She also serves as a Planning Accreditation Board site visitor who reviews university planning programs. Barker previously served as president and vice president of the APA Alaska Chapter.

Barker is a certified planner and a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an American planner, and the first Alaskan to be so honored.

Contact

Roberta Rewers, APA, 312-786-6395; rrewers@planning.org