In 2004, the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) applied to HUD for funding to revitalize the McDaniel Glenn public housing community. AHA staff had not begun this process with the intention to include children. However, the interest that they expressed at the first meeting led one planner to make a special effort to develop an independent planning process for the community's children. During these meetings, the planner educated the children on the goals of HOPE VI revitalization. He asked them what was wrong with their present community and what they might like to see in a revitalized development. The children then presented their ideas to the adult group which was simultaneously engaged in its own planning process. The children's ideas were greeted with enthusiasm.

Given time and funding constraints, AHA staff was not able to continue to convene separate meetings with the children. Rather than disbanding, the interested youth began attending and participating at meetings held for the adults. No one questioned their welcome. In meetings of McDaniel Glenn's planning council, residents of all ages engaged in dialogue regarding the redevelopment of the community and their impending relocation. The members of the intergenerational planning council celebrated with great jubilation later that year when they learned that their efforts had been successful. HUD awarded the HOPE VI Revitalization Grant to the AHA to redevelop McDaniel Glenn during the summer of 2004.

I do not have any empirical proof that this intergenerational planning process changed the lives of the youth who participated in it. However, I strongly believe that participation in the process left the youth more educated about planning and empowered by their experience. At the end of the planning process, I asked the children if they would be willing to participate in a planning activity again if they had the chance. The children promised that they were dedicated to doing so.

Intergenerational planning groups represent an extraordinary opportunity to bring together concerned citizens of all ages to discuss problems and contemplate solutions. Cooperation regarding the use of shared spaces is particularly important since often the needs of older and younger people seem to be at odds.

The McDaniel Glenn example demonstrates that youth are capable of participating in such processes, particularly when planners make the effort to educate them before merging adults and youth into working groups. While the rules for participation in these groups often emerge as the process develops, the success of such endeavors is based on the notion of mutual respect. The role of the planner is that of advocate — to convince participants that bringing the generations together is a key component of sustainable decision making.

About the Author

Dawn Jourdan is an assistant professor at the University of Florida. She holds a joint appointment in law and urban planning. She continues to study ways in which youth can be included in planning processes. She has published three articles on the McDaniel Glenn case study, including: Jourdan, D., "Enhancing HOPE VI Revitalization Processes with Participation," in Journal of the Community Development Society, Vol. 39:No. 2, 2008, pp. 75-90; Jourdan, D., "Reducing Pre-Relocation Grief with Participation in a HOPE VI Grant Application Process," in International Journal of Public Participation, Vol. 39:No. 3, 2008, pp. 75-92; and D. Jourdan. Grounding Theory: Developing New Theory on Intergenerational Participation in Qualitative Methods for Housing Research. Qualitative Housing Research Methods. Paul Maquin (ed.), London: Elsevier. (2008).