Developing stronger ties to the community, place-based planning is about learning “who we are”. By connecting young people to the places where they live, you can capture their imagination. Place-based planning focuses on local environments— social, cultural, economic, political, and natural— as the context for self-empowerment by emphasizing real-world learning experiences.

This youth session at the National Conference in Boston combines theoretical discussions on place-conscious strategies and programs with real-life examples from a range of community settings. We will explore the engagement of young people as contributing citizens that inspire authentic renewal and revitalization of civic life. The goal is to address the quality of life in places in an integrated way - weaving together the economic, social, environmental and physical dimensions of what makes up a place. Employing place-based approaches allows for dialogue to occur at a socially meaningful scale; thus, taking a necessary step in developing holistic planning approaches.

Learn how place-based planning empowers youth in divergent settings and socio-cultural environments. Gain insight into the role place plays in how people relate to their communities, by providing tangible, application-oriented examples that allows us to help further best practices in implementing place-oriented planning techniques. See how place-based education converts the Not in My Backyard (NIMBYsm) to Please in my Backyard (PIMBYsm).