Blogs

September 27, 2017

Planners Call on Congress: "Fund Community Programs"

At Planners' Day on Capitol Hill 2017, planning advocates urged their representatives to support programs that benefit communities.

May 15, 2017

Speak Out During Infrastructure Week

As Infrastructure Week kicks off, there is no better time to share APA's newly adopted infrastructure principles with your elected officials.

May 9, 2017

Marketing: Networking and Storytelling for Planners

This NPC17 session provided a thorough review of the role of marketing in the private sector, and highlighted key considerations from the public sector.

April 18, 2017

Take Action During National Community Development Week

APA calls on planners to reach out to their representatives in a different way during each day of National Community Development Week, April 17–21, 2017.

February 28, 2017

3 Short Steps to Great Public Speaking

Presenting information to groups of people is a fundamental part of being a planner. APA member Michael Blue, FAICP, gives his tips for giving a successful presentation.

December 1, 2016

Planning Success Beyond Transitions

Whether working for a government agency or a private company, planners can employ techniques like coalition building and crafting a cohesive and clear message to explain the value of planning.

November 22, 2016

Women in Planning: Tips for Successful Civic Engagement

In the third of a four-part series, APA's Women and Planning division talked with Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP, about her experience as a planner and the value of making community members a part of the planning process.

November 18, 2016

Women in Planning: The Power of Community Engagement

Katie Lorah details her experience with civic engagement, gender, and public meetings as the Communications and Creative Strategy Director at ioby, a civic crowdfunding platform in Brooklyn, New York.

October 31, 2016

Young Planners Told Their Planning Stories This October

During National Community Planning Month, Young Planners Groups highlighted how planners just starting out are making a significant impact in the way planners think about tough issues like inclusion, displacement, and community activism.

October 30, 2016

Celebrating Planning Month Hawaiian Style

In Hawaii, planners, landscape architects, and other design professionals recently joined forces to discuss the importance of interdisciplinary coordination in comprehensive planning.

October 27, 2016

Boston Mayor Uses Books to Bolster Community Planning

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh released a suggested reading list focused on urbanism in order to engage locals in the citywide planning process.

October 24, 2016

Active Design Needs Active Communities, Part II: Pierce County

Two exemplary Plan4Health projects in California and Washington have found the key to building healthy communities: civic engagement.

October 24, 2016

Keeping a Bike Plan in High Gear: Montgomery County's Public Engagement Plan

David Anspacher, lead planner for Montgomery County Planning Department's Bicycle Master Plan, explains how the department executed its long-term master plan.

October 17, 2016

#IAmPlanning: A New Generation of Planners and Activists

Join the #IAmPlanning campaign on social media this October as emerging professionals across California discuss the need to include different voices in the planning process.

October 12, 2016

Public Engagement: The Key to Building Inclusive Communities

Jessica Garrow, AICP, community development director for the City of Aspen, got to where she is today through hard work and perseverance. She recounts her planning journey and the lessons she's learned along the way.

September 30, 2016

Think Outside the Public Meeting

The time has never been better for planners to move towards a more creative, inclusive, and enjoyable public outreach approach beyond the public meeting.

September 21, 2016

Health, Infrastructure, and Land Use Law at APA's Policy and Advocacy Conference

A detailed recap of the health and aging, FAST Act, and land use law sessions at APA's 2016 Policy and Advocacy Conference.

March 20, 2016

Election Year Advocacy? YES, You Can!

Eelection years hold some unique opportunities to advance a pro-planning agenda. Even if you aren’t endorsing candidates, elections open up your advocacy options.