APA Interact May 9, 2018

APA Interact
APA NEWS
Changing the perceptions of affordable housing

Moving from closed-off, barracks-style housing units to a welcoming, mixed-income neighborhood is just one of the remarkable transformations of Westlawn Gardens in Milwaukee, recipient of the 2018 HUD Secretary's Opportunity & Empowerment Award. Its unique approach combined financial, environmental, and social sustainability. The first phase of 250 new affordable housing units was funded through the largest Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award in Wisconsin's history. HUD Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Leslie A. Bradley presented the award at NPC18 in New Orleans.
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APA NEWS
Next week, it's all about infrastructure

Infrastructure Week begins next Monday, elevating a national platform for policy makers, communities, and other advocates for smart infrastructure investments. It is prime time for planning advocates to engage with elected officials at the state and federal levels.

Infrastructure is one of APA's top policy priorities. Next week, day by day, we will spotlight categories of infrastructure that require effective planning as well as more and better investment — housing, transportation, rural, water and resiliency, and telecommunications — and discuss the issues at play in Washington and state capitals.

Please watch for opportunities to join members of the Planners' Advocacy Network in advocating for investment in the nation's critical infrastructure. Get ready by learning how APA is urging the Trump Administration and Congress to shape effective national infrastructure policies.
What are your infrastructure priorities?

Planning magazine wants to hear from you! Sound off for "Intersections" and find your and other members' answers in the June issue.
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The emerging field of Geodesign is a "must-know" for planning professionals. Incorporating GIS into the development of sustainable systems helps create new solutions to population change, climate change, and other factors — for the future of our planet. Learn more about Jefferson's (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) graduate program in Geodesign and apply now for Fall 2018.

EVENTS

New! May 10 – APA Foundation Disaster Recovery Request for Proposals webinar. Planners in communities affected by 2017 hurricanes and other disasters are invited to apply for grants to assist their community recovery efforts. Attend this webinar to learn more about this funding opportunity. APA staff will review eligibility requirements and answer questions. APA will post the recorded presentation on the Disaster Recovery RFP information page. (free; register)

Learn about Foundation-supported Gulf Coast recovery assistance after Hurricane Katrina.

New! May 15 – "The Fire/Flood Dynamic: Linkages, Tools, and Actions" webinar sponsored by the Planning Information Exchange (free; register) CM | 1.5

May 16 – "Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Professional Pathway" webinar sponsored by APA's ENRE Division (free; APA members only; register)

May 29 – "Fostering Social Equity and Inclusive Growth" webinar, conclusion of a three-part educational opportunity (free; register) CM | 1

RESOURCES
People Behind the Plans: Kristin Saunders

In a new podcast, Courtney Kashima, AICP, talks with Pittsburgh transportation planner Kristin Saunders (pictured) about her department's ambitious goals relating to safety, access, reliability, affordability, and engagement. They cover Kristin's work on the city's bike plan as well as the City Steps Assessment of how 800 public staircases fit into the pedestrian network. The two even tackle the commotion surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers' player JuJu Smith-Schuster and his stolen bicycle, which saw the city rally to locate the athlete's primary mode of transportation.

Listen or subscribe to this series on iTunes or Stitcher, or tune in from APA's podcasts page.
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New TOD resource collection

The latest addition to APA's Research KnowledgeBase will help planners evaluate opportunities to promote pedestrian-friendly, equitable, mixed use development near fixed-guideway transit (or bus rapid transit) stations. Turn to this new Transit-Oriented Development collection for background info, practical guidance, and examples of station area plans and TOD zoning districts.
Planner Profile: Perris Straughter, AICP

Take a few minutes to meet Perris Straughter, AICP, the Director of New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development. He leads the City's planning efforts related to affordable housing development in Queens and Staten Island.
Mentoring is a two-way street

In Planning Career GPS, planning agency director and mentor Melanie Wilson advises new planners to master an essential skill that she didn't pick up in planning school.
OPPORTUNITIES
Join APA's One Water Summit delegation

APA invites members to join its delegation to the One Water Summit in Minneapolis, July 10-12. Delegates may join peer-to-peer exchange sessions before, during, and after the summit to collaborate and delve into the challenges and opportunities of sustainable water management. Registration is steeply discounted (almost half off) for delegates. For more information, please contact Anna Read, AICP, Senior Program Development and Research Associate, by June 15.
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Coming up

Apply for an APA Foundation academic scholarship by June 1.

Enter the APA Planning and Law Division's student writing competition by June 4.

Respond to the APA Foundation's Disaster Recovery Grant RFP by June 18.
STAFF NEWS
Welcome!

Two new staff members have joined the Chicago office.
Ariana Hampton-Marcell is our new Marketing Associate, responsible for developing and executing marketing tactics supporting membership, AICP, and the APA Foundation. She will create content, coordinate projects, and monitor the results of marketing activities.
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Cory Mollet joined our IT team as Lead Developer. He will help guide the technical direction for our software development and data team, build software tools, and engage with all departments and APA members to gather feedback, inform decisions, and make best use of our web and mobile apps.
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Work for APA

These APA staff positions are open:
City of Brentwood
Brentwood, CA
City of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
Richmond, VA
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission
Evansville, IN
City of Lynwood
Lynwood, CA
City of El Mirage
El Mirage, AZ
 
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FROM THE WEB
LAST CALL
May 10 – APA Foundation Disaster Recovery Request for Proposals webinar

May 15 – "The Fire/Flood Dynamic. Linkages, Tools, and Actions" webinar

May 15 – Nominate for chapter and division leadership positions

May 16 – "Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Professional Pathways" webinar

Kristen Saunders photo by Kelly Wilson; staff photos by Susan Lee Deegan.
Send questions or comments about Interact to interact@planning.org.

Interact is a member e-newsletter of the American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners.
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