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APA NEWS |
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Diversity and APA
Over the past several years I have been honored to serve and now chair APA's Diversity Committee. The committee has worked aggressively to develop a strategy that outlines how APA will foster diversity and inclusion internally and throughout the planning profession.
In April, the Board of Directors approved this strategy for adoption into APA's Development Plan, which sets the direction for how APA operates and inspires what we do as planners and professionals. This mission statement constitutes APA's official position on diversity and inclusion:
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To promote more inclusive, just, and equitable communities through a planning profession as diverse and inclusive as the many communities we serve.
While this is an important first step, there is still a lot of work to do to make significant and systemic change. It will take time for these strategies to come to life so that diversity and inclusion are in every part of our values and operating systems. On behalf of the APA Diversity Committee, I call upon all of you — leaders and members of the planning community — to help move us forward.
Learn more about APA's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Miguel Vazquez, AICP
Chair, APA Diversity Committee |
"Equity needs to be normal"
How can planners foster social equity in their communities? That question drove an engaging conversation between panelists and audience members at NPC18 in New Orleans. Read a recap of the session; then join the panelists for a live webinar on May 29. (See Events, below) |
Conference closed with a call for equity
If you missed NPC18 closing keynote speaker Angela Glover Blackwell's message about social and economic equity, you can watch it now on video. Blackwell implored planners to help the most vulnerable among us for the benefit of all. |
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Ambassadors are walking the walk
APA Ambassadors are helping to create a "diverse and inclusive" next generation of planners by encouraging interest in planning among students and youth in communities nationwide. In Hartford, Connecticut, Shawna Kitzman, AICP, and colleagues used a craft project to engage middle-school girls in a hands-on exploration of zoning. |
Planning's early efforts toward equality
By the late 1960s, as calls for racial equality intensified, some planning agencies began to examine inequality of opportunity and propose public actions to combat racial discrimination. A 1967 PAS Report, Equal Opportunity: Selected Statements from Planning Publications, highlights planners' early efforts to address equal opportunity in comprehensive plans and community renewal program reports. |
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Immerse yourself in cutting-edge 3D GIS technology
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. |
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NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE |
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Shape NPC19 your way
NPC18 attendees: You may have received an invitation to take a survey about your conference experience. APA needs your feedback! Did NPC18 offer everything you wanted and more? If something — big or small — did not go as planned do you have a suggestion to fix it? What do you want more or less of next year? If you were contacted, please respond by May 30. |
Your proposal, your conference
Share your expertise in a favorite aspect of planning by proposing an educational session at NPC19. APA is seeking innovative sessions on a wide range of topics, especially those underrepresented in previous conferences. This is your opportunity to organize or present a session that you've always wanted to attend. Submit session proposals for peer review from June 1 through 25. |
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Learn how to navigate the complexities of communities and community organizations — and inspire positive changes on local, regional, and national levels — with a Penn State degree. Complete your course work online, studying where and when you want. Learn more at worldcampus.psu.edu/cedev. |
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EVENTS |
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May 29 – "Fostering Social Equity and Inclusive Growth" webinar, conclusion of a three-part educational opportunity (free; register) CM | 1
New! APA and the Consortium for Scenario Planning are offering a webinar series on scenario planning that will cover both basic and advanced topics. The "Summer Scenarios," series complements the Scenario Planning Collection in the APA Research KnowledgeBase.
June 5 – "Scenario Planning Basics Part 1: Planning for Resiliency and Adaptability to Uncertain Futures" CM | 1 (free; register)
June 28 – "Scenario Planning Basics Part 2: Planning for Resiliency and Adaptability to Uncertain Futures" CM | 1 (free; register)
More webinars are scheduled for July 18, August 7, and August 29. |
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Learn how San Diego streamlined permitting and licensing
The City of San Diego launched a new online portal that calculates where a project is allowed, which permits will be required, and how much the permits will cost. This cuts down on trips to City Hall and has saved over 3,000 hours of staff time in 2018. Learn more at www.opencounter.com/case_study. |
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OPPORTUNITIES |
International Conference on Transport & Health
Registration is open for ICTH's annual conference, June 24–27 on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Early-bird registration ends May 31. |
Scenario planning: Call for proposals
The Consortium for Scenario Planning has issued a call for session proposals for its annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, September 12–14. Submit proposals by June 22. |
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RESOURCES |
People Behind the Plans: Mitchell Silver, FAICP
New York City parks commissioner and APA Past President Mitchell Silver, FAICP, wants to understand how people use urban parks and ensure that everyone in his city has access to a high-quality, 21st-century park system.
In a podcast recorded at NPC18, Silver and series host Courtney Kashima, AICP, talked about his childhood spent near Brooklyn's Prospect Park, his engagement with residents on park projects, and his views on equity — which he defines simply as fairness. Tune in to learn more about Silver, initiatives under way in his department, and little-known gems among NYC parks. |
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Scenic view protection collection
Scenic views are valuable as well as beautiful. They contribute to community identity, impact health and safety, and can shape the local economy. Members are invited to explore Scenic View Protection, the latest addition to APA's Research KnowledgeBase, to discover background info, practical guidance, and examples of plans and regulations that illustrate how different communities protect their scenic resources. |
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AICP |
Ethics Cases of the Year
A new "Ethics Cases of the Year" presentation is now available as a resource for ethics training at chapter or division events. It outlines seven scenarios familiar to many of today's professional planners that involve personal relationships, conflicts of interest, gifts, and politics. AICP's Ethics Committee and AICP Ethics Officer James Peters, FAICP, based the content on real-life inquiries and misconduct cases. |
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POLICY AND ADVOCACY |
Midwest infrastructure activity
Recent legislation is transforming how Indiana planners and communities are managing the expansion of small cell tower infrastructure.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, has a new approach to designing, maintaining, and using local streets. The city's "Vital Streets" plan incorporates equity factors in its efforts to keep local streets in good repair and to reduce single-occupancy vehicular traffic. |
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MEMBER NEWS |
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How CPAT contoured a career
Tristan Lanza's planning education took a major turn when he engaged with APA planners on the Community Planning Assistance Team working in the Yarborough neighborhood in Belize City, Belize. |
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Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
Ft. Mitchell, KY |
Metropolitan Council
St Paul, MN |
East Bay Regional Park District
Oakland, CA |
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Missoula MPO
Missoula, MT |
Broward County Government
Sunrise, FL |
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