Cultural Humility in Planning
PAS QuickNotes 112
By Chloe Greene
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A core responsibility of planning practice is building communities of belonging. A critical part of creating the conditions necessary to foster belonging is cultural humility. Originating in the health-care field, cultural humility involves an ongoing process of self-exploration combined with a willingness to learn from others that honors all people's beliefs, customs, and values. Through cultural humility, planners can enhance their active listening, empathy, and compassion skills, deepening understanding and buy-in for establishing communities of belonging. Though cultural humility is a "deep skill" that requires intentionality, discipline, and consistency, it is a worthwhile commitment that will improve planners' abilities to enhance the lives of others.
This edition of PAS QuickNotes defines this concept and offers planners guidance in practicing cultural humility at the personal, organizational, and systemic levels.
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About the Author
Chloe Greene
Chloé is a racial justice consultant, liberation historian, and love practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in housing and homelessness systems transformation, system co-creation with those most impacted, and working alongside communities to develop and implement equitable and just policies, strategies, and practices. She founded Sowing Love, where she supports people, organizations, and communities to organize around love so they can manifest organizational, housing, and community solutions rooted in care and belonging.
Most recently, Chloe served as the first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Associate in the history of Abt Associates. She oversaw the integration of racial equity principles and methods into the domestic division’s research, technical assistance, and evaluation practices. Chloé was a founding member of the HUD TA Racial Equity Team helping communities to advance equity and improve housing and service outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. She is currently supporting Oakland, CA, in developing an encampment resolution process that is people-centered and rooted in racial justice. Chloé’s approach centers Black liberatory pedagogies, healing, and love-centered practices to advocate for community work that is reparative and restorative.
She received a dual Masters in City and Regional Planning and African American and African Studies from the Ohio State University.