Scenes from NPC22: Together Again
Thanks for being a part of NPC22!
Nearly 5,000 attendees were part of NPC22, either in person in San Diego, or online. See where attendees were from and what they enjoyed about NPC22.
This year's keynote speakers challenged attendees to engage communities differently and approach change with a different mindset.
"When we go to school for architecture or any design field, a lot of minority students they come into those fields, they have to check their culture at the door."
— Hip Hop Architect Michael Ford, AIA, NOMA, opening keynote speaker.
"The pace of change has never been as fast as it is today, and yet, it is likely to never again be this slow."
— April Rinne, closing keynote speaker.
Keep the learning going by accessing NPC22 sessions
NPC22 Online
May 18 –20, 2022
Another 2,000 attendees from around the country logged in to NPC22 Online, May 18–20. The second of two unique conference offerings this year that brought CM-eligible sessions, networking, and career-focused development directly to attendees — regardless of their location.
Daily Mix n' Meet sessions brought together attendees and offered a virtual spin on the "bumping into someone." Resume clinics helped put the final polish for those attendees looking for their next opportunity.
"All-In" in San Diego
April 29–May 3, 2022
More than 3,000 planners from around the country, and even the globe, came to San Diego for the first in-person National Planning Conference in three years. The four-day conference had the convention center buzzing from reconnecting with colleagues to exploring solutions for the challenges facing communities. Check out below how attendees experienced NPC22.
Reunited Community
Attendees were able to connect in-person to share updates, reunite with colleagues, and continue to learn from each other.
Jana Schwartz and Ricky Williams led planners on an orientation tour of San Diego. Photo by Jana Schwartz.
Attendees were able to catch up and reconnect at The Hub during NPC22. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
Attendees could connect and meet with APA Divisions, including the new Arts and Planning Division, throughout NPC22 in The Hub. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
NPC22 attendees helped give back to the community by creating 1,000 toiletry kits that will be dontated to San Diego's unhoused community through a partnership between APA and the San Deigo Downtown Project. Photo by Mike Johnson.
Expanding Knowledge
Educational opportunities included sessions, mobile workshops, speed share sessions, and events held in the Career Center.
Learning Lab sessions allowed attendees to go in-depth into a subject area such as learning self awareness, planning for transformational spending, and planning for equity. The sessions allowed attendees to work together and learn from each other. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
NPC22 offered four different types of educational opportunities from 15-minute storytelling to 90-minute learning labs. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
The Career Center inside The Hub offered a variety of programming opportunities from enhancing your skills as a manager to career explorations with APA Divisions. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
Mobile workshops took attendees by foot, bike, and bus, out into San Diego and the surrounding region to explore the region's planning efforts. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
Advocacy
From discussing new policies to engaging elected and appointed officials, attendees dove into advocacy.
Zoning reform was a key subject discussed at multiple sessions and even in mobile workshops and often drew at-capacity crowds. Photo by Emily Pasi.
Federal legislation — American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offer landmark opportunity for planners. Presenters detailed opportunities for planners in new transportation programs focused on climate, resilience, reconnecting communities, modeling, and EV infrastructure among others. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
Attendees heard directly from White House Senior Advisory and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu on federal policy for infrastructure. He thanked APA members for their hard work. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
Credential
AICP Certification empowers planners to make an impact in their communities by verifying their expertise and providing an ethical foundation for planning.
Attendees were able to learn about One Path to AICP, the streamlined process to earn their credential. Photo by Hoffman Photography.
The AICP Fellows held a meet-up in The Hub, where aspiring planners could discuss the path to Fellowship. Photo by Felicia Braunstein.
The 2020 class of Fellows were honored during a special ceremony at NPC22.
The 2022 class of Fellows were inducted during a special ceremony at NPC22.
Well, that's officially a wrap for #NPC22! A huge Thank You to all who joined us online these past three days and in San Diego a few weeks ago. What a blast it has been bringing our community together!
— American Planning Association (@APA_Planning) May 20, 2022
We can't wait to see you next year for #NPC23 in Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/xblOquUxTk
Access NPC22 Sessions
Passport
Attendees to the "All-In" in-person conference and online conference have full access to online program through the end of May 2022. Continue your learning for the next year with a subscription to Passport and access select in-person and all the online NPC22 sessions.
Top Image: Photos by Hoffman Photography. Banner image created by Susan Deegan.