ICYMI: Find Out Who Won APA Divisions Council Awards in 2025

With 2026 just beginning, what better time than now to look back at the great successes made by the American Planning Association's (APA) Divisions in 2025?

Last year, the Divisions Council Achievement Awards were given for achievements, initiatives, and programs that took place between October 2023 and September 2024. Submissions were due in May 2025.

"Divisions do a lot of great work for APA," says Chad M. Nabity, AICP, the 2025 Divisions Council chair. "They focus that work to their area of expertise, and the Divisions Council Awards are an opportunity to celebrate that work and the impact that it has on planners, the planning profession, and the people that we work for."

And the Winners Are ...

The following APA Divisions received awards in 2025.

BEST ORIGINAL NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

City Planning and Management Division — "Communication Says It All"

In fiscal year 2024, the City Planning and Management Division published 12 newsletters with articles penned by division members. The August 2024 issue, in particular, stood out as it garnered a well-above-industry-standard 52 percent open rate. To help bolster the newsletter's numbers, the division promoted it through the division's two social media accounts, LinkedIn and Instagram, the latter of which the division launched an account on that same month after membership data showed that 42 percent of its members used the platform.

"While our work is not yet complete, we take pride in the significant progress and the consistent quality of our initiatives," wrote Margaret Wallace Brown, AICP, in the award application. "These achievements underscore our dedication to delivering a distinctive service and a robust communications campaign that forms the cornerstone of our division."

BEST PRACTICE

Women and Planning Division — Monthly Coffee Break Series

The Women and Planning Division (WPD) launched its coffee break series in 2023, but the program expanded significantly in 2024. Occurring on the fourth Wednesday of every month, the Zoom sessions recognize different APA divisions or interest groups to spur conversations on topics like equity, leadership, and social justice. The series — which is run at zero cost to both the division and members — saw regular monthly attendance between 20 and 75 members, and overall division membership grew in 2024 from 1,389 to 1,859.

"The Coffee Breaks create an informal, welcoming space where members and guests connect, reflect, and discuss critical issues related to women's and minority experiences in urban planning," wrote Brittany Griffin in the award application. "The success of the Coffee Break series ... offers a practical, replicable, and sustainable model that other APA divisions can easily adopt."

CONTRIBUTION TO THE PLANNING PROFESSION

Latinos and Planning Division — Latino Inclusive Engagement Guide

Despite being the second-largest demographical group in the U.S., Latino voices have historically been underrepresented in planning processes. To address this inequity, the Latinos and Planning Division (LAP) convened a cross-disciplinary team to create a guide to support planners in their engagement efforts. After publishing the guide in 2024, it was featured at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver.

"Understanding that engagement cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach, LAP sought to underscore the diversity within the Latino population — from cultural, linguistic, and generational differences to regional nuances, such as the distinct needs of Mexicans in Texas versus Puerto Ricans in New York," wrote Marco Hinojosa, AICP, in the award application. "This project represents a significant contribution to the planning profession by providing planners with a culturally responsive framework for community engagement. It exemplifies leadership, innovation, and a commitment to equity — helping to ensure that Latino voices are not only heard but are integral to shaping the future of our communities."

DIVISION COMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE

Latinos and Planning Division — Plan Dulce

LAP created the bilingual Plan Dulce urban planning podcast, which aims to elevate Latinx/a/o voices and foster deeper public understanding of planning issues that affect Latino communities. Listeners can download episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In FY 2024, the podcast produced seven episodes. Additionally, in the first half of 2025, the team behind the podcast produced seven more. It has 232 active followers, and the podcast has zero overhead expenses by utilizing free editing tools.

"Plan Dulce is more than a podcast — it is a community and a movement to redefine who urban planners are and expand our shared understanding of how, why, and where we serve," wrote Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño, AICP, in the award application. "It amplifies underrepresented voices, connects professionals across sectors and generations, and builds a dynamic, inclusive culture within the planning field."

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Federal Planning Division — 2024 Annual Training Workshop

With a theme of "The Evolution of Planning," the Federal Planning Division (FPD) held a successful event at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., in May 2024. The workshop had record-setting attendance, with 535 registrations. The event featured over 60 sessions over three distinct tracks, more than 150 presentations from experts, eight mobile tours, and opportunities for participants to earn American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification Maintenance (CM) credits. FPD also collaborated with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to highlight the organization's centennial.

"The workshop's focus on federal planning in action, professional development for planners, and the integration of new tools and technologies directly addressed the most pressing and relevant issues within the planning field today," wrote Shenita McConis, AICP, in the award application.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

Women and Planning Division

In 2015, WPD had a little over 150 members. By 2025, it will have just under 2,000. Even without the eye-popping increase of over 1,200 percent in membership over the past decade, the division has other key indicators to show the positive work it has been doing over that time, including providing more than $17,000 in member funding awards and scholarships, nominating nine successful candidates for the AICP College of Fellows (FAICP), and launching several signature programs like the Wendell Legacy Impact Award.

"WPD's success over the last 10 years is the best indicator of replicability of our programming and accomplishments, and an example of what divisions can accomplish with committed and passionate leaders, organizational support, and a little ingenuity," wrote Caroline Dwyer, AICP, in the award application. "We started small and scaled our programs up as we grew. This can be achieved by any division, and our door is always open to any colleagues who need support!"

Top image: Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Anton Zacon.