Intersections

Social Equity Task Force Gets to Work

Members of APA's Social Equity Task Force met at the Chicago office of APA in January to finalize a report summarizing their work ahead of the APA Board of Directors winter retreat. The in-person gathering — the culmination of seven months of long-distance collaboration — resulted in a set of recommendations to improve the capacity of planners and key audiences to advance social equity as a normal part of practice. In the report, the 25 recommendations are condensed into a "Five Point Action Agenda," and the recommendations are carefully described in an appendix.

Following the adoption of APA's Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (planning.org/ diversity) in May 2018, the task force was created to help identify the ways planners are struggling with social equity and inclusive growth and to find tools and techniques to implement effective change.

"Social equity is foundational to the practice of planning," says Marcella Bondie, a member of the task force, chair of the APA Illinois Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and program director at the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

According to Carlton Eley, AICP, chair of the task force and president of the Eley Group, LLC, conversations during the day-long event focused on achieving consensus with APA staff to initiate an audit of resources collected by task force members, and developing a communications strategy. The group plans to present their report to the APA Board for approval at NPC19.

Browse APA's current collection of equity resources.

— Johamary Peña

Peña is a research associate at APA and a member of APA's Diversity and Inclusion Staff Working Group.

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Association News

Get Connected With APA's Interest Groups

APA's interest groups provide opportunities to explore interdisciplinary ideas, solutions, and trends related to specific planning topics with a diverse group of professionals. These all-volunteer communities are free to join, have no membership requirements, and use social media and conference opportunities to connect APA members from all over the world. Check out the existing groups below and visit www.planning.org/divisions/#interest to get involved at NPC19.

Arts & Planning
Food Systems Planning
Healthy Communities Collaborative
Planning with Underserved Populations
Public Schools
Tribal Planning
Water and Planning Network

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Dates to Remember

March

6 The APA Nebraska Chapter conference kicks off in the city of Kearney.

13 Register for NPC19 — prices go up after today!

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We Ask, You Answer

This Month's Question

How does your community encourage opportunities for public art?

Let us know at surveymonkey.com/r/Intersections0319.

Last Month's Question

What does your community need to ensure its ability to adapt to climate change?

Here's what you said:

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Tools of the Trade

APA's Career Center hosts a variety of useful tools for job seekers, employers, and everyone in between. Visit the Career Center for the following resources:

Job Board
People Behind the Plans Podcast
Mentoring
Career Reality Webinars
Salary Survey
Blog Posts

Ethics 2017–18 Cases of the Year

Learn about common types of ethical scenarios faced by professional planners, based on real-life examples.

CM | 1.5 | 1.5 Ethics
Nonmembers: $60
Members: $30

Addressing Growth in Short-Term Rentals

Explore the legal and land-use challenges posed by short-term rentals, and find out how communities have used land-use regulations to address them.

CM | 1.5 | 1.5 Law
Nonmembers: $60
Members: $30

Law and Planning for Climate Change

Legal cases, regulations, and policies can complicate climate-adaptation planning. Explore these issues and examine their legal implications through real-life case studies.

CM | 1.5 | 1.5 Law
Nonmembers: $60
Members: $30

Planning Ethics and Today's Challenges

All practitioners sometimes grapple with complex and often ambiguous situations that seem inconsistent with their own experiences or the AICP code. Learn how to make ethical decisions more easily.

CM | 1.5 | 1.5 Ethics
Nonmembers: $60
Members: $30

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Members on the Move

Adam Duchesneau, AICP, was named executive director of planning and community development in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

Andrew Mack, AICP, was appointed city planner of Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Arthi Varma, AICP, was named deputy director of the Citywide Planning Bureau in Los Angeles.

Chance Sparks, AICP; Dawn Warrick, AICP; and Eleana Tuley joined the Urban Planning + Design Group of Freese and Nichols as project managers in Austin, Tulsa, and Dallas, respectively.

Doug Allmon, AICP, was named the community development director of Shawnee, Kansas.

Elizabeth McManus, AICP, was hired as township planner of Springfield, New Jersey.

Eve Holberg, AICP, joined Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC, as planner and project manager in North Tonawanda, New York.

Gabriel Perez was named city planner of San Clemente, California.

Jennifer Henaghan, AICP, was named the assistant community development director of Addison, Illinois.

Jonathan Lait, AICP, was hired as the assistant planning director of Palo Alto, California.

Kali Casper, AICP, was named assistant planning director of Blacksburg, Virginia.

Lynda Eisenberg was appointed director of the Carroll County department of comprehensive planning in Maryland.

Megan McLaughlin was named the county planner of Lincoln County, Maine.

Mehgie Tabar, AICP, joined the new firm Root Policy Research in Denver as an associate.

Renata Bertotti, AICP, was named city planner of Meriden, Connecticut.

APA members are a busy bunch. For additional kudos, comings, and goings, see the APA News blog.

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Intersections is compiled and edited by Planning editors. Send info to intersections@planning.org.