Silvia Vargas, FAICP

FAICP Statement

During the course of her outstanding 26-year career, Silvia Vargas’s enduring commitment to social equity and inclusion has empowered disenfranchised populations and inspired individuals to engage in the civic process. Her groundbreaking plans have transformed communities across the U.S and abroad through innovative approaches, actionable outcomes, and leading-edge, user-friendly plan formats. Vargas’s contributions as a planning practitioner, leader, mentor, and volunteer embody dedication to the profession and consistently demonstrate work of the highest caliber that has positively influenced communities and populations and led to successful outcomes. Her extensive volunteer efforts have built on her personal guiding principles of equity and inclusion.

Professional Biography

Silvia has 25+ years of professional planning experience in the U.S. and abroad. She joined Calvin, Giordano & Associates' Miami office as a Principal Planner after running her own consulting firm. Previously, she was a practice leader at a national planning and design firm for many years. Silvia is passionate about supporting women and diversifying the planning profession. She serves on the AICP Commission and is a member of ULI’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI). She also has served as an expert to The American Architectural Foundation's Sustainable Cities Academies program. In recent years, Silvia has focused on the changing nature of the planning process and its outcomes, and particularly on the design and execution of public engagement processes. Her work has been recognized through numerous awards and speaking opportunities.

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