Upskilling Planners
APA Strategic Initiative
Practical Skills For Planners: Webinars, Trainings, and Resources
Upskilling is a process of teaching or learning new skills relevant to a job or profession that helps employees adapt to changing needs.
About APA's Upskilling Planners Initiative
As the world around us shifts, planners must understand the dynamics of change and adjust to ensure they can continue to create great communities for all. This involves adapting planning processes and approaches, as well as committing to continuous learning and upskilling.
APA has launched the Upskilling Planners Initiative to equip planners with the right skillsets to excel in dynamic environments shaped by evolving approaches and technologies. Our goal is to ensure that planners are fully prepared for the future and equipped with the knowledge, insights, and skills necessary to navigate changing environments effectively.
Feel passionate about shaping the future of planning? If you would like to be involved in developing skills-based resources and training, don't hesitate to reach out to Sagar Shah, Senior Manager of Knowledge and Career Programs, or Amanda Acevedo, Career Services and Professional Development Manager.
Upcoming Upskilling Events
Strategic Communication with APA's Voice of Planning Team — August 2025
In this dynamic training, planners will build essential strategic communication skills to more effectively advocate for the profession and the impact of planning in communities. Participants will explore the latest market research on how planning is perceived at the national, state, and local levels — and learn how to shift the narrative through intentional, audience-centered messaging.
Registration Coming Soon
Our Upskilling Portfolio
The Upskilling Planners Initiative portfolio of resources is tailored to address the essential skills planners need to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. From webinars on achieving proficiency in using technology for planning to workshops on honing soft skills like conflict resolution for politically charged community meetings, these resources are crafted to equip planners with practical methods and best practices that can be immediately applied for enhanced effectiveness at work.
What We're Working On
Strategic Communication with APA's Voice of Planning Team
August 2025
More information to come.
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
September 2025
More information to come.
Identifying Skill Gaps
The Upskilling Planners Initiative is anchored in APA Foresight, which focuses on understanding external drivers of change beyond our control, preparing for them, and determining the appropriate actions. We use strategic foresight to pinpoint the skills required to address emerging trends and challenges. In addition to leveraging APA's Foresight practice, we actively collaborate with diverse planning practitioners, researchers, and educators to identify skills gaps.
Upskilling Resources
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5 Ways Empathy Can Help You Be a Better Planner
Create a culture of care, address inequities, and grow your career by leading with this increasingly important skill.by: Corrin Hoegen Wendell, AICP September 07, 2023Create a culture of care, address inequities, and grow your career by leading with this increasingly important skill. -
AI in Planning: Opportunities and Challenges and How to Prepare
Conclusions and Recommendations from APA's "AI in Planning" Foresight Communityby: Clinton Andrews, AICP, Keith Cooke, Alexsandra Gomez, Petra Hurtado, PhD, Thomas Sanchez, AICP, Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP, Norman Wright, AICP September 09, 2022This white paper summarizes findings from APA's "AI in Planning" Foresight Community and suggests initial ideas on how planners can prepare for AI and its potential impacts, how planners can ensure AI-based planning tools are used in equitable and inclusive ways, and what the role of the planner should be in developing and using AI-based planning tools. -
Embracing Conflict: Honing Your Conflict Management Skills
by: Jennifer RaittConflict is increasingly permeating through every aspect of our lives — and community meetings are no exception. -
Empathy, Equity, and You: Stories, Skills, and Practices
This webinar will explore key skills needed to integrate empathy and compassion in planning practice.- Jasmin Moore, AICP
- Meaghan McSorley
- Chloe Greene
- Ann Dillemuth, AICP
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Future-Proof Your Urban Planning Career with These 6 Important Skills
Critical thinking, empathetic listening, and cultural competency will help you upskill in an ever-changing world.by: Linda McIntyre, AICPCritical thinking, empathetic listening, and cultural competency will help you upskill in an ever-changing world.
How Technology Is Shaping Planning and Your Career
by: David Wasserman, AICP, Thomas Sanchez, AICPMembers of APA's Technology Division continue the conversation on the technical skills and knowledge that emerging professionals need to consider to keep pace with the future of planning.
How to Overcome Local Pushback on Climate Action
From cost-benefit analyses to "climate ambassadors," communities are coming together to transcend this politically polarizing issue.by: Brian Barth September 16, 2021From cost-benefit analyses to "climate ambassadors," communities are coming together to transcend this politically polarizing issue.
Mastering Conflict for Effective Planning: Navigation and Resolution
This webinar will explore key skills needed to manage conflicts in planning work. It will focus on managing relationships and finding the best ways to design meetings for better planning outcomes.- Jennifer Raitt
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Navigating the 'E-Word' across Conservative Landscapes: The Quiet Controversy of ‘Equity’ in Planning
Explore how EDI — an essential element in ensuring fair access to resources — can provoke debate in conservative areas. We’ll discuss what happens when these terms become contentious and how planners can navigate these challenges using alternative language to build trust and foster collaboration.- Samantha Castro, AICP
- Caleb Knutson
- Daniel Besinaiz
- Laura Everitt, AICP
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Planners Manage Conflict Every Day: Here's How to Get Better at It
7 takeaways to help you anticipate challenges, use emotional intelligence, and problem-solve with critical thinking.by: Linda McIntyre, AICP October 12, 20237 takeaways to help you anticipate challenges, use emotional intelligence, and problem-solve with critical thinking.
Unleashing the Potential of ChatGPT in Planning Practice
ChatGPT is taking the world by storm. How can you use this tool effectively and responsibly? Experience generative AI’s potential for planning practice and hear how one U.S. city is already exploring its use.Chicago, Illinois- Thomas Sanchez, AICP
- Lian Plass, AICP
- Santiago Garces
- Ann Dillemuth, AICP
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Unlocking the Secrets of Image Creation with Generative AI
Unlock your ability to create the future of urban planning in this webinar. Learn how to wield AI for image creation from simple text prompts, expanding your toolkit and transforming your ideas into visual realities.Chicago, Illinois- David Wasserman, AICP
- Lian Plass, AICP
- Katherine Perrott
- Ann Dillemuth, AICP
- Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP
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Upskilling Ourselves and the Planning Profession
In an age of disruptors, planners are constantly called on to learn new skills. Here's how APA can help.by: Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP March 31, 2022In an age of disruptors, planners are constantly called on to learn new skills. Here's how APA can help.
Use These 5 Conflict Resolution Tips to Design Better Meetings
Don’t get bulldozed. Learn ways to navigate conflicts to achieve shared goals with stakeholders.by: Jon DePaolis January 11, 2024Don’t get bulldozed. Learn ways to navigate conflicts to achieve shared goals with stakeholders.
Using the Future to Create Dynamic Plans
This interactive, self-paced training will equip planners with essential skills to navigate change and understand how future uncertainties may impact communities. Learn to use strategic foresight in planning to effectively imagine the future and plan for change.- Amy Cotter
- Brett Fusco
- Alexsandra Gomez
- Robert Goodspeed, AICP
- Heather Sauceda Hannon, AICP
- Petra Hurtado, PhD
- Sagar Shah, PhD, AICP
- Benjamin Zellers, AICP
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