Upskilling Planners
APA Strategic Initiative
Practical Skills For Planners: Webinars, Trainings, and Resources
Upskilling is the process of acquiring new skills relevant to a job or profession, enabling employees to 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 and 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, please get in touch with Amanda Acevedo, Career Services and Professional Development Manager.
Upskilling Events
FACILITATING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
Fall 2026
More information available soon!
Ongoing Training
You're the Messenger: Communicating the Value of Planners
Asynchronous Mini-Course
Cost: Free | 1 CM
The newest series from APA's Upskilling Initiative will explore the perception gap between planners' and policy insiders' perspectives and equip you with the tools to advocate for planners' importance. The speakers will present the latest research findings on the current realities planners face in political spaces.
Our Upskilling Portfolio
The Upskilling Planners Initiative's portfolio of resources is tailored to equip planners with the essential skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. From webinars on achieving proficiency in technology for planning to workshops on honing essential skills such as conflict resolution for politically charged community meetings, these resources are designed to equip planners with practical methods and best practices they can apply immediately to enhance effectiveness at work.
What We're Working On
UPCOMING IN Upskilling:
Facilitating Difficult Conversations
Fiscal Literacy
Cross Sector Collaboration
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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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. -
Beyond the Platform: How Planners Can Get Digital Engagement Right
by: Jon DePaolisAs more of daily life is shifted to an online arena, it is increasingly important to understand when — and how — to best leverage digital tools and platforms to improve public participation in planning processes. -
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, AICP November 09, 2023Critical thinking, empathetic listening, and cultural competency will help you upskill in an ever-changing world. -
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. -
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. -
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, FAICP September 07, 2023Create a culture of care, address inequities, and grow your career by leading with this increasingly important skill. -
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. -
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, AICP March 31, 2022In an age of disruptors, planners are constantly called on to learn new skills. Here's how APA can help. -
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, 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.