diversity initiatives in the national capital region presentation to the apa national planning...

Diversity Initiatives inthe National Capital Region

Presentation to the APA

National Planning ConferenceSan Antonio, Texas – April 24, 2006

Harold Foster, AAG, AICP – Director at Large

April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference

San Antonio, Texas

Background

• NCAC: Oldest chapter in APA (59 years old)• Metropolitan Washington, DC

– A “majority minority” metro region by 2015– Third-largest minority planning pool in the Nation

• Federal, State, regional and municipal government• Large quasi-public planning agencies (MWCOG, WMATA)• Large private and consultant sectors• Large planning-related agencies and industries (NGOs)

• Current chapter membership about 672• Estimated 32% are minority


San Antonio, Texas

The Issue

• Our chapter does not look like the region

• AICP especially unrepresentative (nationally and locally)

• Two straw polls – 1996 and a 2004 follow-up

– 1996: “Why aren’t you in APA?”

– 2004: “Are we doing any better? Would you join now?”


San Antonio, Texas

The Issue

• By 2004, only six of the original respondents had joined APA:– None had become members of AICP

– Two of the six joined only after moving out of the Metro DC area

• Two others joined but let their memberships lapse


San Antonio, Texas

The Issue

• Major reasons for not joining did not change in eight years:– APA is too expensive

• No real “value for money”

• Other organizations are a better value

– Networks “aren’t geared to help people like me.”

– Having contacts with APA is as valuable as being in APA

– Involved in other, “real” planning• APA viewed as “too theoretical”

• Not “seen” (no practical roots) in the Community

• Not “heard” on the most important issues


San Antonio, Texas

An Initial Strategy

• Immediate– Individual recruiting and outreach

• Near-term– Organizational outreach

– Working alliances

• Longer-term– University Planning Initiative


San Antonio, Texas

Immediate

• Individual recruiting and outreach– Federal Government

• US HUD, US DOT and DOD

• EPA

• GSA

– State, regional, local governmental and quasi-governmental

• Start with DC & Prince George’s County

• WMATA (Third largest public employer in the region)

– Private sector


San Antonio, Texas

Immediate (First 18-21 Months)

• Project-oriented recruiting– Community projects and alliances that need specific

professional planning skills

– “Best use of your time”

– Build innovative networks

• Goal-oriented recruiting– How can APA \ NCAC help you?

– Chapter will help facilitate your project

– We reach out to you to help us reach out


San Antonio, Texas

Near Term (First 36 Months)

• Alliances with – and within – the Community– Lots of “real” planning going on

– An immense pool of talented “citizen planners”

– Environmental Justice

– Counter-gentrification

– Community revitalization

• Planning assistance teams– Hard to find/contract skills

– Scarce resources (especially public sector contacts)


San Antonio, Texas

Near Term

• Priority is not – necessarily – to recruit members• Priority is to be of – and create – value in the

Community• Alliances based on specific long-term goals

– Common program (the “New Orleans model”)• Community revitalization and stabilization• Workforce housing• The “Five Publics” (Safety, Education, Finance, Health &

Works)• Environmental justice and equity• Transit-oriented Development (TOD)


San Antonio, Texas

Near Term

• NCAC Chamber of Associates– Formal affiliation for an organization

– Open to any organization that agrees to a Common Goals and Principles of Planning Practice

– Nominal – or no – fee (!)

– Privileges as Chapter Associates (work in progress)

• Long-term:– “Nationalize” the Chamber of Associates to include

all chapters in “majority minority” client areas


San Antonio, Texas

Longer Term

• “And a little Child shall lead them”• APA – and the planning profession – have a

“soccer mom” problem– Perception of the profession is vague and somewhat

negative within the Community

– Planners are “from the government”, not of the Community

– The profession is not seen as a viable career path, especially by minority youths


San Antonio, Texas

Longer Term

• The key “public” is still EDUCATION• Long term diversity outreach priority has to be

– Make planning an attractive, creditable career path

– Maximizing the appreciation of the social capital planners can create in/for the Community.

• (The lawyers and the point guards will always make more money.)

– Getting minority youth to appreciate the End State• The only thing planners actually produce.


San Antonio, Texas

Longer Term

• University Planning Initiative (1 – 3 years)– Revive at least one degree-granting planning program

• Howard• UDC• GWU

– Priority is an HBU in the Metro DC area– Second preference:

• Degree-granting university consortium program

– Third preference:• Cooperative program with another planning program (MSU,

Maryland, VPI)


San Antonio, Texas

Longer Term

• Planting roots (3 years and beyond)– Pre-university professional preparation

– Public schools• Every DC-area public school system at least 25% minority

• Curriculum

• Guest lecturers from the profession(s)

• Community service requirements with APA, NCAC and community-based “real” planning organizations

• Internships– Public agencies

– Universities

– Private\consulting firms


San Antonio, Texas

What Is Needed

• Additional institutional and financial support– APA National

• Grants• Professional assistance (lend us your Rolodex)• Better coordination with planning schools and public school

systems

– (The “other”) APA Divisions• Career-specific outreach to minority youth and undergrads

– Chapters• Many based in “majority minority” communities• None look (much) like the communities they serve

“Work, For the Night is Coming”

Thank You

[email protected]

[email protected]

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