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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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?”
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
San Antonio, Texas
An Initial Strategy
• Immediate– Individual recruiting and outreach
• Near-term– Organizational outreach
– Working alliances
• Longer-term– University Planning Initiative
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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)
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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)
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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.
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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)
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
April 24, 2006 APA National Planning Conference
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
