The PA Chapter is once again hosting a full day prep session for the AICP exam. The prep session is targeted at those who are taking the test in May or November of 2013, and will provide testing tips as well as an overview of material within each content area of the exam. Information will be provided on history, law, theory, plan implementation, functional areas, public participation, social justice, spatial areas and ethics. Resources will be identified to assist attendees with their studies. The session is free for members and $20 for non-members; attendees must purchase lunch on their own. Beverages will be provided throughout the day. Registration details are attached or available on the Chapter website.
Urban Design Workshop Returns to Fleisher Art Memorial
Next month, Fleisher Art Memorial will bring back its popular Urban Design Workshop. Through this five-session course, students will examine the theory and practice of urban design, with an emphasis on architecture, public space, and community development.
“Last year we had a great mix of aspiring urbanists, including curious citizens, civic leaders, amateur artists, and experienced designers,” says Benjamin Cromie who is returning as the course instructor. “It’s a great winter project for anyone looking for a new way to explore Philadelphia or cities in general.” Cromie is an urban planner and GIS specialist at CHPlanning in Philadelphia.
In addition to exploring the history of human settlement, students will create a hypothetical design for a real-world site. The course will run on Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm at Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catherine Street, from February 12 through March 12. Some drawing required; all experience levels welcome.
Tuition: $130 (Fleisher members), $150 (nonmembers)
Jan. 24: ‘Promise for a Better City’ on 6ABC
The latest installment in Sam Katz’s history series Philadelphia: The Great Experiment airs Jan. 24. This episode, “Promise for a Better City,” was previewed in the Inquirer by Katz:
In the summer of 1943, U.S. soldiers were fighting and dying to defeat fascism. Thanks largely to the massive output of munitions, ships, and tanks from Philadelphia, the tide began turning in the Allies’ favor that year. Nearly one of every six dollars invested in producing war equipment was spent in America’s arsenal: Philadelphia.
Though fear still clouded the lives of the city’s families, a sense of optimism and community spirit permeated Philadelphia neighborhoods. National demand summoned women and African Americans, formerly excluded from the workplace, into the busy factories that made the war machine hum.
Our city’s growing sense of neighborhood unity was documented by Evening Bulletin photographer Bruce Murray Jr. in the amazing photo above. This shot of nearly 140 neighbors – on a South Philly block that undoubtedly sent many men to war – conveys the remarkable skill of a man who captured the essence of hope with one click, long before the dawn of digital photography.
This and other great photos help tell the story of postwar Philadelphia in the third installment of the documentary series Philadelphia: The Great Experiment. The third segment, “Promise for a Better City,” will air at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24, on WPVI-TV (6abc).
Read the full article here, and don’t miss the segment’s premiere on Jan. 24.
Category: Upcoming Events /
Now Hiring: This Week’s Job Postings
A new year means a whole new crop of fascinating jobs postings. A couple of straight-ahead planner jobs, some internships and part-time gigs, and a few really interesting-looking ones. Check it out!
1) Staff Attorney – Fair Share Housing Center – Cherry Hill, NJ
2) Part-time Community Organizer – Garden Justice Legal Initiative – Philadelphia
3) Planner I (DCD) – Dept of Community Development – West Chester, PA
4) Director of Community Development – Springettsbury Township – Springettsbury Township, PA
5) Transportation Engineer/Planner – Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission – Philadelphia
6) Financial Empowerment Center Program Manager – City of Philadelphia – Philadelphia
7) Economic Development Manager, Planning and Economic Development – University City District – Philadelphia
8) Community Planner – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Lincroft, NJ, 07738
9) Transportation Planner – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Lincroft, NJ
10) Community Capacity Building – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Lincroft, NJ
11) Commercial Corridor Intern Job – Tacony Community Development Corporation – Philadelphia
12) Document Control Manager – CH Planning – Philadelphia
13) Program Director, Center for Civic Engagement – Drexel University – Philadelphia
14) Community Outreach Manager – Financial Empowerment Centers – Clarifi – Philadelphia
15) Membership and Communications Manager – National Housing Resource Center, a project of Tides Center – Philadelphia
16) Chief of Staff – APM – Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha, Inc. – Philadelphia
17) Membership Coordinator – Clean Air Council – Philadelphia
Full descriptions after the jump!
Jobs Postings Continued
16) Chief of Staff – APM – Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha, Inc. – Philadelphia Read more
Category: General /
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Rescheduled NJ Chapter Conference – Registration Open
The NJ Chapter rescheduled its annual conference due to the impacts from superstorm Sandy, and is now ready to go on with the conference – retooled to directly address issues such as permitting the rebuilding efforts, funding, recovery planning, and resiliency. The conference, being held in New Brunswick, also includes training to prepare for the LEED exam and a GIS program that includes a half day working at computers. Planning ethics and law are also covered during the two day program.
CONFERENCE QUICK LINKS
CLICK HERE to register for the upcoming New Jersey Planning Conference which will take place on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1
CLICK HERE to book a hotel room at a discounted APA-NJ room block rate
CLICK HERE to take advantage of sponsoring, exhibiting and advertising opportunities
A revised agenda/preliminary program is also available on the conference website www.2012njplanningconference.org.
Call for Poster Presentations: Women’s Transportation Seminar in Philadelphia
The Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) is holding its annual international transportation seminar in Philadelphia on May 15-17, 2013. WTS is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation. Boasting more than 5,000 members–both men and women–WTS is helping women find opportunity and recognition in the transportation industry.
WTS is now accepting poster presentation sessions. Show off your exciting and innovative transportation project to transportation professionals from across the country and beyond. Complete the Poster Presentation Sessions application by March 4, 2013, with an abstract of your topic/project/research (200 words or less). More information here.
APAPA-SE Section Joins Greenbuild 2013 Challenge
The 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the world’s largest green building event, will be hosted in Philadelphia from November 20 to 22. Sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), last year’s conference in San Francisco attracted an estimated 30,000 attendees.
As a lead-up to the conference, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (the local USGBC chapter) has issued the Greenbuild 2013 Challenge to showcase the region’s commitment to a healthy and sustainable future. The challenge calls on organizations to make pledges that are “related to sustainability, as specific as possible, as realistic (but as visionary!) as possible, and measurable in some way.”
The APAPA-SE Section is joining over 50 companies, institutions, public agencies, and other organizations across the region in making a Greenbuild 2013 pledge. This pledge will direct the section’s 2013 outreach and education efforts – PDI sessions, other section programs and events, and Southeast Blog articles – to increase awareness of sustainability, specifically how planners can work to improve “triple bottom line” (environmental, economic, and social) outcomes in the communities we serve.
April 18: PennDOT Handbook Training
Join APAPA and PennDOT on April 18, 2013, at DVRPC for a 2-CM-credit training on PennDOT’s new handbook, “Improving Connectivity and System Function through Local Planning.” This training will offer an overview of the handbook and provide guidance to municipalities on how to enhance vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian connectivity. The presenters will discuss strategies to effectively regulate and manage a connected transportation network within a community, including a review of connectivity index calculations and model ordinance language.
Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.; the workshop is from 2:00 – 4:00. The training is free for APA-PA members and $25 for non-members. Register here.
2013 AICP Exam Fee Partial Scholarships
The PA Chapter of the American Planning Association will award two (2) partial scholarships for the 2013 AICP Exam testing cycles. The scholarship reduces the exam fee from $495 to $135 for first time AICP applicants and from $425 to $65 for previously approved AICP applicants. Financial hardship is the primary consideration for the scholarship. Members of ethnic or racial minorities shall be given preference for the scholarship. Test applicants whose employer subsidizes the exam fee are excluded from consideration.
Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013 for consideration. Send completed applications to APA-PA Professional Development Officer Susan Elks, selks@chesco.org . Call 717.671.4510 or email info@planningpa.org with questions.
Please see the PA Chapter website for additional information and the application.
