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Tag Archive for community participation and public outreach

Don’t forget to apply to APA’s Ambassador Program by December 31

As the end of year quickly approaches, so is the December 31 deadline to apply to become an APA Ambassador.  This important initiative is designed to encourage future planners with diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.  The application is short and easy to fill out, even during the end of year crunch.  Participation in the program will provide valuable skills and earn you up to 8 pro-bono AICP CM credits in 2018.

Check out our previous blog post with all the important information on the application and details of the program.  You can apply as an individual or as a team.  Contact Al Beatty at ab5562@nyu.edu if you would like to join the local team of ambassadors.  Thank you Al for stepping up to be a regional team leader!

Post Authored by: Maggie Rwakazina

(Image from APA Ambassador’s blog: https://www.planning.org/blog/blogpost/9127770)

CM Credits for Pro Bono Planning Service

AICP members can obtain up to eight CM Credits for Pro Bono Planning Service, as outlined on the APA National website at https://www.planning.org/cm/logging/selfreport/probono

APA Future City Mentorship could relate to these allowed activities:

  • Planning-related support to groups that lack adequate planning resources, including service that expands choices and opportunities for everyone.
  • Planning to meet the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration.
  • Mentoring the development of students, interns, beginning professionals, colleagues, and members of underrepresented groups to help them advance in the planning profession.

Future City Mentors Needed – One Month until Competition Day

Downingtown Middle School – Honorable Mention at the 2017 Future City Philadelphia Regional Competition (Source: futurecityphilly.org)

If you’ve been looking for a way to give back this holiday season, become a Future City mentor for a school in your community. 10 Future City Philadelphia teams still need mentors, and the students could really use your support in the final days leading up to the regional competition. Students must prepare a model of an “Age-Friendly City” to present in front of a panel of judges on Saturday, January 20, 2018.

As a planner, you can provide meaningful feedback and assistance as the students creatively tackle this topic.

The following 10 middle schools need mentors:

  • Eisenhower – Norristown
  • Keith Valley – Horsham
  • Mother Teresa – King of Prussia
  • Murray Avenue – Huntingdon Valley
  • St Albert the Great – Huntingdon Valley
  • St Elizabeth – Uwchlan
  • Helena – Blue Bell
  • Ignatius – Yardley
  • WCPA Homeschool Group – Pleasant Mount
  • Windsor Christian Academy – Uwchlan

Sign up to mentor one of these teams here.

Check out our latest post for a refresher on the Philadelphia Regional Future City Competition.

CM Credits for Pro Bono Planning Service

AICP members can obtain up to eight CM Credits for Pro Bono Planning Service, as outlined on the APA National website at https://www.planning.org/cm/logging/selfreport/probono

APA Future City Mentorship could relate to these allowed activities:

  • Planning-related support to groups that lack adequate planning resources, including service that expands choices and opportunities for everyone.
  • Planning to meet the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration.
  • Mentoring the development of students, interns, beginning professionals, colleagues, and members of underrepresented groups to help them advance in the planning profession.

 

Join DVRPC’s Public Participation Task Force

Want to represent your community and engage in the regional planning and decision-making process? Apply to be a member of DVRPC’s Public Participation Task Force (PPTF) today!

The mission of DVRPC’s PPTF is to provide access to the planning process, to make a platform to discuss timely issues, to serve as a conduit for DVRPC information to organizations and communities across the region, to assist the Commission in implementing public outreach strategies, and to empower citizens to be a part of the planning process. For more details about the PPTF, visit http://www.dvrpc.org/Committees/PPTF/.

Applications will be open through January 8th, 2018. The application is online here: http://www.dvrpc.org/GetInvolved/PPTFApplication/. If you have any questions, please contact Shoshana Akins, Public Participation Planner, at 215-238-2817 or sakins@dvrpc.org.

Curious but want to know more? Interested citizens are invited to attend the PPTF meeting on the evening of December 14th starting with dinner at 5:30 PM. Come network with current members and learn more about how the PPTF works. To RSVP, please email public_affairs@dvrpc.org by December 12th.

Nov. 30: Heart & Soul Talks: How Transformational Philanthropy Leads to Big Impact

Increasingly, philanthropic organizations are thinking more broadly about how to support systemic change in local communities. On this call, you’ll hear how three foundations are investing in long-term transformation using Community Heart & Soul®, the Orton Family Foundation’s community development model.  Community Heart & Soul is active in PA currently, with potential for future opportunities.

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 from 1-2 p.m. Eastern
Register Now!

Join Engaging Residents Session at State Conference or Nov. 6 Webinar

WEBINAR

Community Heart & Soul: Engaging Residents through the Humanities to Find What Matters Most

November 6, 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Orton Family Foundation staff and their partners will present “Community Heart & Soul: Engaging Residents through the Humanities to Find What Matters Most” at the Annual Conference of the PA Chapter of the American Planning Association later this month.

Can’t make the conference session? This webinar will recap it!

Styled as a digital workshop, the webinar will explore why the humanities are relevant to planning and outline major components of the Community Heart & Soul® model. You’ll hear success stories from Pennsylvania Heart & Soul™ projects in Carlisle, Williamsport, and Meadville and take part in exercises that illustrate Heart & Soul in action.

Those who participate in either the October 24 conference session OR the November 6 webinar will be eligible to apply for the next round of Pennsylvania Heart & Soul planning grants.

Read more

Video Series: Planning Chester County’s Future Together


Come learn about what makes Chester County special, why we need to protect these treasures, and how we can plan the county’s future together. The first segment of a four-part video series on planning in Chester County has been released. This series hopes to engage you in the preparation of Landscapes3, the county’s next comprehensive plan.

Check out the video here.

There will be a Landscapes3 public meeting from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the West Whiteland Township Building, 101 Commerce Drive, Exton.

 

Oct. 12: FitCityPHL

You’re invited to FitCityPHL 3!

FitCityPHL is an annual full-day symposium that explores design strategies in workplaces, neighborhoods, and cities that improve health. It brings together individuals representing the sectors of public health, architecture, planning, design, landscape architecture, development,  research and evaluation, academia, philanthropy, and government to learn about how the built environment can have a positive impact on the negative health trends currently facing communities – particularly obesity and other chronic conditions.

At this year’s symposium, attendees will interact with public sector leaders in a town hall format, learn about community engagement and workplace active design strategies, and participate in several walking tours highlighting local examples of active design.
Read more

Help Celebrate National Community Planning Month in October!

The achievements of planning are celebrated in October with National Community Planning Month. This year’s theme is innovation in planning, underscoring the role of planning in addressing and adapting to the challenges facing communities in the 21st century.

With less than 30 days until the official kickoff of our national observance, we want to know – how are you educating others about the value of planning this October?

Use the resources in our Planning Month Resource HUB to share with your community, elected officials, and local media the positive impact planning has had on your community.

Planning a community tour, meeting, or special event to mark the occasion? Let us know at admin@apapase.org. We’d love to highlight your efforts on our website and social media outlets during the month of October and beyond!

Learn more about National Community Planning Month at www.planning.org/ncpm.

 

Oct. 12: Join Area Design Professionals

Alphabet Soup Night

Thursday, October 12, 2017 | 5:30pm  7:30pm
Center for Architecture and Design 1218 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA, 19107

IALD, AIA, IIDA, DVASE, APAPASE, IFDA, AIGA, PA-DE ASLA, IDSA, APT, ASCE… whew! What do they all mean? Let’s break design discipline silos. Design Philadelphia is bringing together different design associations in a free event to help make the infrastructure of the design community stronger in Philly by collaborating.

Members of The American Institute of Architects take in the Parklet competition and enjoy the Loewen Happy Hour, Thursday May 19, 2016, at AIA Philadelphia’s Center for Architecture and Design in Center City Philadelphia. (AIA Philadelphia Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

Come out and meet designers across Philadelphia over drinks and snacks. Chit chat, share ideas, and hear short lightning speed presentations from local representatives of American Institute of Architects (AIA), Delaware Valley Association of Structural Engineers (DVASE), Pennsylvania-Delaware American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Association for Preservation Technology (APT), Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA), The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and yes us, the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter, Southeast Section (APAPASE)!

Event is free, registration required: https://www.designphiladelphia.org/festival-events/alphabet-soup-night

Apply for Philadelphia Citizen Planning Institute by 9/20!

Citizens Planning Institute (CPI) will be accepting applications for the Fall 2017 course from August 30th – September 20th. This seven-week course empowers citizens to take a more effective and active role in shaping the future of their neighborhoods and of Philadelphia through a greater understanding of city planning and the steps involved in development projects.

Special topics this session include Diversifying Your Organization, Fixing Neighborhood Issues – L&I and 311, and Resources for Neighborhood Development. There are more details on the courses in Fall 2017 CPI course summaries.

Classes are held on Wednesday evenings October 11th – November 15th from 6-9 pm at 1515 Arch Street in Center City.

See the 2017 CPI Fall Flyer or visit CPI’s  website: www.citizensplanninginstitute.org for applications and more information. Contact 215-683-4648 or cpi@phila.gov with any questions or to request a hard copy of the application.