Planning Assistance TeamsFollowing the riots in Los Angeles in 1992, the American Planning Association took aim on the issues of social equity in planning and development. In recognition of the key role urban and regional planners play in shaping vibrant, sustainable, and equitable communities, the APA Board of Directors established the "Community Planning Team" initiative in 1995. This initiative resulted in a very successful pro bono effort to assist an economically struggling African American community in North Carolina. AICP has continued to develop a pro bono planning program that provides assistance to communities in need. In 2005, program efforts were notably increased after the tragic and devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast Region. APA immediately embarked on a number of initiatives and projects including Planning Assistance Teams in the affected cities of Henderson Point, Mississippi, and Mandeville and Slidell in Louisiana. See a timeline of APA's involvement in the Gulf Coast region By pairing expert urban planning professionals from around the country with citizen planners from local communities, the program seeks to foster community education, engagement, and empowerment. As part of the program, a community develops a vision plan that promotes a sustainable, livable, economically vibrant, and healthy urban environment. Upcoming ProjectsPlanning Assistance Teams Projects | ||
