NPC25 — The Sights and Sounds

Thanks For Being a Part of NPC25!

Over 4,300 people made their way to Denver for the American Planning Association's (APA) 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC25). From March 29-April 1, they connected with other planners, learned innovative strategies to complex challenges, and gained valuable insights to continue building better communities.

"You are not alone — everyone here and members back home, we are your community," says Sue Schwartz, FAICP, APA president and planning director of Greensboro, North Carolina, during the inspiring welcome opening keynote.

During her speech, Schwartz encouraged planners to continue finding solutions. "That's why you join a professional association — to help in these times for information, for advocacy, and for community. Creating great communities for all is not just our mission, it's who we are. It is what we do every day. We are strong, we are resilient, and I'm very proud to be a part of this incredible community."

Keynote Conversations

This year's keynote speakers shared insights to help inspire and encourage planners in their professional and personal lives, including wellness.

"What I discovered is that my secret to making it through challenges [and] through the downs and ups is resilience."
— Dr. Mary Beth Janke

"There is a lot of hope in finding out what we can do locally [to end segregation] and in knowing what communities around the country are doing because they are continuing ... to make advances and not back down. It's time to do something."
— Leah Rothstein, co-author of Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law

NPC25 Online

The fun's not over yet!

Get a spring surge of information, insights, and connections from your home, office, or favorite third space with NPC25 Online from April 23-25.

Building Community

Over the four-day conference, attendees were able to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new bonds with peers while taking part in sessions, events, and off-site workshops.

During mobile tours, attendees explored the Mile-High City in various ways, including by bicycle.

Planners got to see the future in action as robots sketched their portraits.

Throughout the conference, attendees were able to interact with therapy dogs, including Angus Cowhead.

Conference attendees helped create over 100 blankets for children in the Denver area as part of the Blankets of Hope Community Service Project.

The innate characteristic of planners to get involved in community service was on full display during NPC25, as more than 100 fleece blankets were made for children in underserved communities in the Denver area.

Chido Baker, AICP, a planner from Illinois, says being a planner means getting involved in the community. And while long-range planning doesn't always allow planners to see the immediate impact of their work, activities like the Blankets of Hope Community Service Project (in partnership with A Precious Child) provide that opportunity. "It makes a difference," Baker says.

Sarah Slay, a master's student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says she was drawn to the fun and charitable components of the activity, as well as the ability to connect with conferencegoers. "It's a good idea for talking to new people, having an activity to break the ice," Slay says.

In the Know

NPC25 was abundant with ways to take in strategies, tips, and guidance, including case studies, learning labs, lightning talks, panel discussions, and innovation talks.

Informational sessions were spread throughout the conference center, including in The Hub.

NPC25 presented opportunities for attendees to share and work together on challenges at a variety of conference sessions.

The team from the University of Texas at Austin took first place in this year's Student Planning and Design Competition. Photo by Jordan Sweet.

It also featured the eighth annual Student Planning and Design Competition. This year, 23 submissions came in, and the top three teams presented to a panel of judges during the conference. The winners from the University of Texas at Austin were Chaochen Fan, Edwin Flores, Tess Matzakos, Kunth Shah, and Maria Rubio.

Advocacy on Display

Not all heroes wear capes, but planners at NPC25 had no problem putting them on to show off their superpower. Signs and hero masks were on hand in the Hub so attendees could take 360-degree videos.

But behind the glitz and glam was an important message: Planners are championing reform efforts that will help their communities in difficult times.

"For me, some of the most important attributes that I want in a community are equality and fairness, with a good measure of equity," says Anuprit Minhas, AICP, of Iowa, who stopped by the superhero headquarters booth.

Several panel discussions highlighted the importance of planners in the decision-making process and touched on critically important topics like how to handle NIMBY opposition.

APA also hosted three listening sessions to hear from planners directly on how federal policy changes have impacted them and their communities, as well as what ideas or suggestions they had for ways APA can provide support in the coming months. Planners can continue to share their experiences with APA and find resources to help navigate the uncertainty.

A Certified Success

Throughout the weekend, planners kept abreast of the latest best practices in planning. Those preparing for the Spring AICP exam (the deadline to register is April 30) had opportunities to come together and discuss preparing for the exam.

APA Foundation Gives Back

Planners' generosity during the conference helped fund one and a half student scholarships. The Foundation will open its scholarship application portal later this month and will award 22 total scholarships totaling $110,000 in 2025. You can help support emerging planners with a contribution to the APA Foundation.

Conferencegoers show off their student ribbons during NPC25.

Planners also got to picture themselves on the cover of Planning magazine, which celebrated its 90th anniversary at NPC25. Meanwhile, the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) celebrated its 100th birthday!

Thank You, Sponsors!

Top image: Over 4,300 people converged in Denver for the American Planning Association's (APA) 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC25). Photos by Photographyg.com.