Blogs

APA Leaders Advocate for Planners at World Urban Forum in Egypt (blog featured image)

November 15, 2024

APA Leaders Advocate for Planners at 12th World Urban Forum in Egypt

The American Planning Association joined with the international community November 4-8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, for the World Urban Forum’s (WUF) conference to exchange ideas and learn new ways to uplift and support planners at home and abroad.

November 8, 2024

Planning Together for a Sustainable Future and Sufficient Homes for Our Communities

A joint statement from the Global Planners Network member organizations about the 75th anniversary of World Town Planning Day.

October 25, 2024

APA’s Upcoming International Learning Opportunities

APA’s ongoing international strategy aims to advocate for the planning profession and facilitate learning exchanges with our peers worldwide that will benefit APA members.

October 23, 2024

APA Recognizes 2024 National Planning Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to intergenerational collaboration with young residents, APA is proud to recognize the 2024 National Planning Award recipients.

October 11, 2024

New Rules of Conduct Launch in January

APA’s Welcoming Environment Task Force submitted proposed Rules of Conduct to the Board of Directors that outline a new anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy, and a process for acting on alleged violations of the policy.

June 25, 2024

Planners ‘Plant a Seed’ for Housing Reform

Nearly 100 planners from across the country gathered online in June 2024 for APA’s Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill. Each advocate brought stories of the housing challenges their own communities’ are facing – and how planners are on the ground working to boost housing supply and expand affordability.

Fostering the Future of Planning (blog featured image)

June 17, 2024

Fostering the Future of Planning: Outcomes from the 2024 Student Planning & Design Competition

Summary of the 2024 Student Planning & Design Competition results from NPC24.

June 11, 2024

Get National Recognition for Your Planning Work

Winning a national award can help legitimize important planning work and develop the support and investment needed from stakeholders and key decision-makers to take on the next community-shaping project.

May 15, 2024

Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook Provides Solutions for Addressing Nation’s Housing Supply Crisis

News Release: APA and NLC release the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a roadmap for communities to effectively navigate their housing supply challenges.

May 8, 2024

5 Reasons to Join APA for Planners' Day

This is a unique opportunity to sharpen your advocacy and communication skills, meet one-on-one with members of Congress, and explain why your community needs federal support for housing and zoning reform.

May 7, 2024

Engaging Youth: 2024 Planners' Day of Service

Planners' Day of Service at APA's 2024 National Planning Conference, focused on youth engagement in planning, including the launch of the Girl Scouts of America "city planning" patch.

April 23, 2024

APA Welcoming Environment Work Continues

APA is committed to establishing, maintaining, and protecting a welcoming environment. After launching the APA Welcoming Environment Initiative and a Code of Conduct for NPC in 2023, our work continues in 2024. Expect more guidance and resources later this year.

April 17, 2024

As Seen at NPC24

Catch up on all that happened at NPC24 in Minneapolis, April 13-16, 2024.

April 17, 2024

Connecting at NPC24

A variety of opportunities allowed NPC24 attendees to connect during the conference.

February 29, 2024

D7 Design Retreat in Kansas City

The top seven design organizations will convene in Kansas City, Missouri, for the D7 Retreat to discuss industry challenges.

February 7, 2024

Empowering Students: Student Representatives Council 2024 Leadership Goals

Bianca Mers, the new chair of the Student Representatives Council outlines three goals for 2024 focused on empowering leaders, amplifying voices, and fostering career development in planning.

November 15, 2023

Student-Led University Course Challenges Conventional Planning Processes

Equity in Practice: Learn how students created a new course at the University of Michigan to DO WHAT.

November 14, 2023

Yan Song, PhD, Selected as Next Editor of Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA)

News Release: Yan Song, PhD, selected as new editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association.

November 7, 2023

States Take Varied Approaches to Resilience Governance

APA News: New research analysis from APA identifies the varied approaches states are taking for resilience governance.

November 3, 2023

Planning Action for a Just Transformation to a Net-Zero Climate Resilient World

Statement from the Global Planners Network about the need for effective planning to generate sustainable urbanism in advance of the 74th World Town Planning Day on November 8, 2023.

October 25, 2023

APA Recognizes 2023 National Planning Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to intergenerational collaboration with young residents, APA is proud to recognize this year’s award-winning planning efforts.

September 20, 2023

The New Nicollet Redevelopment: Reimaging New Places and Opportunities

The 2024 Student Planning and Design Competition project site location is the New Nicollet Redevelopment, the former Kmart site in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. This project site covers 10 acres of land between the Midtown Greenway bike trail, Lake Street, First Avenue, and Blaisdell Avenue.

July 17, 2023

Planning Priorities Face Cuts in Congress

Federal investments in zoning reform, climate action, and infrastructure are on the line this week as Congress moves to reduce federal spending for the next fiscal year. APA unpacks the disappointing cuts and the legislative pathway forward.

July 13, 2023

Opportunity Unbound Scholarship Recipient Reflects on First NPC

Opportunities Unbound scholarship recipient Leslie Martínez-Román recounts her experience at NPC23.

June 27, 2023

Recognizing APA Presidential Award Recipients

Honoring the recipients of the 2022 APA President Awards.

June 26, 2023

Designing the Future of Planning: Success of the 2023 Student Design Competition

Lessons and key takeaways from the 2023 Student Design Competition.

June 16, 2023

In Memoriam: Dorothy Walker

In Memoriam: Remembering APA's first president.

April 21, 2023

It Takes a Planner: Communicating Your Value to Policymakers

APA is launching “It Takes a Planner”, an effort aimed at building the influence of planners among state and local elected and appointed officials.

April 5, 2023

Let's Talk Planning: Scenes from NPC23

Catch up on all that happened at NPC23 in Philadelphia, April 1-4, 2023.

April 5, 2023

Planners Talking About Philadelphia

Attendees at NPC23 were abuzz on social. Find out what got planners talking while in Philadelphia.

February 1, 2023

Revocation of Credentials For Ethical Misconduct

Recent disciplinary actions taken by the AICP Ethics Committee in January 2023.

January 23, 2023

Partnership to Accelerate & Incentivize Diverse Housing Supply Announced

APA News: APA and NLC partner in national housing campaign to advance and incentivize local approaches to land use, zoning and housing development, and preservation.

January 19, 2023

Karen Wolf, FAICP, Begins Term as President of American Institute of Certified Planners

APA News: Karen Wolf, FAICP, begins tenure as president of the American Institute of Certified Planners Commission.

January 18, 2023

Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, Begins Tenure as President of APA

APA News: Angela D. Brooks, FAICP, begins tenure as APA's first Black female president.

December 20, 2022

APA Announces New International Strategy

APA's international strategy focuses on learning exchange activities.

December 9, 2022

In Memoriam: Guide for the Idealist Creator Rick Willson, FAICP

In Memoriam: Rick Willson, FAICP, professor, consultant, mentor, and Guide for the Idealist creator.

November 21, 2022

In Memoriam: Constance Jordan Wilson, PhD

In Memoriam: APA remembers the life of Constance Jordan Wilson, PhD.

October 5, 2022

APA Recognizes 2022 Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to outstanding planning educators, APA is proud to recognize this year’s award-winning planning efforts.

August 23, 2022

Ralph Willmer Named AICP Ethics Officer

Longtime APA member Ralph Willmer, FAICP, has been hired as the new AICP Ethics Officer following the retirement of Jim Peters, FAICP.

May 23, 2022

APA Joins State Resilience Partnership

APA joins the State Resilience Partnership as one of 20 organizations collaborating on increasing nationwide resilience efforts.

February 11, 2022

Planning Ethics: Lessons from 2021

Highlights from the 2021 Annual Ethics Report and actions taken by the AICP Ethics Committee.

January 28, 2022

Disciplinary Actions for Ethical Misconduct

Two recent disciplinary actions taken by the AICP Ethics Committee in December 2021.

December 16, 2021

Lead and Inspire with Purpose: AICP Code of Ethics Update

AICP President Mitchell J. Silver details the 2021 updates to the AICP Code of Ethics.

November 19, 2021

Moonlighting Planner's AICP Credential Revoked

Moonlighting, when prohibited by employers, can result in revocation of your AICP credential.

November 4, 2021

White House Embraces Federal Zoning Reform Provision

New federal support for zoning reform is in President Biden's Build Back Better framework thanks to planners' advocacy. White House leaders recently made the case for why tackling zoning and housing supply challenges is at the center of the President's economic agenda.

October 6, 2021

APA Calls For Essential Climate Action

APA joins the call for increasing emission reduction limits with more than 60 other professional organizations ahead of COP26.

September 15, 2021

Alejandro Fuentes Joins APA as New CFOO

Alejandro (Alex) Fuentes will join APA as the new chief financial and operating officer on October 18, 2021.

August 4, 2021

Pro-Planning Infrastructure Bill Poised to Clear Senate Hurdle

Planners' infrastructure priorities will hit an important milestone later this week (August 4, 2021) when the Senate passes the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

July 13, 2021

States Take Aim at Carbon Emissions and Climate Consequences

State governments are finding new ways to amplify local and regional planning efforts that take aim at curbing harmful carbon emissions and ensuring climate impacts do not disproportionately burden underserved communities. Here is a look at some actions states are taking to help communities secure net-zero futures.

June 10, 2021