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December 16, 2020
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Small businesses are critical to our communities, making up 44 percent of all economic activity in the United States — but many are struggling, even as retail ramps up this time of year. Two Massachusetts AICP planners outline the serious need they saw among their communities' small businesses, as well as the ways various city departments came together to lift struggling enterprises and helped them innovate. In this APA podcast, hear advice for planners who want to help their communities not just stay solvent, but recover stronger.
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NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE
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NPC21 is going fully digital
The format and locale for the 2021 National Planning Conference has been confirmed — NPC21 will be fully digital, May 5-7, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic and COVID-19 public gathering restrictions currently in place in Boston, NPC21 will take place as a virtual event.
While we are disappointed to miss all that Boston has to offer, we feel this decision is the best option for maintaining the health of our attendees and staff, and allows us to focus fully on planning an energizing and immersive digital conference experience, built around today's needs. We are very grateful to the NPC Planning Committee and our local partners in Boston for their time, work, and expertise dedicated to the conference and look forward to bringing a bit of Boston to NPC21 online.
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Diverse perspectives are powerful: Help shape NPC21
An NPC program that brings diverse perspectives and experiences to the planning community has the power to transform the profession. We're looking for new and diverse voices, unique insights, and innovative, practical approaches. We invite you to review sessions, or submit a proposal. Bring your voice to our (virtual) stage and together we can reshape how planners work for and with communities.
Don't delay! You have until January 6 at noon (CT) to volunteer as a session reviewer or submit a proposal.
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RESOURCES
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Planners have an essential role in rebuilding communities and restoring the economy. APA president Kurt Christiansen, FAICP, chats with Samantha Harkins, Deputy Mayor of Lansing, Michigan, about rebuilding communities in an equitable way that will benefit all. "I don't have all the answers, but I do know we aren't going to come to solutions about equity and inclusivity in either our public spaces or in COVID recovery without listening."
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Uncovering JAPA
Exploratory scenario planning for uncertain futures
Increasing uncertainty is motivating practitioners to use new methods of exploratory planning scenarios. Using exploratory scenarios well requires planners to incorporate stakeholder values and not rely only on expert judgment and analysis. Learn more in the latest Uncovering JAPA blog on how planners can best incorporate this method.
Plus: Want to dive deeper? Check out APA's Research KnowledgeBase collection on scenario planning.
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OPPORTUNITIES
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Open forum: Planning and the Jewish Community
Join a conversation on December 21 at 6 p.m. CT with fellow APA members interested in discussing the potential for creating research resources and/or affinity space for Jews in planning. All are welcome!
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EVENTS
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YOUR MEMBERSHIP
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Send questions or comments about Interact to interact@planning.org.
Interact is a member e-newsletter of the American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Interested in advertising with APA? Contact rbarkin@townsend-group.com to learn more. |
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2020 American Planning Association. All rights reserved.
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