Diversity Initiatives in the National Capital Region

1. Diversity Initiatives inthe National Capital Region Presentation to the APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas – April 24, 2006 Harold Foster, AAG, AICP – Director at Large

2. Background • NCAC: Oldest chapter in APA (59 years old) • Metropolitan Washington, DC • A “majority minority” metro region by 2015 • Third-largest minority planning pool in the Nation • Federal, State, regional and municipal government • Large quasi-public planning agencies (MWCOG, WMATA) • Large private and consultant sectors • Large planning-related agencies and industries (NGOs) • Current chapter membership about 672 • Estimated 32% are minority APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

3. The Issue • Our chapter does not look like the region • AICP especially unrepresentative (nationally and locally) • Two straw polls • 1996 and a 2004 follow-up • 1996: “Why aren’t you in APA?” • 2004: “Are we doing any better? Would you join now?” APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

4. The Issue • By 2004, only six of the original respondents had joined APA: • None had become members of AICP • Two of the six joined only after moving out of the Metro DC area • Two others joined but let their memberships lapse APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

5. The Issue • Major reasons for not joining did not change in eight years: • APA is too expensive • No real “value for money” • Other organizations are a better value • Networks “aren’t geared to help people like me.” • Having contacts with APA is as valuable as being in APA • Involved in other, “real” planning • APA viewed as “too theoretical” • Not “seen” (no practical roots) in the Community • Not “heard” on the most important issues APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

6. An Initial Strategy • Immediate • Individual recruiting and outreach • Near-term • Organizational outreach • Working alliances • Longer-term • University Planning Initiative APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

7. Immediate • Individual recruiting and outreach • Federal Government • US HUD, US DOT and DOD • EPA • GSA • State, regional, local governmental and quasi-governmental • Start with DC & Prince George’s County • WMATA (Third largest public employer in the region) • Private sector APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

8. Immediate (First 18-21 Months) • Project-oriented recruiting • Community projects and alliances that need specific professional planning skills • “Best use of your time” • Build innovative networks • Goal-oriented recruiting • How can APA \ NCAC help you? • Chapter will help facilitate your project • We reach out to you to help us reach out APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

9. Near Term (First 36 Months) • Alliances with – and within – the Community • Lots of “real” planning going on • An immense pool of talented “citizen planners” • Environmental Justice • Counter-gentrification • Community revitalization • Planning assistance teams • Hard to find/contract skills • Scarce resources (especially public sector contacts) APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

10. Near Term • Priority is not – necessarily – to recruit members • Priority is to be of – and create – value in the Community • Alliances based on specific long-term goals • Common program (the “New Orleans model”) • Community revitalization and stabilization • Workforce housing • The “Five Publics” (Safety, Education, Finance, Health & Works) • Environmental justice and equity • Transit-oriented Development (TOD) APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

11. Near Term • NCAC Chamber of Associates • Formal affiliation for an organization • Open to any organization that agrees to a Common Goals and Principles of Planning Practice • Nominal – or no – fee (!) • Privileges as Chapter Associates (work in progress) • Long-term: • “Nationalize” the Chamber of Associates to include all chapters in “majority minority” client areas APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

12. Longer Term • “And a little Child shall lead them” • APA – and the planning profession – have a “soccer mom” problem • Perception of the profession is vague and somewhat negative within the Community • Planners are “from the government”, not of the Community • The profession is not seen as a viable career path, especially by minority youths APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

13. Longer Term • The key “public” is still EDUCATION • Long term diversity outreach priority has to be • Make planning an attractive, creditable career path • Maximizing the appreciation of the social capital planners can create in/for the Community. • (The lawyers and the point guards will always make more money.) • Getting minority youth to appreciate the End State • The only thing planners actually produce. APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

14. Longer Term • University Planning Initiative (1 – 3 years) • Revive at least one degree-granting planning program • Howard • UDC • GWU • Priority is an HBU in the Metro DC area • Second preference: • Degree-granting university consortium program • Third preference: • Cooperative program with another planning program (MSU, Maryland, VPI) APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

15. Longer Term • Planting roots (3 years and beyond) • Pre-university professional preparation • Public schools • Every DC-area public school system at least 25% minority • Curriculum • Guest lecturers from the profession(s) • Community service requirements with APA, NCAC and community-based “real” planning organizations • Internships • Public agencies • Universities • Private\consulting firms APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

16. What Is Needed • Additional institutional and financial support • APA National • Grants • Professional assistance (lend us your Rolodex) • Better coordination with planning schools and public school systems • (The “other”) APA Divisions • Career-specific outreach to minority youth and undergrads • Chapters • Many based in “majority minority” communities • None look (much) like the communities they serve APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas

17. “Work, For the Night is Coming” Thank You Harold.Foster@ppd.mncppc.org incanato@earthlink.net