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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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?”

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas An Initial Strategy Immediate –Individual recruiting and outreach Near-term –Organizational outreach –Working alliances Longer-term –University Planning Initiative

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas Immediate (First 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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)

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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)

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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.

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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)

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

April 24, 2006APA National Planning Conference San Antonio, Texas 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

“Work, For the Night is Coming” Thank You