Education & Careers

Cityscape with government building in Victoria, British Columbia.

Planners be Nimble, Planners be Quick

Planning should be methodical and responsive to community needs, but not to the point of inefficiency. Too much planning can be just as harmful as too little.

August 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

Group of four young professional people standing in front of urban building looking at documents.

Planning Your Planning Career: A Process not a Blueprint

As planning students and recent graduates consider internships and first jobs, they often ask how much these initial decisions matter. A conversation with Professor Robert Freestone unpacks the twists and turns of planning careers.

July 24, 2024 - Ann Forsyth

View of people sitting in lightly sloped green lawn with Spanish colonial-style building and cityscape in background in San Francisco, California.

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts

Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

July 23, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Group of young people enjoying group study at table.

LA County Summer Youth Employment Program Empowering Thousands With Career Opportunities

The Youth@Work program offers up to 10,000 paid work opportunities to marginalized and underserved youth aged 14 to 24, providing them with valuable job training, skills development, and mentorship.

July 15, 2024 - County of Los Angeles

View of trees and pond at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles, California.

From Academia to Action: An Indigenous Reforestation Effort in Los Angeles

Ary Amaya, a UCLA graduate student, leads an Indigenous-led reforestation effort in Los Angeles, integrating cultural practices and ecological restoration across 27 acres to promote Indigenous sovereignty and sustainable land management.

July 8, 2024 - UCLA Newsroom

View of green oil wells in a residential neighborhood in California.

Repurposing Oil Fields Into Parks: Advancing Just Transition and Community Well-being

The concept of a "just transition" extends beyond workers to encompass broader social and environmental dimensions, including the restoration and regeneration of land and communities affected by oil extraction activities.

June 28, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

California's State Library Park Pass Program Renewed Amid Budget Challenges

Californians can continue to access state parks for free by borrowing passes from their local libraries, thanks to the renewal of a state program.

June 26, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

An Inyo Backcountry Trail Crew uses rock bars and other hand tools to build new trail out of rock.

American Climate Corps Echoes New Deal Programs

A new federal initiative places young workers in jobs aimed at building climate resilience, but will it avoid the mistakes of similar programs?

June 13, 2024 - High Country News

Texas

Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs

Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.

April 25, 2024 - FOX 4 News

View of the stage, crowd, and speaker at the opening session of NPC24.

Housing and Equity Take Center Stage at NPC24

With discussions centering on how to solve the housing crisis and create more equitable communities, Minneapolis is a fitting host city for APA’s annual National Planning Conference.

April 14, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Aerial view of snowy town of Stateline, Nevada on shore of Lake tahoe with mountains in background.

Nevada to Host National Outdoor Recreation Conference

In May 2024, the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals will hold its national conference in Stateline, Nevada, offering opportunities to learn and network in the beautiful setting of Lake Tahoe.

January 22, 2024 - Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals

Green graphic with headshot of Jeff Vincent for The Planning Commission podcast.

Big Box Schools with Jeff Vincent: The Planning Commission Podcast

Why are new school campuses antithetical to everything we promote about what constitutes good planning?

January 5, 2024 - The Pllanning Commission Podcast

Photo of Mitchell Silver with text for Planning Commission Podcast on the left.

Mitchell Silver, FAIP, Kicks Off Season 3 of the Planning Commission Podcast

Former APA President and NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver reflects on a career spent planning for people.

December 28, 2023 - The Planning Commission Podcast

Aerial view of Nebraska state capitol and downtown Lincoln, Nebraska in golden light.

Nebraska Governor Orders Return to Office for State Workers

The executive order could negatively impact the state’s workforce, which faces a shortage of more than 2,500 employees.

November 15, 2023 - Nebraska Examiner

Close-up of Help Wanted sign with white text on red background posted inside storefront window.

The Link Between Employment and Housing

For many people experiencing homelessness, the process of finding and keeping a job is fraught with challenges.

November 13, 2023 - Urban Wire

Woma holding small boy on lap sitting on public bus with many other passengers around them.

Less Than Half of Head Start Centers Near Transit

Just 42 percent of the nation’s Head Start early education centers are within walkable distance for parents with toddlers.

November 2, 2023 - KCUR

View of Los Angeles skyline on sunny day with palm trees in foreground

Youth Employment Program Earns Top L.A. County Award

The highly impactful Youth At Work program offers youth paid opportunities to develop skills in customer service, leadership, mentoring, and community engagement while helping with various programs and projects at Los Angeles County parks.

October 23, 2023 - Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission

Bird's eye view of city skyscrapers at twilight with blurred lights on streets.

Building Bridges to the Future: Preparing the Next Generation of Planners

Discover the importance of preparing the next generation of urban planners to build a sustainable and thriving future.

October 17, 2023 - Devin Partida

Close-up of people standing around conference table leaning down and looking at documents, cut off at torsos.

Bringing Planning Back to the People

Has the profession given in to corporate interests, and is there another way forward?

October 3, 2023 - Yes Magazine

Female bus driver wearing safety vest sits in driver's seat, talking with woman passenger boarding bus

TSA Suggests More Background Checks for Transit Workers

The proposal could make it even harder for short-staffed agencies to attract and hire new employees.

August 27, 2023 - Federal Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.