Assistant Planner MSA Professional Services Milwaukee, WI
This session will demonstrate the value of including youth within planning projects and community decision-making through a case study of a community based participatory planning (CBPP) process I led with students at Vel Phillips Memorial HS on the west side of Madison, WI. Attendees will learn about the path I took to successfully engage students over 10 weekly meetings; covering planning basics, working through interactive activities, collecting and analyzing data, and proposing strategies and solutions for the redevelopment of a struggling commercial area near their high school. At the conclusion of the engagement, students summarized and presented their work to City of Madison planners and the Mayor. Through this case study, attendees will gain an understanding of how incorporating youth perspectives not only enriches planning projects, but also fosters a sense of ownership and community engagement among the younger generation. The detailed exploration of the curriculum, engagement methods, and challenges faced will provide a roadmap for attendees to effectively collaborate with local schools and community partners, ensuring that the insights of young planners are harnessed to catalyze genuine and impactful change within their own communities.
Recognize the value of including young people in planning projects and identify strategies for establishing strong partnerships with nonprofits, schools, community organizations, governments, and other stakeholders.
Interact with unique engagement methods such as community research, photovoice, 3D modeling, creating vision boards, and utilizing GIS asset mapping.
Implement youth planning engagements in their future work with communities and projects to improve inclusivity and equity outcomes.
