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Spring 2021 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
  • From the Chair
  • Volunteer Spotlight
  • WPD Division Mentorship Pilot Program
  • NPC21 Preview 
  • Recap | Women's History Month Events & Webinars 
  • APA FL Orlando Metro Section Women & Planning Group
  • Strong Women, Strong Places
  • WTS Greater Chicago - Transportation YOU
  • Follow us on social media!

Letter from the Chair

Hello Friends!

It has been about a year since we all faced one of the hardest challenges of our time. From working from home, to being a parent with distanced learners, to slowly making our way back to office in a safe way, we have all been through something we’ve never imagined could happen. I am hopeful that this year will show us that above all else we are all in this together and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What was missing most this past year was connection; to our family, to our friends, to our colleagues, to our communities. Connection is paramount to what we do as planners and something to look forward to once again.

In Brene Brown’s new book Dare to Lead, Brene talks about bringing vulnerability, humanity, and respect into the workplace and how it is fundamental for cohesive teams and good work. She states that, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing. It’s having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” I don’t think there are two more important areas of focus this year than not feeling in control of the outcome and experiencing connection. As we emerge back into the workplace or find a new normal working from home, or a hybrid, it is never more important for us to focus on our relationships with others, to feel connected, to be plugged in, and have a hope and a positive outlook that better days are ahead. This Division is here to help support and uplift you as members. We are continuing to provide resources, programming, and events to help foster that connection and we invite all of you to participate. Thank you all for being members!

Be Well,

Corrin Wendell, AICP

Chair, Women & Planning Division
This quarter's featured volunteer is Katie Jardieu, GISP. Katie supports the Division's website development and updates. Thanks for all you do, Katie!
 
Where are you originally from?  I was born in Mississippi but moved a lot as a kid and have lived in Texas, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Kansas.  

What college/university did you attend? Type of degree/major? I graduated from Kansas State University with a Geography degree.  I have a Masters from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Community Development

What is your current position / Who is your current employer?  I am the City Planner for Raymore, Missouri. A community of about 24,000 outside of Kansas City.

What is your role as a Division volunteer? Website Updater

What have you gained or learned by being a member and volunteer with the Division? I have learned how much more diverse APA is and I am glad to see this Division continuing to shine a light on the diversity and let those voices be heard. It is also great to connect with others regarding issues with Planning and learn various approaches to a problem. Seeing other points of views is important and this Division really highlights that and helps members connect to keep that shared vision going.

What do you like best about the Division? What attracted you to join? The desire to connect with other women and gain perspectives from others.

What is your favorite thing about planning or what do you enjoy most about being in the planning profession? I enjoy that every day is different and that I am truly helping to build and grow a city into a place all are welcome to call home.  

What you would be doing now if you hadn’t chosen the planning profession?  I was originally a mapmaker (GIS) so I would have shifted to a non-response role if I hadn't gotten involved with Planning.

What are your hobbies and interests? Having fun and showing my husband and son why I love Kansas City.  We just moved here about 2 years ago, so I enjoy showing them around and exploring KC from my sons' perspective.

What is a typical weekend itinerary for you? Usually a home project (updating a 20 yr old house to our style :) ) and playing with our son Jimmy.  Lunar New Year is coming up so we are decorating and celebrating together. 

Would you like to share anything about your family? We are currently waiting for the Chinese border to open so we can finalize our adoption of another son :)  The extended wait has been difficult.

Do you have any advice to new graduates entering the planning field/career tips?  Persevere! It isn't all bells and whistles, particularly in the beginning, but slow steady change can end up making a big impact.

Is there a particular planning topic you’d like to comment on or feel fellow planners need to follow? Continue to check back here at the Women in Planning Division! APA is so much more diverse than it can initially appear and this division aims to highlight those voices!
WOMEN & PLANNING DIVISION
PILOT MENTORING PROGRAM

SIGN UP TODAY!
The Division is kicking off its first ever mentoring program! This was one of the biggest requests in our 2020 membership survey and we are excited to initiate this program in response to your feedback.
 
In this pilot program, Division leadership will be “matching” early or mid-career Division members with more tenured members, or members in positions of leadership. This program is intended to help our members with career goals, professional development, and to increase women’s representation in positions of leadership. The initial pilot program will be six months in length, and we would ask matched mentor pairs get together three times (including an initial kickoff event for all mentors and mentees). Additional details and program ideas will be provided as part of the matching.

As this is the initial pilot program, we are limiting participation to a manageable size so we can monitor program success. Therefore, in this pilot year we are limiting participation to the first 50 mentee requests. If the program is successful, we will expand and update the program for 2022.
 
We are also in particular need of mentors for the program and encourage anyone interested in giving back to volunteer.
 
Sign up to be a mentee
Sign up to be a mentor
 
Questions? Please email Vice Chair Melissa Dickens and Director of Programs Katelynn Wintz at APAWPDmentoring2021@gmail.com

NPC21 Preview! 
While we're disappointed we won't be able to see you all in person this year, there are still lots of opportunities for Division members to catch up and network during the virtual NPC21 scheduled for May 5-7, 2021.

The Division's Annual Business Meeting will be held on May 5, 2021 at 12 PM (CDT). This meeting is open to everyone and helps the Division's Executive Committee set the agenda for the coming year. Come and let us know what we can do for you! We will provide a meeting access link via email prior to NPC21.

And don't miss our Division-sponsored session "Confront and Dismantle Discriminatory Workplace Practices" presented with APA Career Center on May 7, 2021 at 9-9:45 AM (CDT). This session will help participants: 
  • Learn to recognize and question the prevalence of institutional whiteness, straightness, and gender "norms" in planning practice.
  • Explore ways to support womxn of color and LGBTQ+ planners by expanding the definition of "professional."
  • Get solutions for confronting and dismantling racist and discriminatory workplace practices that impact planners.
We look forward to seeing you there!

RECAP | Women's History Month Events
Did you celebrate Women's History Month with us? We hope you were able to catch one of our webinars or network with us. Our virtual Women's History Month networking event was a blast! We heard from some fantastic panelists including Margaret Wallace Brown, AICP, CNU-A (Planning Director, City of Houston) and Corrin Wendell, AICP (Director of Community Development & Planning with the City of Little Canada and Chair of the Women & Planning Division). After some inspiring words from these two leaders, participants self-selected discussion groups with topics such as "Find Your Planning Passion," "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," and "Public Sector Planning."

The Division also hosted two webinars during March:
The Road to FAICP
The APA Women & Planning Division hosted a lively discussion highlighting the importance of supporting, amplifying, and inducting more influential women planners into the FAICP class.

The Road to AICP
An informative panel discussion about the advantages & disadvantages of the AICP certification, how to apply for the exams, and some basic test tips for future test takers.

APA FL Orlando Metro Section
Women & Planning Group
Submitted by Heather Croney, Planner for Lake County Board of County Commissioners
In the spring of 2020, Roxann Read, AICP, CFM, Development Services Assistant Director for the City of Wildwood of Central Florida, put out feelers in the APA FL OMS newsletter and other streams of communication to see who might be interested in joining a Women and Planning Group for APA FL OMS. When asked what spurred her to make this move, Roxann says, “I thought it sounded like a great idea, but no one really volunteered to start the group. After waiting around several months for a volunteer, I decided I could at least gauge some interest from our section members. When ten women responded immediately that they were interested, I knew we had something.”

As COVID-19 became a greater reality and threat to the United States, this group held many possibilities for women who work in and or study urban planning. Most importantly was the opportunity to actually communicate with others in the field during this challenging time of disconnect. Many in the group have been (and still are) working from home since the pandemic hit, while others are working from home on a part time basis, and there is a small faction that still completes their day-to-day tasks more traditionally.

The formation of the APA FL Orlando Metro Section (OMS) Women and Planning Group group has served as a way for many of us to connect with other planners while in-person conferences and opportunities for learning and networking have been on pause, mostly taking place virtually. Initially, we held our meetings on the Zoom platform, but the time limitations with the free version became an inconvenience, so Google Meetings has been our go-to for the past few months. The virtual meeting platform made it possible for some women to be involved that otherwise would have been able to attend. As females, we sometimes take on responsibilities that men do not have or physically cannot do, which also makes it more difficult to be away from the home more than necessary for work. A virtual meeting platform made it possible to easily break off for an hour or so once a month to meet with other female planners without the additional worries of driving time or childcare arrangements. When it is safer to meet in person, we hope to do so, but there may be some challenges with finding meeting places as the women in this group are living and working in very different locations around Central Florida, so virtual meetings may stick around for us, even when we’re back to living in a face-to-face world. 

Roxann kicked off the group, got everyone organized and on the same page, and then began her search for someone to relieve her of the responsibilities of leading and organizing the group. After much internal deliberation, I decided it would be the perfect time for me to step in and take over the reins since I was due to complete my Master’s Degree in May of 2020. Even though life is always busy for me, I realized how important it was that this group continue. Plus, I had lots of ideas and passion for the project, so I knew I was the perfect person to be the driving force of this powerful group of women.

One of the ways our group connected with each other is by highlighting individual members at future meetings to share their stories. In our first meeting, Dagmarie Segarra told us about her resilient Puerto Rico homeland, and how they have fared during the recovery from Hurricane Maria in 2017. This was followed by a share of my own, when I told the group the story of my journey as a young planner in Central Florida, including my role in the Urban Knights at UCF.

Following the structure set forth in our initial meetings, there were times that I wasn’t sure of where to take things with the group or a meeting topic, but either someone would give me a good suggestion or another group member would have a good topic in mind or the meeting would just come together somehow. A few members, in particular, have been regularly involved and eager to assist. During the holidays between October and December, meeting attendance was a bit lower, but that was to be expected.

Nonetheless, the group powered through, and attendance sparked back up in 2021. The new year has brought fresh new members including both young, emerging planners and seasoned veterans. The group happily welcomes women of any stage in their career, and of any age. Melissa Dickens, AICP, has been very encouraging and helpful with ideas for the group. Roxann has continued to be very involved. Alissa Torres, AICP, Annie Sillaway, Francine Sutton, Kyla Luna, and Janie Barron have been great support and participants with this group, too.

On December 2, 2020, at 6:00 PM, the APA FL OMS Women & Planning Group presented a webinar: Find Your MidCareer Mentors & Collaborators from Mia Scharphie, founder of Build Yourself. In this webinar, Mia discussed with us how to initiate and strengthen the mentorship relationships and collaborations that will lead you forward. Finding great mentors and collaborators involves being more proactive, communicating what you want out of your relationships more clearly, and how to bring more of yourself to them.

The APA FL OMS Women and Planning Group has connected women with each other in many different ways, including resume reviews, plus the exchange of tips, tricks, and experiences amongst each other relating to our work in planning. This group has helped to connect female planners with opportunities to be involved with volunteering for other planning-related groups, committees, and divisions in APA as well as resources and tips for those of us who are studying for the AICP exam currently.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, a webinar and networking event was presented by a few APA Florida Women & Planning Divisions - Orlando Metro, Suncoast, Capital Area, and Treasure Coast. The webinar discussed Strategies for Successful Salary Negotiations, and networking followed the webinar. Both men and women were welcome to attend this webinar, but the turnout was a majority female. The webinar offered 1.25 CM credits. After the webinar introductions, I presented historic salary data for women and specifically for planners. Breanne Rothstein, AICP; Tanya Stern, AICP; Melissa Dickens, AICP; and Mia Scharphie also were leaders and organizers of this presentation, and they have done this presentation in a few instances to various groups. I highly recommend checking out Mia’s webpage (http://buildyourselfworkshop.com/) and social media pages.

As previously said by Roxann, “Our efforts to connect with young, emerging planners and students is a priority to provide a mentorship program,” adding, “We’re currently working to determine the needs and desires of members who want to give back to the local community, exploring ways to reach out to children and youth to introduce them to the planning profession.  This group certainly looks forward to meeting in person in the new world just as soon as it’s safe to do so!”

I am very excited about where this group will lead, and the opportunities that it can present for Central Florida women in the planning field.
 
To connect with the APA FL OMS Women and Planning group, contact Heather Croney at hstrong13@gmail.com. This group is also on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13921526/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/apaflomswomen/).

STRONG WOMEN, STRONG PLACES
Submitted by Emily Phillis, Co-organizer Strong Women. Strong Places.

Ohio Women in Planning Organization Celebrates Non-Profit Status
While navigating the many challenges and setbacks of the past year, Strong Women. Strong Places. (SWSP) achieved a major milestone – we are now a non-profit organization registered with the state of Ohio! We look forward to using our new status to enhance and legitimize our work at the intersection of gender and place.

The idea for SWSP took root as a single networking event to connect professionals and students in a safe, welcoming environment. The goal was to promote collaboration and highlight how gender shapes professional experiences. The response was overwhelming and signaled a desire for regular opportunities to gather, reflect, and encourage one another.
 
To answer that call, the original SWSP has since evolved into a community of place-thinkers aimed at exploring the impact of gender in the work of creating safe, vibrant, and equitable places. This mission guides our work in advocacy, education, and professional development. We believe that this work is collaborative and intersectional; we elevate the needs of our communities and peers that have historically been left out of planning conversations. We support planning and place-making practices that are gender-informed and uplift marginalized voices.
 
We host events, maintain an online educational database, and facilitate space for our peers to collaborate and learn. You can consider SWSP a professional resource, a space to recharge, and an opportunity to exchange ideas.
 
SWSP is a community-led organization which exists for leaders like you. We encourage you to explore our new website and join the efforts in expanding the intersection of gender and place.
You can learn more about Strong Women. Strong Places. by visiting https://www.strongwomenstrongplaces.org/

WTS Greater Chicago - Transportation YOU
Submitted by Em Hall
Do you wish you knew about STEM careers in high school? Introduce young women to careers in transportation with Transportation YOU!
 
What is Transportation YOU?
Transportation YOU is a hands-on, interactive, mentoring program that offers young women ages 13-18 an introduction to a wide variety of transportation careers. Transportation YOU is the joint initiative of WTS international and the U.S. DOT that launched in 2010. The WTS Greater Chicago chapter offers a Transportation YOU program for Chicago area students.
 
What programs has Transportation YOU held?
Transportation YOU works to make a difference in the lives of young girls by offering programs and activities that will spark their interest in all modes of transportation and demonstrate how subjects such as math, science, and technology can be applied in the real world. Previous events include a field trip to O’Hare International Airport, business etiquette, an urban walking tour, and many other outreach events. In this virtual environment, events include virtual workshops and guest speakers.
 
How can you get involved?
Transportation YOU would love your support! We are looking for:
  • Program partners: If you are part of an organization that reaches young women, we would love to partner with you on events to expand our reach and expose more young women to the transportation field.
  • Program speakers: If you are part of an agency or organization which works in the transportation field, we would love to feature you during an event, either as a guest speaker or we can create a custom workshop related to your field of work.
  • Committee volunteers: The Transportation YOU committee has approximately ten members and is always looking for new members! We meet once a month and plan approximately four events a year. We would love for you to join.
  • Teacher/student contacts: We would like to establish lasting relationships with schools in the Chicago area, and have found that having a strong teacher or counselor contact who is interested in the program is helpful! If you know of any interested teachers, counselors, or potential students, we would be happy to get in contact with them.
Does the virtual environment affect the program?
It sure does! As the virtual environment has had an impact on all aspects of our lives, including work, school and recreational activities, it has also affected our program. Engaging high school students virtually can be challenging. Transportation YOU is looking for any tips or tricks you may have for engaging young women in this virtual environment, as well as getting young women excited about the transportation industry or STEM careers in general. We know the APA community has extensive knowledge – we want to hear your ideas and thoughts.
 
If you would like to get involved in Transportation YOU or would like to discuss any engagement tips and tricks in this virtual world, please reach out to Ann Wallenmeyer and Lissa Sweeney, Co-Chairs of Transportation YOU at tyou@wtsgreaterchicago.org 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
As always, the Division is seeking support from members! We currently need assistance in the following areas:

- Social media committee members
- Website administration

Please contact Caroline at women.apa@gmail.com and note your interest in the subject line! 

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