American Planning Association

Last updated

American Planning Association
AbbreviationAPA
Formation1978;46 years ago (1978)
Merger ofAmerican Institute of Planners
American Society of Planning Officials
TypeNon-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization
Purpose
To provide leadership in the
development of vital communities
[ citation needed ]
Headquarters205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1200, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
President
Kurt E. Christiansen, FAICP
Past President
Cynthia Bowen, FAICP
Key people
Joel Albizo
(CEO and executive director)
Subsidiaries
Affiliations47 member chapters (2014)
Website planning.org

The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization representing the field of urban planning in the United States. [1] APA was formed in 1978, when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Planners and the American Society of Planning Officials, were merged into a single organization. The American Institute of Certified Planners is now the organization's professional branch. [2]

Contents

Functions

Like many professional organizations, the American Planning Association's main function is to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas between people who work in the field of urban planning. The organization keeps track of the various improvement efforts underway around the country, which may include the improvement or construction of new parks, highways and roads, or residential developments. The organization is also a starting point for people looking for employment. [3]

The association also publishes the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA, ISSN   0194-4363). JAPA was founded in 1935 as Planners' Journal, and was from 1943 known as Journal of the American Institute of Planners ( ISSN   0002-8991). [4]

National Planning Conference

The American Planning Association holds an annual national conference that attracts planners, local government officials, planning commissioners, advocates and planning students from across the United States, Canada and the world. [5] Each conference hosts several hundred individual sessions with thousands of attendees.

Chapters

The association has 47 state/regional chapters, such as the NJAPA (New Jersey Chapter of the APA) [6] or the Western Central Chapter of the APA. [7] APA members in the United States are required to belong to a local chapter. Many APA Chapters meet regularly, and most are a source for local conferences and education, networking. Each of 47 local chapters publishes a newsletter and maintains a presence on the web and on social media.

Divisions

To manage the various interests of American planners, APA has 21 divisions. [8] APA divisions offer professional networking opportunities for planners. They also produce newsletters and special publications, develop conference sessions, collaborate with related organizations, and contribute to policy work.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Institute of Architects</span> Professional association for architects

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. It is headquartered in located in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach programs, and collaborates with other stakeholders in the design and construction industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Safety Council</span> American nonprofit public service organization

The National Safety Council (NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressional charter in 1953. Members include more than 55,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals.

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is the American Planning Association's professional institute. AICP certifies professionals in the United States in the field of town planning and assists planners in the areas of ethics, professional development, planning education, and the standards of planning practice. Members of AICP pledge to adhere to a detailed Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Once certified, professional planners may place the designation "AICP" after their name to indicate their membership in AICP, and their mastery of the principles, skills, knowledge, and experience determined by the organization as essential for a professional planner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental planning</span> Considering environment in developing land

Environmental planning is the process of facilitating decision making to carry out land development with the consideration given to the natural environment, social, political, economic and governance factors and provides a holistic framework to achieve sustainable outcomes. A major goal of environmental planning is to create sustainable communities, which aim to conserve and protect undeveloped land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planning Institute Australia</span> Peak national body for town planning and planning profession

Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) is the peak national body representing town planning and the planning profession in Australia. PIA represents approximately 5000 members nationally and internationally. It is governed by a National Board of Directors and managed by a professional administration. It is a member-based organisation with its management complemented by volunteers, who support and contribute to its activities on various levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Institute of Graphic Arts</span> Professional organization for design

The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is a professional organization for design. Its members practice all forms of communication design, including graphic design, typography, interaction design, user experience, branding and identity. The organization's aim is to be the standard bearer for professional ethics and practices for the design profession. There are currently over 25,000 members and 72 chapters, and more than 200 student groups around the United States. In 2005, AIGA changed its name to “AIGA, the professional association for design,” dropping the "American Institute of Graphic Arts" to welcome all design disciplines. AIGA aims to further design disciplines as professions, as well as cultural assets. As a whole, AIGA offers opportunities in exchange for creative new ideas, scholarly research, critical analysis, and education advancement.

A professional transportation planner is a professional engaged in the practice of transportation planning, relating to the transportation aspects of urban planning and infrastructure planning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Institute of Planners</span> Canadian organization

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is a professional organization in Canada for those involved in land use planning. It is responsible for advocating at national and international levels for members, developing public policy positions, and providing services to members. The Institute has over 8,000 members from across Canada and around the world, and works closely with the eleven Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations (PTIAs). It was founded in 1919.

The Ohio Planning Conference (OPC) is an association of citizens and planners that promotes city and regional planning in the state of Ohio. OPC is a chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) and is APA's second-oldest chapter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Payroll Association</span>

The American Payroll Association (APA) is a professional association for individuals responsible for processing company payrolls. The Association conducts payroll training courses and seminars on a yearly basis and publishes a library of payroll resource texts and newsletters. APA has approximately 21,000 members, 121 APA-affiliated local chapters, and registered lobbyists based in Washington, D.C.

An urban planner is a professional who practices in the field of town planning, urban planning or city planning.

The Association for Talent Development (ATD), formerly American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), is a non-profit association serving those who develop talent in the workplace.

Israel Planners Association (IPA) (Hebrew: איגוד המתכננים בישראל, Igud HaMetakhnenim BeYisra'el) is an Israeli organization that represents all those engaged in urban and regional planning in Israel. It is a member of International Society of City and Regional Planners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology</span>

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) is a professional organization that promotes the "science, practice, and teaching" of industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology. SIOP is also known as Division 14 of the American Psychological Association (APA). The society publishes I/O-related journals, provides its members with resources, and organizes an annual conference.

Mitchell J. Silver is the former commissioner for the New York City Parks Department. Appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, he assumed office May 2014, and led the department until his resignation in July 2021. He was president of the American Planning Association (APA) between 2011 and 2013, the first African American to hold the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society for the Teaching of Psychology</span>

The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) is Division 2 of the American Psychological Association. It is an academic society that promotes effective pedagogy while providing supports for teachers of psychology at all levels. Although it is one of the divisions of the American Psychological Association, it does not require its members to join the APA. The STP provides access to peer-reviewed teaching resources, such as course syllabi and e-books, free of charge to the general public through its website. Some sections of the website require STP membership to gain access.

Indigenous planning is an ideological approach to the field of regional planning where planning is done by Indigenous peoples for Indigenous communities. Practitioners integrate traditional knowledge or cultural knowledge into the process of planning. Indigenous planning recognizes that "all human communities plan" and that Indigenous communities have been carrying out their own community planning processes for thousands of years. While the broader context of urban planning, and social planning includes the need to work cooperatively with indigenous persons and organizations, the process in doing so is dependent on social, political and cultural forces.

Margarita Piel McCoy was an American urban planner and educator. McCoy was among the first women in the United States to achieve academic tenure as a professor of urban planning, and the first to chair an urban planning department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs</span> Public administration school of Cleveland State University

The Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs (Levin) is an accredited college of urban studies, public administration, urban planning, environmental studies, and nonprofit management at Cleveland State University located in Cleveland, Ohio. The Levin College offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, as well as professional development programs. Its urban policy research centers and programs provide communities with decision-making tools to address their policy challenges. The Levin College is recognized for offering highly ranked programs in urban policy, local government management, nonprofit management, and public management and leadership.

References

  1. "American Planning Association History". American Planning Association: About Us. American Planning Association. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. "Aim High: AICP". American Institute of Certified Planners. American Planning Association. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. "Overview". Archived from the original on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
  4. "Aims and scope". About the Journal of the American Planning Association. Taylor and Francis Publishing. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  5. "About NPC18". National Planning Conference 2018. American Planning Association. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  6. "American Planning Association - New Jersey Chapter".
  7. "American Planning Association Western Central Chapter". www.wccapa.org.
  8. APA Divisions Web Page 21 APA Divisions. Retrieved 29 January 2009.