2017 Urban Planning Conference

Equity Planning: Creating Diverse and Inclusive Communities

Savannah State University
March 31st, 2017

The Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning (MSUSP) program at Savannah State University (SSU) will host the fifth annual Urban Planning Conference on Friday, March 31, in the Student Union. Sessions will run from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Friday.

This year's conference will focus on equity planning to address the widening gap between prosperous communities and those that continue to be disenfranchised. Despite the growth and positive transformation that have occurred in many rural and urban areas over the past few decades, a significant segment of the American population live in substandard conditions. As planning professionals, it is crucial that we promote equitable development and advocate for policies and practices that mitigate systemic inequities in housing, transportation, economic opportunities, and living environments.

The keynote speaker is Matias Valenzuela, Ph.D., the Director of the Office of Equity and Social Justice in King County, WA. His office is a countywide effort to address the root causes of inequities working with all county agencies and the community. He will present and discuss the implementation of The Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan that collectively established a set of values to achieve a goal of equity and social justice for all residents of King County, Washington.

Most sessions of the 2016 Urban Planning Conference are pending approval by the American Planning Association for CM credits for AICP holders.

Registration

All sessions are open to the public. All participants must register and pay the conference fees of $50 (presenters and regular participants) or $75 (AICP participants who are seeking CM Credits).