OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

BQE session

Conference nametag

Name: Alexandra La Pinta

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization:

Conference Host Organization/Institution: American Planning Association (APA)

Conference/Competition Name: American Planning Association NYM Chapter Annual Conference

Conference Term: Fall Conference Start Date: 2023-12-08 Conference End Date: 2023-12-08

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
Across all the sessions I attended, my key takeaways are 1) Modern day planners have a responsibility to acknowledge the wrongdoings+injustices of Planning efforts in the past and prioritize equity, community engagement, and future consequences/expectations for the future in their approach. 2) NYC's DCP is targeting 3 major buckets of innovation in "City of Yes:" Working toward carbon neutrality, expanding economic opportunity for businesses, increasing housing opportunity city-wide. 3)Tackling complex projects, like the redevelopment of the BQE, requires a range of perspectives and skills sets, including transportation planners, advocacy organizations, and insight into commuter motivations and travel habits.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
At this conference learned about the nuances of our local government's current projects and was introduced to new organizations/ planning firms that I am interested in researching for potential job prospects. I also connected with other attendees and strengthened my relationships with students at Wagner who attended APA as well.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
I will be looking into Streetsense Consultants and Studio V to learn more about their projects, as well as use the information I learned about City of Yes to support my current work at Union Square Partnership supporting local businesses and economic development.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
Take notes, introduce yourself to the people sitting next you, follow up with speakers who you were intrigued by, have an open mind and see what topics resonate with your interests.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Government, Social Innovation, Transportation