OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

Angela Brooks & Michelle Miller (Keynote Opening)

Name: Judy Huynh

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization: MUP-City and Community Planning

Conference Host Organization/Institution: American Planning Association

Conference/Competition Name: 2023 National Planning Conference

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2023-04-01 Conference End Date: 2023-04-03

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
One key takeaway was the importance of effective storytelling in transportation planning. As planners, we must be able to communicate our ideas and plans in a way that resonates with our clients, agencies, and communities. This means incorporating diverse voices and perspectives, including those whose experiences and perspectives may have been overlooked in the past. Another key takeaway was the potential impact of autonomous vehicles on urban form. As driverless technology becomes more prevalent, planners must anticipate the lifestyle changes it will bring and consider how it will affect existing traffic management systems and land-use patterns.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
The conference provides opportunities for networking and collaboration with other professionals in the field. Planners/students can meet and connect with other professionals, share experiences and ideas, and build professional relationships that can benefit them in their future work. In addition, the conference offers various workshops, sessions, and training opportunities that provide continuing exposure to professional development. Lastly, the conference provides a platform for planners to learn about the latest trends, best practices, and cutting-edge research in the field of planning. This can help planners stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments and learn new skills that can improve their work.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
After attending the "Seeing Is Believing: Visualizing Climate Change Through Technology" panel, planners can explore innovative visualization techniques such as using raster images to create a heat index to communicate planning issues and challenges to a community or stakeholders. They can also incorporate these techniques into their long-term comprehensive planning processes to make their plans more effective. Another inspiration comes from "Effective Storytelling in Transportation Planning" panel, where planners can strive to incorporate diverse voices and perspectives in their planning processes and adopt a storytelling approach that is engaging and compelling to effectively communicate their ideas and plans.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
1) Plan your schedule ahead of time: Review the conference schedule and select the sessions that align with your interests and goals. There is A LOT!
2) Take advantage of the free booths to engage with agencies and ask how the work culture is and if the agency is hiring e.g. FEMA
3) They had a professional headshot station for all attendees (and make up station with an artist) that was free -- you receive the photo instantly
4) They had no lunch/dinner on site, so make sure to plan accordingly. Light snacks available on site for free.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Housing, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, Leadership, Social Innovation, Transportation