OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

Very popular session on transit-oriented development

Name: Julia Raab

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization: MUP-City and Community Planning

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

Conference/Competition Name: APA National Planning Conference 2023

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

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
Although I initially planned to mostly attend sessions focused on environmental planning, I found myself drawn to a couple of presentations on transportation planning. My favorite session of the conference was about the comprehensive street design of Salt Lake City, which explored innovative approaches to urban design and transportation integration for different areas of a city. This session deepened my understanding of how urban design can positively impact transportation planning, aligning with my interest for design and providing valuable insights on a topic that I haven't known much about previously.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
The conference helped me get a better understanding of the planning profession and planners not just in NYC, but in the United States as a whole. Smaller and mid-size cities have very different needs than NYC and require different approaches to the job.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
Attending the session "Tools for Tricky Twists in Community Engagement" at the APA Conference was helpful for my semester-long project on developing a neighborhood plan for Greenpoint for the "Urban Planning Methods and Practice" class. The session provided practical tools and strategies for navigating complex community dynamics, which I was able to apply directly to our community outreach efforts. It helped me gain insights and skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders, build trust, and foster meaningful participation, enhancing the success of our neighborhood planning project in Greenpoint.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
Trying to plan your personal conference schedule ahead of time while still staying flexible and spontaneously switching sessions was very helpful. Try to plan for some time to explore the city or take advantage of the free city tour for students--unfortunately, I didn't know about this beforehand! Take your Wagner business cards to exchange contact info more easily when networking with professionals in the field.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Government, Housing, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, International Development, Leadership, Transportation