OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

We posed in front of the "It Takes A Planner" sign with fellow planners we met during the conference.

Got lunch with my Transit Planning Division mentor Joya Stenson from Minneapolis and mentee Emmanuel Nani from Missouri!

Name: Zoe Costello

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization: MUP-City and Community Planning

Conference Host Organization/Institution: American Planning Association

Conference/Competition Name: National Planning Conference

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2025-03-29 Conference End Date: 2025-04-01

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
My main takeaways from the conference were that there are a variety of innovative planning practices being implemented in small towns and localities that there is lots to learn from as an aspiring planner in a larger city. I learned about the importance of being creative with community engagement efforts to ensure maximum participation, and the cutting edge incorporation of AI to analyze data and best understand where future projects are needed.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
I was able to expand my network of fellow planning students and planners alike from all over the country. Most impactfully was my assigned mentor from the APA Transit Planning Division, from whom I gained a greater understanding of and advice about the reality of working in a transit authority. I also gained technical knowledge, learning more about street safety databases, community engagement methods, and skills which employers look for in emerging planners. By attending a wide variety of sessions covering topics from housing to parks to transit, I gained a better understanding of my future career goals.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
Most important is to maintain the connections formed at this conference - there is only so much that I could learn from these planners in one weekend, and I will continue to benefit from their insights and perspectives as I continue into my career.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
I would look through the scheduled sessions and make a schedule ahead of time so as to not feel overwhelmed at the conference. I would recommend registering early and signing up for one of the ticketed tours, as they seemed very interesting but sold out very quickly. It was essential to schedule break times to go for walks and decompress, since three days of networking and attending sessions can become exhausting. I would highly recommend signing up to receive a mentor if the opportunity arises, and think there is a lot to benefit from attending networking sessions.

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