Black in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
Jason Patrick Douglas, AICP
My path to an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification was a significant milestone in my career. My AICP certification is a validation of my education and experiences and brings a layer of legitimacy and integrity to my work and our work through the Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA). As I reflect on this moment, I am struck by the duality of this accomplishment as I work in a profession firmly rooted in the institutionalization of racism and inequity. This certification weighs heavy on me, as much of my career is focused on redressing the harm of planning practice in underrepresented communities and guiding communities through a process of healing and restitution.
The foundation of modern American planning practice is often drawn back to the late 1800’s, in the shadow of the U.S. Supreme Court (1896) decision to uphold state-mandated segregation laws that limited access and opportunities to Black communities across the country. At the height of segregation, the planning profession came into its own as successive comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances were adopted and infrastructure investments were made at the expense of low-income communities of color. This is the profession’s original sin – it came into its own by codifying the experiences of white communities and shaping the built environment in their image.
In preparing for the AICP exam, I attempted to mentally conjure up old college lectures and reacquainted myself with the contributions of popular movements in our profession such as the Garden City, the City Beautiful, and New Urbanism. Yet, these studies largely gloss over how these defining schools of thought and planning milestones like Central Park to Robert Moses’ Southern State Parkway came at the expense of thriving communities of color.
It became clear that “BIPOC Urbanism” exists in spite of the mainstream white, male perspectives that are promulgated through planning’s academic canon. We founded BPLA on this principle – to confront the racist legacy of urban planning in the United States, and to elevate voices and legitimize experiences of Black communities.
The concept of Black urbanism, in particular, is not without precedent in America’s urban history, yet these thriving communities were frequently met with racialized violence from Greenwood District in Tulsa (1921) to Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia (1985). It is our responsibility as planners to remember our history and culture and to ensure that Black excellence is a part of the planning canon.
As we study Robert Geddes and Lewis Mumford, let’s remember lessons taught by Black urbanists like W.E.B. Du Bois in “The Philadelphia Negro” (1899) and Horace Cayton Jr in “Black Metropolis: A Study of Negro Life in a Northern City” (1962).
As we laud pioneers like Jane Addams, Jacob Riis, and Lawrence Veiller; let’s remember Ida B. Wells and her work to house Black students and workers in Chicago through the Negro Fellowship League.
As we elevate the ubiquitous works of Bernice Abbott or Dorothea Lange, we must also celebrate the contributions of fellow photojournalist, Gordon Parks, who brought to mainstream consciousness the conditions of America’s Black communities. Let’s also listen to the anecdotes of writer and activist James Baldwin who documented the Black experience and confronted racist practices in urban America.
As allies and advocates like Paul Davidoff, Norm Krumholz, and Sherry Arnstein cultivated the modern practice of “advocacy planning” during the peak of the Civil Rights era in the 1960’s, let’s also honor Black community leaders like Dorothy Mae Richardson who led a movement in Pittsburgh for resident-led, place-based community development.
As we all level up in our own careers, whether it is through AICP or promotional opportunities, we must ensure that planning happens for BIPOC communities, not to them. As members of BPLA, we carry on the responsibility to the profession to ensure that the history and culture of our communities are celebrated and honored. As members of AICP, we have the unique opportunity to shape the future of our profession and bring a perspective that has long been left out of the planning canon – ours.
Support for a Planner Position for Cultural Crescent and Other Unique Assets in Watts
To view the full letter, please click here!
The Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA) was established in 2024 as a qualified minority employee organization within the City of Los Angeles. We write today in enthusiastic support of Councilmember Tim McOsker’s proposal to establish a City Planner position within the Los Angeles City Planning Department that would be responsible for assisting stakeholders with planning efforts around the Cultural Crescent and other unique assets in Watts.
The community of Watts, located in the Southeast Community Plan Area, is a neighborhood of great significance to the history of Los Angeles. The Watts Cultural Crescent, in particular, provides significant cultural value to the City as it is home to Sabato “Simon” Rodia’s Watts Towers. Constructed between 1921 and 1954, the Watts Towers was designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument Number 15 in 1964. The Towers became a beacon of multiculturalism and social harmony for the City as they stood through Los Angeles’ Black Renaissance and served as a focal point through the Civil Rights era.
Today, community members envision development of and around the Cultural Crescent that honors the historical legacy of Watts. Any plans should engage the local community and leverage ongoing efforts such as the Watts Cultural Trail, Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, and Watts Our Town. Moreover, the area is adjacent to various Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Subareas in the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO). The intent of these subareas is to leverage transit infrastructure such as fixed light rail transit and Metro Rapid bus lines to increase well-designed, culturally appropriate investments in the local community.
This City Planner position will be required to help Los Angeles navigate future development trends and prepare for significant citywide events such as the 2028 Summer Olympics, while balancing the unique needs of the Watts community. BPLA applauds Councilmember McOsker’s efforts to bring intentional planning efforts to South Los Angeles to leverage existing assets and elevate the voices of the local community.
2024 APA National Planning Conference (NPC) Recap
Angela Williams
Attending the 2024 APA National Planning Conference (NPC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was an enriching experience that exceeded all my expectations. The conference was packed with insightful sessions, cutting-edge presentations, and invaluable networking opportunities with leaders and peers from across the planning profession. One of the most impactful and personally meaningful aspects of the conference was witnessing the significant representation of people of color among the attendees. The diverse presence of planners created a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, fostering a profound sense of belonging within the planning profession.
Seeing so many planners of color gathered in one space was incredibly empowering. It underscored the importance of our voices and perspectives in shaping the future of our communities. The representation at NPC affirmed that diversity is not just encouraged but essential to the success and relevance of urban planning. This experience highlighted how critical it is for professionals from diverse backgrounds to be involved in these discussions and decision-making processes.
Overall, attending NPC 2024 was an immensely rewarding experience, filled with excellent speaker panels, networking sessions, and interactive workshops. For the first time at a conference, I didn’t feel lost in the crowd. I had the opportunity to join a Black Planners chat group on WhatsApp, which kept me informed about the day’s popular sessions and post- conference meetups. This connection allowed me to foster meaningful business relationships and find a safe space among peers to connect and recharge. The sense of community and belonging I felt was profound, highlighting the importance of diversity and representation in our profession.
I strongly encourage members of the Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA) to attend future APA conferences. Your participation is crucial, not only for your professional growth but also to ensure that other first-time attendees can experience the same sense of inclusion and community that I did. By attending, you can contribute to a more diverse and equitable planning profession and help inspire others to see themselves as vital contributors to the planning field. Let’s continue to build on this momentum and ensure that our collective commitment to equitable and inclusive planning practices remains strong.
Conference Takeaways: Plan your schedule prior to arrival, Participate in a range of topic sessions, Network with a purpose, and Explore the city. By far, the most memorable aspect of the conference was exploring the downtown Minneapolis Skyway System (so cool!).
Statement on Unarmed Security during Public Meetings
To view the full letter, please click here!
As the Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA) reflect on the recent Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, these words made by the late Reverend in 1967 deeply resonate with the challenges faced by the City of Los Angeles today: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” As such, BPLA respectfully demands that Los Angeles City Planning (LACP) and other City Departments engaged in regular community outreach and engagement cease any further requests for armed security and/or sworn officers through Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) security services.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that at least 991 people have been killed by law enforcement in Los Angeles County since 2000. In the first week of 2023, three Angelenos by the names of Keenan Anderson, Oscar Sanchez, and Takar Smith were taken from us through excessive police violence that continues to disproportionately target Black and Latino citizens throughout the City. The continued use of excessive force without consequence by the LAPD contributes to an entrenched distrust of our City processes. This disturbing pattern requires the City to engage in impactful, systemic public safety reform that results in alternatives to potentially lethal interactions with law enforcement and promotes social investment.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, BPLA created a “Framework and Action Plan for Transformative Planning in the City of Los Angeles.” The action plan is intended to serve as a living, grassroots document that reflects the values and principles of local, Black professionals in the field of urban planning. A key goal of this action plan is to strengthen connections with Black communities by creating trusting relationships with the Department.
In order to advance this goal, we respectfully demand that contracted security and/or sworn officers provided by LAPD – armed with either lethal and “less-than-lethal” weapons – are no longer present at future outreach events hosted by LACP or at public hearings that take place at various City venues; including convenings of the Area Planning Commissions, Cultural Heritage Commission, City Planning Commission, and City Council. Until LAPD restores faith in our communities, a visible presence at public meetings must not be encouraged. Furthermore, we offer our strong support of legislation introduced by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez (Council File: 23-0036) to assist in achieving this goal.
LACP is set to embark on an unprecedented update of our City’s zoning code regulations, Community Plans, and General Plan in order to address our burgeoning housing and homelessness crisis. These updates will require active participation from Angelenos across the City, specifically those who live in communities victimized by Los Angeles’ unjust land use policies of the past. These communities happen to also be targeted by a long history of over-policing and a lack of public investments that would encourage safer, healthier environments. It is our responsibility as civil servants to create safe, nonthreatening spaces to uplift the voices of these communities.
We deeply appreciate your efforts to honor this request in order to reduce barriers to outreach during this extraordinary time and to cultivate trusting, productive relationships with our most impacted communities.
Black Lives Matter: Our Response
To view the full letter, please click here!
We firmly believe that Los Angeles City Planning is uniquely positioned to chart a course for a more fair, equitable, and just Los Angeles for future generations. The year 2020 has been a moment of reckoning for our City. As a City, we acknowledge the role planning has played in creating and implementing discriminatory practices in both the past and present that leave Black communities vulnerable to societal disruptions.
The unfortunate legacy of planning in Los Angeles is seen today through the devaluing of Black lives, neighborhoods, and communities. Exclusionary zoning and land use practices reinforced racial segregation, poverty, environmental injustice, disinvestment, and poor health outcomes. Past land use decisions created a built environment that not only limited opportunities for advancement and achievement, but subjected Black communities to negative health outcomes due to a proliferation of noxious land uses and high pollution exposure. COVID-19 exposed these growing racial disparities as Black Angelenos are more likely to die from the virus due to several factors including higher exposure risk due to occupation, higher rates of pre-existing conditions such as asthma, and limited access to health care.
We call for the Department to take a leadership role in supporting reconciliatory and restorative actions to dismantle land use policies that have led to detrimental outcomes in Black communities. We call on the Department to foster stronger relationships with the Black community and actively listen to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable populations so that they may participate and thrive in a shared future.
To this end, the Black professionals in the Department present a few, initial requests for the current Proposed Budget (FY 2020-2021) that would critically improve how we can plan for supportive, complete communities in Los Angeles:
- Create an Office of Racial Justice and Equity within City Planning.
- Identify resources for an Office of Racial Justice and Equity to dismantle fundamentally racist policies and regulations that drive inequities, and imagine transformational policies to uplift Black communities. The office would create and implement a Racial Justice and Equity Framework to hold the Department accountable to our commitment to intentionally and authentically deepen our efforts to serve Black communities in a manner that promotes equity and inclusion. The Office would leverage partnerships with other City entities, such as the Department of Civil and Human Rights (CHRD), to implement restorative policy and plans like the Environmental Justice Element. This office would assist the Director of Planning with sufficient capacity and staff resources to address racial justice, equity, and inclusion in a manner consistent with an upcoming Mayoral Directive addressing racial equity.
- Expedite the Creation of a Full-Service South Los Angeles Field Office.
- Fully staff a South Los Angeles service center to create a presence in our underserved Black communities and include targeted educational programming to increase awareness of planning tools, resources and practices. The goal of this field office would be to build community capacity, as well as allow residents to directly consult with planning staff on zoning regulations and case processing. The office will provide the South Los Angeles region another location for public hearings, workshops, and access to community-based programming. This office would be positioned to empower residents and businesses to readily participate in economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Healing the Built Environment through Policy
- Environmental Justice Element of the General Plan.
- Identify funding to prioritize the creation of a stand-alone Environmental Justice Element of the General Plan by 2023. The Environmental Justice Element would provide a blueprint for the Department to promote greater public participation in public processes and combat geographical inequalities. This element will serve as the foundation for equitable planning for the next generation by dismantling detrimental land use patterns.
- Safety Element of the General Plan.
- Update the Safety Element of the General Plan by 2023 to employ adaptive strategies in response to the global climate crisis and to overcome vulnerabilities to more frequently occurring natural and man-made disasters, particularly within our Black communities. In coordination with relevant City departments, the element would assist in reimagining community safety by guiding the build out of infrastructure and public resources to support neighborhood-based, community care for safe and resilient Black communities.
- Housing Element of the General Plan (2021-2029).
- Housing is a human right. The current effort to update the Housing Element presents an opportunity to directly address a market that allows Black Angelenos to be four times more likely to fall into homelessness. With an anticipated goal to build over 455,000 units by 2029, the City must deliberately create a continuum of housing opportunities (e.g. affordable housing incentives, inclusionary zoning, permanent supportive housing, housing voucher programs, homeownership) to affirmatively further fair housing, dramatically increase the creation of affordable housing opportunities, and create wealth-building opportunities through homeownership.
- Environmental Justice Element of the General Plan.
- Actively Support Community Wealth Building.
- Wealth building opportunities are a critical need in disenfranchised communities to recover from decades of harmful land use policies, the effects of which have been compounded by the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19. To prioritize neighborhood-based community development and wealth creation in Black communities, City Planning must play a key role in developing strategies to incentivize economic empowerment initiatives – including streamlining project approvals and reimagining zoning and land uses that better facilitate inclusion in emerging industries. In the absence of redevelopment agencies in California, City Planning in coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (MOED), the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), and other relevant departments must assume a leadership role to proactively identify opportunities for positive change in Black communities. Economic planning strategies may include Community Land Trusts, Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts, Community Revitalization and Investment Authorities, Affordable Housing Authorities, and Opportunity Zones to capture the value of investments currently being made in Black communities.
- Create Outreach, Engagement, and Education Programs.
- Create and fund a City Planning Outreach Officer to provide oversight and ensure due process in public outreach and community- based field planning for preventive and proactive planning problems. This Officer can draw upon best practices utilized by the South Los Angeles Community Plan update process, the Great Streets Program and their participatory planning and community decision-making model. The Officer would also advance community education and youth engagement programs to cultivate a new generation of planners who possess lived experience in historically marginalized communities.
We look forward to discussing the above items with the Department of City Planning’s Executive Team, members of the Budget and Finance Committee, and City Council. We appreciate your consideration of these critical requests to reinvest in devalued Black communities and bolster the Department’s pursuit of anti-racist policies to create a more equitable built environment for all.
In Power,
The Black Planners of Los Angeles