Welcome to Spring everybody!

We have had a busy start to 2023 with many amazing and some not so amazing things happening around the Chapter. On the amazing front, our inaugural leadership program is mid-session and has a very engaged and energized group of planning professionals learning some tips and tricks to help them advance in the planning world. We have a thriving mentor partnership underway with Virginia Commonwealth University making connections between students and practicing planners. We've also been able to offer numerous webinars and training opportunities to our members through our own webinar series as well as those we host for the Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration. And finally, the preparation for our annual conference is well underway with the call for session proposals out and the conference host committee hard at work.
 
Sadly though, as I mentioned, there have been some not so amazing events that have occurred as well. Earlier this year APA stripped a former board member of their FAICP and AICP designations due to harassment (of various natures, including sexual) of multiple planners, some of which occurred while the individual was acting in their capacity on the APA Virginia Board. What has emerged from this situation, as more of the victims' experiences have been shared with me in particular, is the need for the creation of a safe place for the reporting and sharing of these experiences as well as a way for the Board to be able to address it. To that end, we are proposing, through an amendment to the Chapter Bylaws, to create three new Member Advocate positions that will serve outside of the Chapter Board as a resource for our members who may be experiencing an issue in relation to the Chapter or behavior at Chapter events. These advocates are not intended to be the adjudicators of incidents, but rather a safe place that a chapter member can turn to learn about resources, options for next steps as well as a potential voice for the member in relaying an issue to the Board. Attached to this email are the complete draft bylaws which we are submitting to the membership for input and comment before we finalize the draft for a vote by the membership at the annual Chapter meeting at the conference in Roanoke in July. If you have any comments, concerns, questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me to share them. I will be working with fellow board members Tammy Holt, Brian Wegener, Tevya Griffin and Lorna Parkins to incorporate all feedback into the final draft for consideration later this year. That final language will be shared at least 30 days prior to the Chapter's Annual Meeting (anticipated to occur on July 17, 2023) to the whole membership, with the final vote occurring at the Chapter's Annual Meeting.
 
In addition to the proposed bylaw amendment, the Board has pledged to undergo harassment training at least once during every two-year Board cycle. Also, the Board has reinstated a policy of every Board member annually submitting an Attestation of Independence which includes a robust ethics section that references and applies the AICP Code of Ethics to all Board members, regardless of whether they are certified or not. 
 
I want to personally assure all of our members that this is an issue that we take very seriously. There is no place in society, let alone our Chapter, for any sort of harassing behavior. Please don't hesitate to ever reach out to me with any concerns that you may have as we want everyone to feel comfortable and welcomed within our Chapter. I sincerely hope that this sort of behavior does not occur within the Chapter again, but in the event it does, I want to make sure that there is a way for Chapter members to safely report it and be supported in learning what their potential options are without fear of recrimination. Nobody deserves to be harassed and no harasser should ever be able to hide behind their position to avoid consequences. 
 
So to reiterate, please do take a look at the proposed bylaws amendment and let me know of any questions, comments or concerns at president@apavirginia.com by April 30, 2023. I will be sharing all feedback with the Board members mentioned earlier as we finalize the language for consideration later this year. Please also don't hesitate to let me know of any other questions or concerns that you may have of me or of the Board. 
 
 All the best,
 
- Andrew

Visit the Conference website using the link below to view Early Bird Rates, view our 2023 sessions, learn more about Mobile Tours, receptions, and more!

MAPC Webinar: Planning for Clean Water: Chesapeake Bay Tributary Summaries and Data Dashboard

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 12pm-1:30pm

[CM Credits Pending]

Chesapeake Bay tools for accessing synthesis information for non-tidal and tidal water quality, restoration targeting, management practice implementation and planning for change in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

Speakers:

 Breck Sullivan

Breck is employed by the U.S. Geological Survey and works at the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) as the Scientific, Technical Assessment and Reporting (STAR) Coordinator and Ecosystem Analyst. She oversees strategic direction for meeting the science needs within STAR and the CBP Goal Implementation Teams. She also supports analysis activities to advance understanding of factors affecting trends in estuarine water quality and living resources. She received her master's degree from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Environmental Monitoring and Modeling.

Ruth Cassilly 

Ruth is employed by the College of Agricultural Science and Technology at the University of Maryland and works within the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Science, Analysis and Implementation Branch as a Nonpoint Source Policy Analyst. She provides technical assistance in analyzing nutrient loads and sources to allow stakeholders to more effectively target best management practices and develop policies that leverage limited resources to achieve maximum pollution reduction results. She holds a bachelor’s degree Land and Water Management from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UMD and a MD secondary science teaching certification.

"Your Hour With APA Virginia"— Critical Media Analysis to Inspire and Evaluate Praxis

Monday, May 22, 2023

Popular media narratives around an issue like gentrification or bike lanes frequently are at odds with what planners know to be evidence-based best practices. In order to properly engage broad-based coalitions, planners need to debunk myths and frame arguments incisively.

Speakers: 

Bailey Bullock is a student in the M. of Urban & Regional Planning and M.S. in Transportation programs at the University of New Orleans (UNO). She centers her career on the pursuit of mobility justice through shaping transportation policy and the urban form. Bailey holds a B.A. in Sociology from Mississippi State University, and has interned with the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and Alliance Transportation Group. She had the privilege of spending her early 20s serving with AmeriCorps (City Year ‘17 and NCCC ‘20), teaching English at universities in Colombia with The Fulbright Program, and working in health insurance and public health. Currently, Bailey is a graduate research assistant at the UNO Transportation Institute, where she engages in projects related to community engagement, freight transportation, and active transportation infrastructure.

In 2022 we explored "Planning for Equity In..."

This year, we dive deeper. APA Virginia presents:

"5 Points to Build a Sustainable Community for All"

Collaboration

Economic Development

The Great Outdoors

Infrastructure

Housing

​

Visit APA Virginia's Conference website to learn more about the theme!

"Your Hour With APA Virginia" is seeking webinar presentations! Are you interested in sharing topical planning content with the Chapter's audience? Please reach out to APA Virginia staff member, Gillian Saul, at gillian@bellatrixcg.com with any webinar proposals or presenter suggestions. The webinar series is held every 4th Monday of each month from 12pm-1pm. 

The Executive Board of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the behavior of a former board member, which led to the permanent revocation of their AICP and FAICP credentials. There is no place in the planning profession or society in general, for any form of harassment. APA Virginia applauds the courage and bravery of those who participated in and informed the Committee’s investigation. The harassment they endured was wrong and unacceptable. The Chapter prides itself on being an open and welcoming organization and wants to ensure that all interactions we have with individuals are positive and productive.

APA Virginia prioritizes the safety and security of all members when participating in Chapter-related activities. The Board of Directors will direct its resources toward enhanced measures to foster a safe and secure environment for these activities. Further discussion to facilitate the development of these measures will occur at the Board’s March 17th quarterly meeting in Roanoke, and will continue to be a focus of the Board’s work through the remainder of the year and beyond. If you have any concerns in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact Chapter President Andrew Hopewell (president@apavirginia.com) or Ralph Willmer, FAICP, the Ethics Officer for the American Planning Association at (312) 786-6360.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Winter 2023/Volume 21 Newsbrief

The Newsbrief is the flagship publication for the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, and serves as a robust repository for in-depth analyses of issues and events that are relevant to Virginia Planners.

Read it HERE now!

View the 2023 Legislative Agenda

HERE

Members of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Virginia) are committed to supporting economic prosperity for all residents and businesses in the Commonwealth. Planning provides opportunities for all Virginians to look into the future and work towards a long-term vision for their communities. Planners are reliable and trusted sources of information and committed to the communities they serve. The Chapter supports sound and legal planning efforts that enable localities to address needs in their communities. Annual updates to this legislative agenda do not negate previous years’ priorities.

View the Toolkit

Managing Growth and Development in Virginia: A Review of the Tools Available to Localities

Fall Newsbrief

The Newsbrief is the flagship publication for the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, and serves as a robust repository for in-depth analyses of issues and events that are relevant to Virginia Planners. Use the button below to access the PDF.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us in Roanoke next year for our annual conference!

July 16-19, 2023 - Hotel Roanoke

APA VA wants to hear from you! As in every community we plan, there are stories to its citizens. As a community of planners, we would like to highlight some of our amazing planners across the Commonwealth. If you or someone you know has a great planning story to tell, please reach out to Robert Narvaez, AICP, Director of Inclusion or anyone on the APA VA Board. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Members of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) are committed to supporting economic prosperity for all residents and businesses in the Commonwealth. Planning provides opportunities for all Virginians to look into the future and work towards a long-term vision for their communities. Planners are reliable and trusted sources of information committed to the communities they serve. Annual updates to the legislative agenda do not negate previous years’ priorities. The Chapter supports good and legal planning efforts that enables localities to address need in their communities.

The Chapter supports legislative and administrative actions, which are outcome-based and incorporate a review of return on investment, in order to ensure efficient expenditures of resources.
The Chapter opposes legislation that focuses only on the short-term economic benefit of actions without considering potential impacts, long-term economic or otherwise, on residents and businesses in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia General Assembly convenes January 12. The Chapter’s Legislative Committee will begin the weekly 1-hour virtual meetings at Noon on Friday, January 7th. These meetings will continue throughout the session each Friday at Noon. For Zoom meeting credentials email us at admin@apavirginia.com

Planners continue to play an essential role in community response to the pandemic. From holding online public meetings, to positioning your community for economic recovery, to using data analysis to ensure the recovery is equitable, you need information to help you serve your community. Visit our COVID-19 resources collection, organized by topics that are foremost in your mind.

Below is a link to the Department of Labor's COVID-19 resources and guides.

Click here for APA National's resources