Diversity Equity Inclusion

Planners work with diverse groups to find a common and encompassing community vision.  Diversity within the profession is essential to this work, and American Planning Association (APA) members are committed to fostering such diversity. 

The San Diego Section of the American Planning Association is committed to diversity and equity.  APA San Diego’s Membership Inclusion Director is responsible for coordinating Section activities and educating members to better serve diverse communities, as well as collaborating with the other Membership Inclusion Directors of the APA California Chapter on the annual Diversity Summit held during the APA California state conference.

SDAPA DEI Initiatives

  • Pass the Mic

  • Planning for All

  • Learning By-Right 

Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee Work

Our committee is responsible for coordinating section activities and educating members to better serve diverse communities, as well as collaborating with the other Membership Inclusion Directors of the APA California Chapter on the annual Diversity Summit held during the APA California state conference

SDAPA Planning Related CBOs Serving Diverse Populations:

  • Casa Familiar 

  • Circulate San Diego 

  • City Heights Community Development Corporation

  • Groundwork San Diego 

  • Environmental Health Coalition 

  • Logan Heights Community Development Corporation 

  • MAAC Project 

  • Mid City CAN

  • NAACP San Diego Environment Committee 

  • Pueblo Planning 

  • Project New Village

  • Resident Leadership Academy

  • RIDE SD 

  • San Diego City College Audobon Club

  • San Diego National Organization of Minority Architects 

  • San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition 

  • Sister Cities Project 

  • Urban Collaborative Project 

APA California Programs

One of the key goals of APA California is to encourage a diverse membership and to provide support to all who would like to participate in APA and work in the planning field. The Chapter’s Strategic Plan 2022-25 considers inclusion and diversity as one of its guiding values and principles.

APA California sponsors a Diversity Summit at the APA annual conference to highlight various issues that are of particular concern to communities of color, LGBTQIA community and the accessibility community.  A Diversity Mixer is also sponsored by APA California at the conference to provide an excellent networking opportunity for members and provide a forum to discuss how members can get involved in Chapter activities.

In addition, each of the State’s Sections also have a Board position aimed that fulfilling the State’s diversity-related goals and provide a number of diversity programs and participation options.

APA California Land Acknowledgment Policy

The APA California Chapter Board recognizes Native American tribes as traditional stewards of the land. State- and Section-initiated and/or sponsored events (webinars, conference sessions and other events) shall begin with a land acknowledgement that acknowledges the stewardship of the tribes where the activities are being held. 

APA National Programs

  • DEI Commitment

  • How You Can Get Involved

  • Voices of Equity in Planning

  • Equity in Practice Case Studies

  • Equity and Certifications

“We need to be creative about how to recreate places; in a way that focuses on people who have historically been underserved.”

- Marcella Bondie Keenan, ACIP, Member, EDI Committee