APA National’s Upskilling Planners Initiative: Equipping Planners for a Dynamic Professional Landscape
In a dynamic world, planners must understand the processes of change and adjust to ensure they can continue to create great communities for all. This involves adapting planning processes and approaches and committing to continuous learning and upskilling. As such, APA National launched the Upskilling Planners Initiative to equip planners with the right skills to excel in a dynamic world shaped by evolving approaches and technologies. The goal of the initiative is to ensure planners are fully prepared for the future and equipped with the knowledge, insights, and skills needed to adeptly navigate changing environments.
The initiative provides a portfolio of resources intended to address the essential skills planners need to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. These resources include webinars and workshops, which are crafted to provide planners with practical methods and practices that can be immediately applied for enhanced efficacy in their practices. Resources that may be of interest to Hawaii Chapter members include:
- Use These 5 Conflict Resolution Tips to Design Better Meetings: In this article, Jennifer Raitt, the executive director of the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments in Lowell Massachusetts, highlights several key skills for planners to handle situations where conflict is present.
- 5 Ways Empathy Can Help You Be a Better Planner: In this article, Corrin Hoegen Wendell, director of community development and planning for Little Canada, Minnesota, highlights the importance of empathy for an effective planning practice.
- Future-Proof Your Urban Planning Career with These 6 Important Skills: This article highlights six key skills APA National has identified as being relevant to planners looking to future proof their skill sets.
- How to Overcome Local Pushback on Climate Action: This article provides examples and associated strategies for how municipalities are overcoming local pushback on their climate action initiatives.