Resilient Neighborhoods, Sustainable Cities

Why did you choose to pursue a graduate education in planning?

Serving with AmeriCorps provided me with the fortunate opportunity to experience numerous urban spaces and communities, and smart, human-scale realms continuously left an impression on me. Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park and Somerville, Massachusetts’ Bow Market were two such examples of places where I immediately felt immersed and connected to both my peers and the greater neighborhood. These people-centric spaces were created by capping a freeway and repurposing a storage facility, respectively, and both neighborhoods are better for the attributes they provide.

I chose to continue my education in planning because I am eager to be a part of additional planning efforts for the betterment of communities through development and initiatives that also provide environmental resilience and economic enrichment for our urban spaces. I currently serve the city of Boston as a community liaison focused on constituent services and community engagement facilitation, and a graduate education in planning provides the necessary theory fundamentals and technical skills to continue to positively engage with and advocate for diverse communities and stakeholders.

What planning subject or area most interests you?

Integrated environmental and sustainability considerations in all aspects of urban planning will be critical if we as planners are to play a role in reducing global emissions, shifting energy reliance away from fossil fuels, and creating a public realm that is safe and accessible for all. The Boston University (BU) Metropolitan College’s Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability addresses how to make urban and economic development compatible with environmental resiliency through varied, integrated coursework focusing on actionable sustainability, intentional energy and land use, and urban facilities management. I am particularly interested in the relationship between consensus-driven sustainable development objectives put forth by the USGBC’s LEED green building rating system and broader, holistic neighborhood master planning.

What opportunities does your program provide to engage with the community and fellow students?

BU’s City Planning & Urban Affairs provides a curriculum focused on urban research methods for students to develop skills in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches in social science research. The class is connected with a local municipality of nonprofit organization conducting a planning project or initiative. Throughout the semester, teams apply in-class learning to create research frameworks for future application by local planners. My class partnered with and supported The Community Builders (TCB) as they considered the neighborhood impacts of their redevelopment of the Mildred C. Hailey apartments in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. This real-world work offered lasting skill-based learning while also establishing tangible and productive relationships with local planners and organizers.

What advice would you offer someone considering a master’s degree in planning?

Don’t underestimate the connections and knowledge pool available from both professors and your peers. Instructors possess vast and varying depths of knowledge in and around the planning realm that can create enjoyable and universally applicable learning experiences for students. Additionally, the personal connections I have made with my classmates, many of whom are currently in planning-related professions themselves, foster mutual partnerships that will serve as a foundation for future collaboration. Coalition building and knowledge sharing are critical for planning, and these virtues come naturally in master’s planning programs.

What do you hope to do after completing your degree?

Upon graduation, I hope to be able to continue to work in local government and connect communities with relevant planning initiatives for the betterment not only of our neighborhoods, but our natural systems as well. As dynamic and impactful planning initiatives continue to be proposed and implemented in city and state governments, building cooperative alliances throughout our communities so that deliverables are as effective and equitable as possible will continue to be critical. Fostering a community of citizen planners can drive results and maintain momentum. I would be honored to continue this facilitation and advocacy with a planning lens.