URBAN PLANNING Q&A: grad school, career, and tips for aspiring planners

Quesadiyah
21 Apr 202016:11
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses the career journey of a woman who studied urban planning. She explains that urban planning involves designing communities and cities, often through extensive research, writing, and community engagement. She became interested in urban inequity issues from a young age. After getting an urban studies degree and a master's in urban planning in London, she realized traditional planning wasn't for her. She now works as a commercial corridor manager in Philadelphia, empowering small business owners and working on neighborhood improvement plans. She offers tips for aspiring urban planners about managing expectations, listening to communities, and maintaining integrity.

Takeaways
  • 😊 She was interested in cities and urban environments from a young age
  • 👩‍🎓 She studied Urban Studies in undergrad and got a master's in Urban Planning
  • 🏙️ Urban planners develop plans for land use, infrastructure, housing etc. in cities
  • 🚧 Urban planning involves research, writing, making maps, facilitating workshops
  • 🤝 They consult with architects, engineers, communities, and politicians on plans
  • ⏳ It's a long process with no instant results, plans can take years to be implemented
  • 🗺️ GIS software skills are important to make maps and plans as an urban planner
  • 😕 Her masters didn't give her the technical skills needed for an urban planning job
  • 💡 She realized traditional planning wasn't for her, but found a related job she likes
  • 🙌 Her advice is to research programs carefully and manage expectations
Q & A

  • What sparked Beth's early interest in cities and urban planning?

    -Beth was interested in cities and the built environment from a young age. She would play city-building video games like SimCity, read about different cities on Wikipedia, and notice inequities in her hometown of Philadelphia that made her wonder why some neighborhoods were getting less resources than others.

  • What does an urban planner do on a day-to-day basis?

    -Urban planners engage in a lot of writing and research to create plans, maps, policies, and presentations. They consult with architects, engineers, community members, politicians, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive plans for neighborhoods and cities. It involves facilitating community workshops and communicating plans effectively.

  • What are some key technical and soft skills needed for a career in urban planning?

    -Important skills include: technical writing, critical thinking, GIS software skills, collaboration, knowledge of economic development and zoning policies, and the ability to effectively communicate with diverse groups of people.

  • Why did Beth end up feeling disillusioned with traditional urban planning?

    -After her final graduate school project consulting for a London borough, Beth realized that traditional planning theory wasn't the same as practice. She wanted to advocate for underserved residents, but felt traditional planning often didn't truly serve them.

  • What does Beth's current job as a commercial corridor manager involve?

    -Beth works directly with small business owners in a Philadelphia commercial corridor to improve their business models, help them access city resources, empower them to improve their community, and create an inclusive vision for positive change in the neighborhood.

  • What advice does Beth have for prospective urban planning students?

    -Do thorough research on grad school programs to ensure you'll gain the right technical skills. Talk to working planners about their careers. Try to shadow planners or do internships to understand day-to-day work. Make sure the degree aligns with your goals.

  • What does Beth say is important for urban planners to keep in mind?

    -Have patience because change is slow. Listen to and include the community you're planning for. Treat people with decency and integrity. Stay informed because the field is always changing.

  • What sparked Beth's interest in cities and urban planning from a young age?

    -Playing city-building video games, researching different cities on Wikipedia, and noticing inequities among Philadelphia neighborhoods that made her question why some areas got fewer resources.

  • Why does Beth feel her current job is more rewarding than traditional urban planning?

    -Her commercial corridor manager role has a strong human component with daily interactions with small business owners, hearing their stories and concerns directly. It allows direct community empowerment.

  • What are Beth's plans and goals for the future in her career?

    -Beth would love to ultimately work in international development. For now she is gaining experience working to positively impact her Philadelphia community, with hopes to gradually take on projects in other places over time.

Outlines
00:00
😊 Intro to urban planning and career journey

The narrator introduces herself and her background in urban studies and planning. She defines urban planning, describes the various roles and responsibilities of urban planners, and outlines her motivation and journey into the field.

05:01
📝 Skills and education needed for urban planning

The narrator discusses the hard and soft skills needed for a career in urban planning, including technical writing, critical thinking, GIS, and collaboration. She describes her master's program in regional and urban planning studies at the London School of Economics.

10:02
😕 Challenges finding planning work and pivoting career

The narrator explains the challenges she faced after graduation finding urban planning work, her realization that traditional planning did not align with her values, and her career pivot into commercial corridor management back in Philadelphia.

15:03
💡 Tips for aspiring urban planning professionals

The narrator provides tips for those interested in urban planning, including managing expectations, listening to communities, integrity, reading widely as the field changes, and having patience as outcomes materialize slowly over time.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Urban planning
Urban planning is the technical and political process of developing land use and infrastructure for cities and communities. It involves creating plans and policies for housing, transportation, environment, and resource distribution. In the video, the narrator discusses pursuing urban planning as a career and needing a master's degree to gain the necessary technical skills.
💡Land use
Land use refers to the designated purpose for which land or property is utilized, such as residential, commercial, industrial etc. Urban planners make land use plans to determine optimal uses for different areas. The video mentions land use as a key aspect of urban planning.
💡Infrastructure
Infrastructure means the basic physical systems and structures needed for development of a place, such as roads, bridges, sewers etc. Planning good infrastructure is a core urban planning task mentioned in the video.
💡Housing
Housing refers to the residential accommodation and buildings in a city. Ensuring adequate and affordable housing is an important urban planning consideration discussed in the video.
💡Transportation
Transportation means the system for carrying people and goods from one place to another. Urban planners have to develop efficient transportation networks and policies as described in the video.
💡Community development
Community development refers to building up social, economic and physical resources in a community. It is one of the urban planning focus areas named in the video.
💡Environment
Environment means the natural world and ecosystems surrounding human settlements. Environmental planning and protection is a specialty within urban planning according to the video.
💡Historic preservation
Historic preservation involves protecting and restoring historically or culturally significant sites and buildings. The video lists it as one of the urban planning focus areas.
💡Gentrification
Gentrification refers to influx of investment and higher income groups into previously working-class areas, often displacing longtime residents. The video discusses concerns about gentrification resulting from commercial corridor improvements.
💡Streetscape
Streetscape means the visual elements along a street, including paving, lighting, greenery etc. that define its character. The video mentions working on a streetscape improvement plan.
Highlights

Urban planning is the technical and political process concerned with the development and design of land use and the built environment.

Urban planning would consist of a lot of writing, research, creating maps, policy analysis, and facilitating community workshops.

I realized I wanted a career where I could make a positive difference and add value to the communities I cared about, which drew me to urban planning.

To have a career in urban planning, important skills include technical writing, critical thinking, GIS software competency, collaboration, economic development knowledge, and zoning knowledge.

I got a master's degree in urban planning from the London School of Economics, but didn't gain some key technical skills needed for an urban planning career.

If considering an urban planning career, research different graduate programs and make sure you'll gain the necessary skills.

Do informational interviews with urban planners to understand their career experiences before pursuing the field.

I realized traditional urban planning theory wasn't what I wanted to pursue - I wanted to advocate for underserved communities.

I now work as a commercial corridor manager, assisting small businesses and working on a streetscape improvement plan.

My work involves engaging directly with and empowering a local community I care about, which is very rewarding.

Urban planning requires patience - you may create a plan that takes years to be implemented and show benefits.

Listen to and include the people you intend to serve in the urban planning process as much as possible.

Work with integrity and don't harm communities that have historically been oppressed through planning.

Be informed - read a lot because urban planning is a constantly changing discipline.

Let me know if you have any other questions about my urban planning journey!

Transcripts

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