Advocacy,our ethical

obligationAPA Virginia 2015

Conference

Garet Prior Senior Planner, Town of Ashland

gprior@town.ashland.va.us (804) 798-1073

“The massing of voices protesting racial discrimination have roused this nation to the need to rectify racial and other social injustices.”

Davidoff, 1965

“We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs.”

AICP Ethics Principle A1F

Social Justice Equality

Equity Advocacy

Integration

Segregation

Planning is a pursuit of distributive justice,

concerned with equal choice/opportunity (e.g.

equality).

“We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity…”

In calling out a “special responsibility” for

certain groups (racially and economically

disadvantaged), we take on an equity role that

pushes us to give weighted or “special”

effort.

“…Recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration…”

Finally, in “urging” alteration or change, history tells us

that advocacy - more than an urge - will be required to

achieve our desired outcomes.

…We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs.”

If planners are ethically instructed to be advocates, then how do we construct our profession, workplaces, careers?

Main Question

We need to understand the following truths:

1.  Advocacy begins with intentionality; setting goals and working to build coalitions to achieve desired outcomes.

2. Advocacy is furthered when we use education to empower others to become engaged and impact decisions.

3. Advocacy flourishes when we understand social structures and how individuals, especially ourselves, change.

Main Answer

We need to understand the following truths:

1.  Advocacy begins with intentionality; setting goals and working to build coalitions to achieve desired outcomes.

2. Advocacy is furthered when we use education to empower others to become engaged and impact decisions.

3. Advocacy flourishes when we understand social structures and how individuals, especially ourselves, change.

Main Answer

We need to understand the following truths:

1.  Advocacy begins with intentionality; setting goals and working to build coalitions to achieve desired outcomes.

2. Advocacy is furthered when we use education to empower others to become engaged and impact decisions.

3. Advocacy flourishes when we understand social structures and how individuals, especially ourselves, change.

Main Answer

Central Author’s Referenced

Norman Krumholz

Paul Davidoff

Cleveland planning department’s central goal

Problems with neutrality Expected outcomes to following

rational or traditional path Embracing the political process and

expanding the role of planning

1. Advocacy begins with intentionality; setting goals and working to build coalitions to achieve desired outcomes.

Economic Development

Housing Affordability

Staff Analysis & Reports

Inclusion means citizens can response and have influence

Empowerment education impacts process

Knowledge = power Creating diversity in planning

2. Advocacy is furthered when we use education to empower others to become engaged and impact the decisions.

Community Organizing Tools

Krumholtz’s Model

Leverage University/Local Resources

Planning solutions need to impact structural change

Knowledge of social structures and change

Role of relationship and trust

3. Advocacy flourishes when we understand social structures and how individuals (especially ourselves) change.

Connection to God/oneself

Connection to others

Connection to society

Challenge for Planning

Adopt AICP Ethics Principle A1F as

central organizing goal for department/firm.

Challenge for Planning

Planning universities (VT, UVA, VCU) and professional organizations (APA) need to

offer technical training in community organizing,

negotiation, lobbying, and other community capacity

building skills.

Challenge for Planning

Planners need to get out of the office and

form intentional relationships with

underserved populations.

Challenge for Planning

Planning organizations need to broaden scope to

allow staff to perform multiple disciplines with underserved groups to

build relationships.

Advocacy,our ethical

obligationQuestions and

Comments

Garet Prior Senior Planner, Town of Ashland

gprior@town.ashland.va.us (804) 798-1073