Latino Urban Planners at the 2007 American Planning Association Conference

American Planning Association was a great success for Latino Urban Planners!
By James Rojas

The 2007 American Planning Conference was a great success for Latinos in urban planning. A large number of Latinos from all over the country were in attendance, and this was the first conference that held a session entitled Hispanic-Latino Communities and Urban Spaces which focused on the opportunities and challenges facing Latinos and the built environment. The session was very well attended, especially by young Latino planners and students, and demonstrates the growth or interest of Latinos in the urban planning profession.

The session was facilitated by Irayda M. Ruiz, AICP, of Virginia Commonwealth University, and brought together scholars and planning practitioners from across the country to discuss how Latino communities use urban space. Cecilia Giusti of Texas A&M University presented on issues surrounding "colonias," or informal housing developments along the US/Mexico border. Michael Rios of Pennsylvania State University examined the community participation process for the BART station in San Francisco's Mission District.

My presentation was from my masters thesis entitled the “Enacted Environment: The Creation of Place by Mexican and Mexican Americans in East Los Angeles”. This research examined how Latinos are transforming the built environment by their use of streets, sidewalks and other public space. Latinos bring a rich use of public life to LA and these phenomena can be seen by the way they retrofit the urban design of the streets. As Latino immigrants and native-born Mexican Americans citizens settle into Los Angeles, they bring with them different use of urban space to an already existing built environment. Their homes, ciudades, pueblos, and ranchos in Latin America are structured differently both physically and socially than the American suburb. Street vendors carrying their wares, pushing carts or setting up temporary tables, vivid colors, murals and business signs, clusters of people socializing on street corners and over front yard fences, and the furniture and props that make these front yards into personal statements all contribute to the vivid, unique landscape of the city.

While architects focus on buildings, urban planners focus on the community land use, and policy. All of the presentations at the conference focused on community issues from crossing the street to building a home. They also illustrate the changing landscape of the American city. The presentation cover diverse locations and situations but the issues facing Latinos were the same. How do we engage Latinos in the planning process and develop policies that promote, protect and enhance our Latino communities?

The Latino Urban Forum (LUF), is a volunteer group of Latino urban planners and community activist that are working on these local land use and transportation policies in Los Angeles County. Our mission is to improve the quality of life and sustainability of Latino communities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. LUF partners with communities through public education and dialogue, the provision of technical assistance and capacity building, and advocacy on such critical urban issues as planning, land use and the environment and their effects on health and culture. We have been successful in lobbying for millions of dollars in transportation, open space and other projects that benefit the community.

Latino urban planners across the country are moving into positions of power where they can impact funding and policies that help our Latino communities. American cities are facing great economic, environmental and social changes and as Latinos we will help in understanding or influencing these transitions. APA's Latinos and Planning Division can be part of this great change.

Visit us at www.latinourbanforum.org