Spring is conference season for many major professional associations including the American Planning Association. However, if you missed APA this year, or even if you didn’t, a number of more specialized groups meet over the summer in smaller and more focused settings. Student registrations and deals on accommodation can make these very affordable.
Spring is conference season for many major professional associations including the American Planning Association. However, if you missed APA this year, or even if you didn't, a number of more specialized groups meet over the summer in smaller and more focused settings. Student registrations and deals on accommodation can make these very affordable.
The one I am attending this year is the Planners Network in Memphis, May 18-21: http://www.memphis.edu/plannersnetwork/. The cost at this stage-for both students and others--is $335 for the conference, all meals, and lodging shared by two people (they'll match you if you need). It is a little more to stay on your own. You just need to get to Memphis! Planners Network conferences are known for their participatory workshops with local communities and interesting cultural receptions reflecting the organization's interest in social equity and environmental justice.
The Congress for the New Urbanism meets in Wisconsin on June 1-4: http://www.cnu.org/cnu19/. These conferences have grown quite large. I've only been to one and was struck by how much of the conference was a dating game matching consultants, local governments, and developers. However, that is interesting in itself and there is typically some vivid debate between larger than life characters. The student price for 4 days of registration is $125 (going up on May 6); the registration rate for non-student, non-members is $585.
I'm sure there are other summer conferences of interest but these two represent some of the range of summer opportunities for meeting others who want to make a difference.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
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Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
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MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
