A student in a social design class opened a halal hotdog stand to encourage broader acceptance of Minneapolis' Somali community, combining Muslim and American traditions in one mustard-filled bun.
The Somali population in Minneapolis is the largest in the country, but when several teenage Somalians went to fight as part of the Islamic rebellion in Somalia, the FBI raided the neighborhood, sowing distrust. Brian Wiley, an MFA student at the Minneapolis College for Art and Design, sought to mend the fence:
Zak Stone reports:
"Wiley and his partners developed the idea of a Somali-operated Halal hot dog cart " as a way to celebrate Somali culture and change its perception here in the Twin Cities. Halal's a very Muslim thing. Hot dogs are a very American thing.""
FULL STORY: Hot Dogs Foster Cultural Acceptance in Minneapolis

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

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions