This month a new generation of urban planners will transition from planning school to the workplace—it is a season for new ideas.

I attended a graduation ceremony last week, and I'll be honest: I got a little choked up (it was my son's very adorable pre-school graduation). Graduations formally mark an important passage in life (notice how many graduation pics pop up on Facebook in June?), and each year at this time I am reminded of transition. My son will be entering a new grade in school, and at the other end of the scholastic spectrum, a new generation of urban planning students are winding down their school experience and preparing to enter the workplace.
In my own office, summer interns are offering new ideas and a boost of energy. Urban planning can be an overwhelmingly broad field to dive into, and those who can embrace uncertainty will find the learning curve more manageable. Most new planners know they want to help make better places, but the question of what urban planners actually do and how they do it might not have been made clear, even in graduate school.
I reflected on my own experience as a new planner in a blog post for the American Planning Association - North Carolina Chapter during this time last year. I remembered my own experience transitioning from graduate school to the workplace, and the unexpected 'entrance exam' I needed to pass to secure my first planning job. In the article I also included a video that recalls some early experiences as a happy new planner long on idealism and short on experience.
The planning department permit counter is a headfirst dive into front line customer service, and a sense of humor helps maintain a positive perspective in a sometimes thankless role.
If you are a new planner, take advantage of any workplace training and orientation events you can access. Ask questions. Don't struggle alone. We were all new at one time. Even the newest employees have something immediate they can offer. Figure out what that is and share it with your team. Be the person that solves problems, no matter how small.
And if you have a new planner in your office, welcome him or her. Be a mentor. Ask about their goals. Ask them to help move that side project forward that you've been thinking about but never have the time to focus on.
We are only a few weeks into internship season and I am already amazed by the productivity and new ideas coming from the group. This is a time to pause, think, and laugh about where we started and where we are headed, and appreciate the great people on our team.
FULL STORY: Once Upon a Permit Counter: Explaining what Urban Planners Do

Planning for Congestion Relief
The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.

Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.

‘Mega-Landlords’ Threaten Housing Stability for Renters
As institutional investors buy up a larger share of single-family homes, the families renting them are increasingly vulnerable to rent increases and eviction.

Short-Term Rentals Vex Dallas City Council
Residents complain that vacation rentals exacerbate the city’s housing shortage and bring traffic and noise to residential neighborhoods, calling on the city to impose—and enforce—stricter regulations.

Traffic Fatalities Set Records as Pandemic-Era Road Carnage Shows No Signs of Stopping
An estimated 42,915 people died in automobile crashes in 2021, according to recent federal data. The increasing fatalities continue a trend that began with the outset of the pandemic.

Driver Shortage Undercuts the Potential of L.A.’s Recent Bus System Redesign
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a complete overhaul of its bus system in three waves over the course of 2021. A shortage of drivers for the system has made it impossible to implement that vision.
County of Sonoma
City of Malibu
EMC Planning Group Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Redwood City
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.