Racial Justice in Planning

In this Viewpoint, I urge public planners to examine how planning departments’ internal rules and norms reproduce racial inequity. I first explain how public planning departments’ inner workings are racialized and then offer racial equity in planning organizations (REPO) as a framework and directive to align public planning racial equity goals with internal rules and norms. I argue that organizational change will position planners to advance racial equity in the United States. REPO can lead to local change and recalibrate how planners envision their role in changing their communities.

Plans should make equity a guiding principle. Planning processes need to be multifaceted. Plans should identify vulnerable people and geographic areas and ensure equitable protection from hazards and equitable distribution of amenities. Future land use changes should be more transparent.

The DC Grassroots Planning Coalition (DCGPC) is a citywide network of individuals and organizations who are committed to furthering racial, economic and environmental justice by challenging rampant development which contributes to gentrification and displacement of existing residents. The Coalition supports community-led development which creates uplift, opportunity and ownership for low income communities of color.

Community engaged methods refer to a rigorous research methodology that includes the input, participation, and reflections of the people and communities at the heart of the issues we study. These research methods can start in the design stage and continue through the development of insights and recommendations, and they can range in engagement intensity from the most rigorous form, community-based participatory research, where community representatives are full partners in the research, to the more modest approach of community consultation, where community stakeholders and residents provide input at different points of a research project, especially at the end.

Safe Streets Baltimore works to prevent gun violence and change community norms.

Roca’s Intervention Model is designed to help high-risk young men leave streets and gangs and go to work. Through relentless outreach, tailored programming and collaboration with community partners, Roca helps young men transform their lives.