Young, Black and Planning

Based on recent data, African-Americans only represent 7.9% of those in the planning profession. In 2017, TheRoot.com published an article titled, “Urban Planning Can’t Happen Without Black People in the Room—Yet It Does,” reflecting on the importance of having multiple voices when planning and designing a city. 

In the City of Los Angeles, we see diversity throughout the City and in those who are helping plan the future of Los Angeles. In 2018, 16% of new hires and 12% of all promotions within the Department of City Planning were of African-Americans, representing 12% of the entire Department. 

Below, the Department of City Planning’s African-American City Planning Assistants and Associates share their advice for those interested in entering the profession. Scroll below to get their insights, and get inspired to plan!  

Kyle Winston

"I grew up in South Central LA. I watched my neighborhood burn during the LA riots and then sit untouched for years wondering why no one came back to rebuild. Working in planning gives me a voice in how the community I was raised in can grow and change for the better."

Qiuana Williams

"It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to serve the greater public everyday through my work as a public servant in city planning. I love planning because I get the opportunity to work on changing the built environment for the better through the intersection of social, political, economic and environmental platforms.

I have stood witness to the psycho-social effects the built environment has on vulnerable communities. Therefore, equitable community and economic development is more than an idea, it's a standard. Working in city planning has provided the life changing opportunity to act as a bridge between communities and government to help discuss issues and opportunities in an authentic and meaningful way.  In addition, this profession has allowed me to be a constructive voice of change, meaningfully shaping policy and helping to craft solutions that will equip the City’s most vulnerable and marginalized populations with the foundation and tools necessary to thrive.  An interest in planning is an interest in being an active participant with a goal to positively effect change in the lives of many!

Isaiah Ross

"As a Black City Planning Professional, I strive to improve the quality of life for marginalized communities  across the City by bringing awareness, and informing on the implementation and creation of policies that alleviate issues, which help to create a functional, equitable and sustainable environment."  

Miles Orr

“I chose to pursue the urban planning profession because of a lifelong interest in cities and tackling the complex issues that arise within them. Every day I am reminded of the responsibility I have to foster equitable and sustainable solutions to the challenges that face the communities I work in. I am grateful for the opportunity to work for the City of Los Angeles and play an active role in creating a better future for all Angelenos.”

Hakeem Parke-Davis

“To me, the importance of the profession and my role within it come from the Socrates quote, ‘The secret of change is to focus all of our energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new.’ With that in mind, we create the change we want to see.”

Simi Aliu

“Urban Planning is important because it offers marginalized communities an opportunity to participate in the planning process, particularly members of vulnerable populations who historically, have been subject to inequalities caused by planning.”

Jason P. Douglas

"The course of development in American cities often cemented structural inequalities that adversely impact our communities of color, even today. Not only is my role in city planning an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Angelenos of color, but to overcome these structural inequalities by actively engaging historically underrepresented communities to shape a vision for Los Angeles that is inclusive of people that look like me."

Joe Luckey, III

“Planning is important to me because it is the foundation and blueprint on which a City operates, and is a tool that can be utilized to promote sustainable communities and establish economic vitality for all citizens.”

Ivory Chambeshi

“As an urban planner, I am proud to build upon the legacy of civil rights and environmental activists, like Ella Baker and Wangari Maathai, who we celebrate during Black History Month and year-round! These individuals, who may not have held the title of “planner”, made great strides to ensure the built and natural environment and public institutions are managed in a just and fair manner. I endeavor to bring this advocate spirit into my role as a planner, in order to advance planning and policy initiatives that foster equitable and thriving communities.”