Young Planners Group

In Massachusetts, we have many professional planners in their early stages of full-time work in the planning field as well as many recent graduates looking to enter into the field. Our hope is to bring these young people together to discuss the important issues we are facing as well as provide professional development assistance, such as AICP training, speaker series, and networking opportunities with the many planning professionals here in the Commonwealth.

APA has recognized that great shifts are occurring in the profession. There is a need to reach out to the next generation of planners as a service to these members, to sustain the organization, to provide services to a changing professional demographic, and to cultivate the next generation of leaders. In 2008, APA issued the Young Planners Group Task Force Report: “Keeping APA Relevant in a Changing Environment”. This report identifies needs, strategies, and other things vital to the future of APA and the next generation of leaders. Most importantly the report outlines the need for APA, along with the chapters to both identify ways to get young planners more involved in the profession as well as help to foster their career development.

We want to hear from you! Some of our goals for the upcoming year include:

  • Increase social networking
  • Plan and host speaker events
  • Create a mentoring program
  • Collaborate with other affiliated young professional groups
  • Form local and regional groups of young planners

If you are interested in helping to shape the future of the YPG in Massachusetts, let us know.  Feel free to contact us at ypg@apa-ma.org, and let us know if you are or know of others who may be interested in becoming more involved.

YPG Executive Board

Alison LeFlore, Chair
Conservation Agent/Planner, Town of Chelmsford, MA

Kristen D. Las, AICP
Principal Planner/Economic Development Coordinator, Town of Shrewsbury, MA

Kristin E. Hoffman-Kassner, AICP
Planning Director, Town of Burlington, MA

Jonathan Church, AICP
Project Manager, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission

Felipe Schwarz, AICP, Liaison to the APA-MA Executive Board
Assistant Vice President, External Affairs, Merrimack College