The 2024 American Planning Association National Conference #NPC24 was a great educational and social event - and Illinois planners were right in the thick of it!

The conference program covered a range of timely and transformative topics that are shaping the future of the planning profession. Focus on issues like housing, equity, and politics suggests the conference provided planners with the knowledge and strategies to tackle challenges facing communities across the country, including in Illinois.

Angela Brooks, FAICP Takes the Stage

After opening remarks from APA CEO Joel Albizo, APA President, and Illinois member, Angela Brooks, FAICP talked about the latest efforts from APA and trends in planning.

Student Design Competition

The conference hosted the annual APA Student Planning and Design Competition, which this year focused on a site in Minneapolis. Students from the University of Illinois at Chicago were among the 3 finalists! Ultimately, the were awarded the third-place finalist award. Congratulations to Team Gehm Design Group: Maggie Eickhoff, Grace Li, Haley McDonnell, and Elizabeth Miller.

Illinois' newest FAICPs Inducted:

Congratulations to David Silverman, FAICP and Diane Gormley-Barnes, FAICP! The induction ceremony took place on April 14, 2024 at 3pm.

Speakers

It was a treat to see all the sessions with Illinois speakers. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to educate planners everywhere about the awesome and innovative planning in Illinois.

Finally a big thank you to Illinois planners that came to the conference as well as those of you that came to the Monday evening Illinois Reception, a partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UIC Department of Urban Planning and Policy, and the APA-IL.