The YouthPower Guide was developed by the Urban Places Project in collaboration with YouthPower, an initiative of El Arco Iris, a community-based program in South Holyoke that works to encourage young people to become involved in planning and building a better neighborhood. The YouthPower Guide describes many of the organization's most successful design and planning activities and explains how others can apply them in their own neighborhoods. The guide is written for use by young people aged 10 to 19 and by individuals who work with them. The YouthPower Guide also recently won the 1998 Social Advocacy Award from the Massachusetts chapter of the American Planning Association. The Greenway Design Studio was aimed at creating a town-wide greenway network for Amherst.
Greenways are conservation lands or areas used for recreational or cultural purposes.
A greenway network is formed when such areas are linked together. The project was outlined in presentations before the Amherst Conservation Commission, to the Amherst Planning Department at public meetings, and to local and community groups.